FCC: Referee's in Club Dispute

Seems like just the kind of thing the FCC shuold be concerned with. It's not an internal club dispute, rather it is an individual, misrepresenting himself to the FCC in order to obtain a call sign that he has no right to possess.

Now, on the other hand, if the guy had used a laminator donated to his club to make badges for another club, I don't think the FCC should be bothered for a decision as to his legal rights as a Ham Radio Operator.


Just my 2khz.

73, Jim - kc2jca

 

Hello Fred, Jim and the ham community, I agree completely with Jim. This appears to be a misrepresentation to the FCC by an individual and is not a matter between the club and this individual. This is exactly what the FCC is there to be sure gets handled!
While there certainly must be some discord between the club and this individual, the FCC is acting on a formal application that, from this letter, contains serious misrepresentations.

KDa3Ve

 

I find it touching how the formality of the letter seems to give Mr. Simonson courtesy because it doesn't offer a third option: he made a false application. However, the dry tone seems to imply that the third option is exactly what he did and generates an incredible humor. This guy kicked the ball, and it's getting it kicked back to him. He better send an honest letter, or expect to get slammed.

 

Good day to all;

It looks like Jim hit the proverbial nail on the head.

 

Fred,

You're right -- but only up to a point. Yes, it's a shame that taxpayer dollars need to be spent on this type of enforcement, but that is not the fault of the FCC but of the individual trying to steal the club callsign here because he had a dispute with the organization and parted with it.

I've been through a similar situation personally with the Wireless Association of South Hills over the N3SH call several years ago. It was not pleasant, to say the least. Especially when, in our case, the individuals involved made fraudulent statements before the FCC. No enforcement action was taken, in part because we asked for nothing more than the return of the call. A rerprimand was issued, and we have had no trouble since then. Something similar may have happened in this case.

Yes, this is only a hobby to each of us individually, and yes, some of us take it too seriously at times. But that is not justification for letting someone walk all over you, and that is not justification for standing by and letting some violate FCC rules for personal gain.

Sorry Fred, but Jim and the others are exactly right. This had to be done and it was handled better than the offender(s)deserved. Should there be a recurrence, may they get the book thrown at them.

73

 

Fred, I agree with the general consensus here, simply because the FCC assigns callsigns and has the responsibility to resolve disputes concerning them.

 

For once Riley gets a bit of good press here !   I for one am glad to see the FCC stance .

 

Hello Fred and Hams,
Sorry Fred I have to agree with Jim and the rest.But I think it is
time that these club calls be terminated,but then again I am a new ham
and do not understand the importance of a club call.It seems most members of a club are hams so they should just use there own call signs.
Terminating these club calls (wich are abused) would stop the nonsense
and free up the fcc for other more important enforcement issues and taxpayers money! 73 kb3drf Mat

 

Club calls are used on club repeaters and at field days. They are important and have a place. Sometimes they are silent key's callsigns and are used in memory of them.

 

I am the Trustee for WX7GTF which is used only during SKYWARN activations from the National Weahter Service office. Having a single "distictive" call sign for the net keeps the SKYWAN NET uniform no matter who the Net Control Operator happens to be.

Everyone knows that when they hear WX7GTF on one of our Montana repeaters to listen close!

I must say, it is a shame the former trustee can't grow up. "Lick your wounds and crawl back in you're dog house."

73
Bob N7CZ
WX7GTF - Big Sky Skywarn
Big Sky Skywarn

 

'Tis time I jump the good ship "Amateur Radio" and climb aboard the CB bandwagon.

It's quite illuminating to have amateurs displaying a holier-than-thou attitude toward 11 meter operators and then to see this shindy a-brewing!

If I am the only one to see the incongruity in this hypocricy then so be it. Please, fellow amateur operators, let me know if I'm wrong on this observation.

73s and all the best,

Chuck
AA1MN

 

Bottom line here, the regs say you have to be a member to be the trustee and call holder, and this guy isn't. When he claimed to be, he lied. Lying to the feds just isn't cool. (Unless you're the president of course - geez.) So for that alone, he needs to called to task.

I can't see it being the issue with radio clubs - well maybe yeah, I can - but I know with ARES/RACES type groups, who the big banana is can be critical. There's often a lot of money, prestige, maybe even "real" power involved in being in the in-crowd of such an organisation.

Here in Coastal NJ, the county governments tend to view hams as valuable. And as such, the hams get lots of equipment, badges, official lookng ID cards, in some towns they get pagers, police radios, etc. REALLY HEADY STUFF. I remember running afoul of such a group in the early 90's. I can tell you now, I am not a "joiner." I don't care to be politically involved in stuff, and as such I enjoy being a ham, and chatting with the fellws, but I'm not into the "official" groups. At that time in my life, I also knew I didn't have the time to devote to the training they required. So I elected not to join.

Lo and behold, along came a winter storm where electric was out for days, roads were closed, the whole area was a real mess. I volunteered to help, did help, and have a certificate from the county "overlord" (whatever his title is/was) to show for it. Felt good to have used my ham gear and skills to help. (While not a member and not a regular recipient of their training, I am a fairly competent operator, and had been involved in other emergency situations in years past, not to count the fact that I'm a full time state law enforcement officer and know how to use the radio.)

Well, all hell broke loose. The higher ups in the county all started calling each other names, I shouldn't have been allowed in the radio room because I'm not qualified (not a trained member) etc. The fallout was crazy.

Well, it's a power struggle and I've since elected to stay out of it. I'm glad we haven't had such an emergency again, as I am unwilling to stick my neck into THAT quagmire again (I know, I should grow up, but . . . I was deeply hurt by the aftermath, and it will be years more before I get over it.)

So you see, the politics were more important than the fact that hams were on the job. (I did find my services being requested about a year later - the same uppity folks learned I had gotten a 5kw generator. All of a sudden 5kw was the equivalent of some years of training. Guess what I told them to do? And it involves places the sun doesn't shine.)

Ah well, I feel better now, but lesson to be learned: political power can be strong in places you'd never think of. A club fighting over a callsign? Fits right in.

73

 

who here can say "screwed"

 

It is apparent that there will always be persons who are often quick to pass judgement on an issue without researching the facts or hearing the opposing side. Welcome to this group Fred!

For those of you who really want the complete story before forming an opinion, I welcome you to point your browser to the following URL.

http://www.ac9es.org/ac9esdocs.html

Opinions are the cornerstone of public expression and free speech, rights for which many have fought and died. Long live the constitution of the United States of America!