[CCF] I: I hpe u already have wkd Akira san 73s de Jouko OH1RX

[Jouko Häyrynen]

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ARSICOM/message/148;_ylc=X3oDMTJxZ2ozbnUxBF9T
Azk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE5NzYyNjAxBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARtc2dJZAMxNDgEc2Vj
A2Rtc2cEc2xrA3Ztc2cEc3RpbWUDMTE5OTA5MjEwMw--> HAM FORCED OFF THE AIR IN
BHUTAN 

Posted by: "Ray (VU3ORN)"
<mailto:vu3orn at gmail.com?Subject=%20Re%3AHAM%20FORCED%20OFF%20THE%20AIR%20IN
%20BHUTAN> vu3orn at gmail.com    <http://profiles.yahoo.com/vu3orn> vu3orn 

Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:33 pm (PST) 

A ham radio operator in Bhutan has been ordered off the air by that nations
telecommunications authority. This after regulators allege that he was
operating power in excess of what is allowed under Bhutani law.

It all took place back in September but the news is now only reaching the
rest of the world. That's when Akira Minagawa, A52AM, was asked to surrender
his Amateur radio license and remove his antennas after Bhutan's Infocomm
and Media Authority cancelled it because he had allegedly violated the
nations ham radio rules.

According to the Director General of the regulatory agency, A52AM was found
to have exceeded the prescribed power limit of 100 watts. That's the power
level that radio amateur radio operators have to comply within the country.

But the Director General claims that Minagawa was operating at 1,000 watts
which is 10 times the maximum power allowed. He added that A52AM did not
maintain a properly detailed log book of his communications.

But some observers are saying that there is another reason Minagawa was
taken off the air. They believe he could have been targeted by authorities
because his station may have been causing interference to Bhutan's military
and airport communications systems.

Unlike in other nations, Amateur radio isn't very popular in Bhutan. There
are only about 20 resident radio amateurs and 50 non-national users
according to one Media Authority official.

(7J1AIL, Bhutan Times - on line edition)