[Amps] Entry level license

[sm0aom at telia.com]

The FCC could perhaps take note of the Swedish example of "no-test" HF and VHF access.

Currently, anyone that pays the equivalent of $30 and signs a statement that they will use the transmitter for "fixed or land-mobile radio experiments" will receive a permit valid for 6 months for the use of 4 USB channel frequencies the 5 MHz band with 100 W. There are no tests or qualifications required of any kind.

If the applicant is a previously licenced radio amateur the ordinary call may be used, but those without amateur licences are allocated a land-mobile callsign. What the frequencies are used for is not monitored in any way, and all traffic so far has been of ordinary amateur radio content. Also,there are land mobile frequencies in the 69 and 155 MHz bands set aside for licence-free operations with up to 25 W ERP allowed power. 

The reasons behind these quite strange actions are that the regulator had been repeatedly petitioned to allow amateur radio operations in the 5 and 70 MHz ranges, but have declined, stating the reasons that there already is enough amateur radio spectrum available, and official policy is to decline any further expansions. 

However, fixed and land mobile radio has underutilised spectrum in the HF and lower VHF bands, so it can be allocated on a national basis for "unlicenced use".

This practice of allowing completely unqualified individuals to actually BUY access to the HF spectrum is in clear violation of the 
ITU Radio Regulations,and this has repeatedly been pointed out for the lawyers at the regulator PTS. 

They however defend themselves using the argument that the ITU-RR lacks legal force due to the current legal  interpretation of the Law of Electronic Communication. 

In my opinion, it has created a potentially dangerous legal precedent, that may be used for successfully repealing the certification or licencing requirements for amateur radio operations. It may also serve as a precedent for lowering the allowed power levels for amateur radio from the current 1000 W transmitter output to around 50 W. 

Nothing stands in the way (except the ITU-RR) of the FCC or other regulators to to do something similar, requiring those that want HF and VHF access without any tests or qualifications just pay a suitable fee with no further questions asked. 

The spectrum required for this "CB 2.0" could come from the amateur radio bands on a footnote basis.

"Be carefuĺ of what you wish for, you may get it..."

73/
Karl-Arne
SM0AOM




----Ursprungligt meddelande----
Från : dezrat at outlook.com
Datum : 2017-04-28 - 18:52 (CEDT)
Till : amps at contesting.com
Ämne : Re: [Amps] Entry level license

------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)

On Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:39:00 -0500, K5UJ wrote:

>Which is perfectly fine but it underscores my opinion that there
>should be established a two way or land mobile radio service for
>people who have no interest in the radio art but want to be able to
>operate a two-way voice mode transceiver for utility communications

REPLY:

There is such a service in Alaska in the 5 MHz band, but not for the
other states. Perhaps it could be extended?

http://www.w5txr.net/Alaska-Emergency-Frequency.html

Notice that only voice and pulse are permitted, no CW.

73, Bill W6WRT
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