CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

Amateur Enforcement

All,

I have often wondered why, in the past few months, the lack of 'self control' has been evidenced over amateur frequencies. I primarily use 2 Meters (somewhat by choice, it was my first radio), and occasionally venture out beyond my pre-programmed repeaters and home network. Sometimes I'll hear two people ragchewing using language I wouldn't use on the airwaves, much less in conversation with anyone's mother.

I guess what I'm saying is that we, as concerned and careful individuals, need to reign ourselves in a little, and think about how we interact with each other. Emotions are carried over in the words and expression of our voice. Using words that can convey meaning without going into shocking language and without using the questionable adjectives can give a more positive voice to amateur radio. If we want younger people to 'catch the bug' of communicating with the magic box of technology, what example do we set when we let loose with a tirade of profanity?

How about the station that uses too much power? It's easier to bust a pileup with more wattage, but will you be able to hear the ham with the legal limit output when everyone else is overpowering? How about the 'splatter' from yout rig bleeding over into a commercial, military, or emergency services band? These, and many more concerns cause the ham to look like a ne'er-do-well in the eyes of non-hams. Face it, they outnumber us.

On this I agree: I will vehemently state that I and others of a like mind do not want the amateur frequencies to go the way of Citizens Band. It started as a relatively benign and fun communications medium, and degraded to what is known as today. We don't need this. We do need to 'nudge' those outside the lines back in.

Thanks for listening.

 

FCC Enforcement

One only has to listen to 14.275 as to see how far the practice of good radio ethics has fallen into the sewer. Not only do we have the nut from Canada spewing his venom but the American amateurs baiting him think what they are doing in jamming him, playing music over him, playing taped comments on him, is perfectly legal and in good taste. What a disgrace to good Amateur practices. Yeah I have listened on that frequency so I do know what is going on. Where is the FCC enforcement?????

 

And where is the Canadian enforcement?

 

I don't think those who are playing music or pre-recorded comments, cursing or jamming on 14.275 think their actions are legal. What they do know is that the FCC and Industry Canada will do NOTHING about what's going on, so they just get on and do what they want.

Good question. Some think that it is intentional, whereby the FCC is letting amateur radio go to h3!! in order to have less resistance for BPL and plasma TVs that generate RFI. I don't necessarily buy that, but I do think that they'd rather not spend the money.

 

They're real busy right now.

 

Is it because an Amateur Radio license is so easy to obtain these days? Are we inviting every Tom, Dick, or Harry out there to come join the ranks? Are we getting the true Amateur Radio operator --- or are we just attracting applicance operators? If it's the latter, I guess maybe that's why we have such nonsence on the once ham bands --- now glorified CB bands.

But, I agree --- let the FCC do the job they're supposed to do and clean out the rubbish.

 

Maybe we need to be more proactive

Governments tend to be slow, and while that can be an advantage (imagine if Congress had grabbed control of the Internet) at other times it can leave us hanging. If one particular person is causing real problems, a concerted effort by many people reporting to the national authority may have an effect. I believe that's how "beautiful southern California" was finally silenced from repeated jamming of the 14.336 net.

And you can approach licensing burreaucrats in various ways. In the US we have Representatives and Senators who will at least pass on our concerns. When reporting a bad foreign station it may be more difficult to be heard, but enough letters to prime ministers and communicatons authorities--perhaps in coordination with local hams--may well be noticed. Regarding one station I've already sent my letters alleging what a national disgrace it is--has anyone else done this?

 

now granted I may have had my license for almost 3 years. But as a young adult I hear enough of this junk as a 16 year old. I compleatly agree that people are taking advantage of the system and we need enforcement back and we need the good men and women who were helping to enforce it.

 

Hollingsworth once said..

"It's not about enforcement. It's about your obligation," he said. Enforcement can't cure all Amateur Radio's ills. "It's all about you and what you're doing with [Amateur Radio]," he concluded. "Look beyond enforcement."

 

not new

this is not new at all. There are sociopaths everywhere. I can remember back in the fifties, a guy: "no lids, no kids, no WA's"... These guys enjoy attention and the guys that take the bait are no better. Your radio has a dial, if EVERYONE would use it to tune off the frequency, these guys would go away... And if everyone did, these guys would think their radios were broken and, hopefully, send 'em in for repair. They need feedback, without it, they get no enjoyment, and have NO motivation to continue. And "nudging" back into line does not work, why? it is also giving them attention. On some local repeaters, some luck has been had by mail a note " I know who you are, wouldja like me to tell everyone?" That is the only legal recoarse, the BEST thing is ignoring them, completely...... and of coarse if I had to write a monthly editorial, well, hafta say sumpin, sales, you know...
Elsie Kay

 

I don't think that is the cause though it may have some impact. Lots of the hams that think they own a frequency, splatter all over the band, jam signals or engage in questionable language are experienced hams with lots of years of service.

I think the biggest issue is that people won't assume any personal responsibility for their actions and no one enforces any. We live in a time when "its all about me me me" is the prevalent attitude in society. When you approach life with that mind set you don't care about the consequences opr impact of your actions. This attitude isn't limited to amateur radio.

And yes the FCC and the Canadian government need to step in an enforce the rules.

 

First, I don't think the problem is nearly as bad as some make it sound. Amateur Radio has always had a few miscreants in the mix, and I'm not sure we're getting more now. Many people spend hours on the air every day and never encounter these problems.

I also don't think it has much to do with current testing requirements. I am aware that we've opened the doors to various Freebanders and scofflaws. And, I am painfully aware that some of these guys fall in that category. The worst offenders are the scofflaws who hide behind their ham tickets and continue their illegal activities - those are the ones that need to be caught and nailed to the nearest cross! But nearly all of the newbies are respectable hams.

Perhaps, what we need are some new strategies for dealing with these guys.

 

First, I don't think the problem is nearly as bad as some make it sound. Amateur Radio has always had a few miscreants in the mix, and I'm not sure we're getting more now. Many people spend hours on the air every day and never encounter these problems.

Yep, it really isn't, and by writing it up in a magazine, the problem, small as it is, gets spread outside the "community", where it will have a bad effect on our community. That is what I was refering to in my last comment. There are about 500,000 apples in our barrel, mostly good...one or three, aren't worth worrying about.., and articles about them when read outside our community get their importance magnified...... Elsie Kay

 

I can't recall hearing much as a Novice in 1958, but when I got back into HR in 1978, it was rampant. You can't blame it on the newbies...it was there when you needed a minimum of 13 wpm & a more difficult written to get on 20M (or 75M, etc.).

Waiting for the FCC to fix everything is futile, though. We need to try to address the problem within our own community.

Just another reason why I prefer CW -- it's virtually non-existent.