I would imagine it would be a good idea if I sent along a copy of the e-mail that was sent, although most of you probably received it anyway. Once again, I use Netscape, so don't understand what his problem his. 73, Tuck NZ6T Subject: ARRL web server Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 18:23:10 -0500 From: Chuck Counselman <ccc@space.mit.edu> To: k1ki@arrl.org, k1twf@arrl.org CC: n3efn@arrl.org, n3llr@arrl.org, w9gig@arrl.org, k9km@arrl.org, k0qb@arrl.org, n0jph@arrl.org, k5ur@arrl.org, wd4q@arrl.org, wb8bgy@arrl.org, ki4la@arrl.org, n2ff@arrl.org, w2ml@arrl.org, w0ej@arrl.org, k0bj@arrl.org, w6cf@arrl.org, Why bother you, my ARRL Directors, about the ARRL web server? Because I raise a political, policy issue, which as such is properly considered and decided by the ARRL Board of Directors; and because I've raised the immediate, technical, problem twice with ARRL staff, who IMO do not appreciate the policy issue. The immediate, technical, problem is that the ARRL website does not work properly with Netscape's (and possibly other non-Microsoft) web browser(s). It works with Microsoft's web browser, and the ARRL webmaster says that this is enough. He says, reasonably enough, that it's impractical to make the website compatible with every possible browser, because there are so many. But the effect of his decision is to support the illegal (Federal courts have ruled) monopolistic, anti-competitive practices of Microsoft. As you know, the Attorneys General of Massachusetts and several other states are fighting to reign in this behavior. A diverse and free market in software is in the interest of ham radio, more so every day as digital hardware and software permeate our hobby. The ARRL should be promoting, not suppressing, alternatives to Microsoft-monopoly software. The ARRL website should be, and could be, compatible with Unix, Linux, and Mac operating systems and applications -- not just Microsoft-monopoly software. In fact, nearly all of the major, national, websites _are_ so compatible. Thank you and 73 de Chuck, W1HIS -- ************************************************ Remember, Helping Others....Always Worthwhile!! Southwestern Division Vice Director American Radio Relay League (ARRL) The national association for AMATEUR RADIO Are you a member yet? If not, visit http://www.arrl.org/join.html 2002 SWD Convention, Aug 16-18 For Registration forms, click on http://sd2002.hamcon.net/mainpage.html?registration.html Tuck's Personal Web Page: http://www.qsl.net/nz6t