[UK-CONTEST] Foundation Licence

[Colin G3PSM]

Dave,

Dave Lawley wrote:

>Although not directly related to the QRO thread, mention was made of the 
>Foundation Licence in an earlier posting.
>
>I think it is generally recognised that an opportunity was missed, in 
>the interest of getting the scheme implemented, to bring in a true 
>incentive licensing scheme. Furthermore, questions are frequently raised 
>about whether this or that S9+ signal from an M3 on 40m really is only 
>10w. It is very difficult or impossible to police.
>  
>
Agreed.

>The only HF band to which M3s don't have access is 28MHz which is 
>especially perverse if we wish to see the band used, throughout the 
>sunspot cycle, to try and keep CB intrusion at bay. In addition I 
>believe M3s do not have access to 7.1-7.2MHz.
>  
>
 From 1st October Foundation licencees will be granted access to 28 MHz
and they already have access to 7.1 to 7.2 MHz.

>The result is that there is very little incentive for M3s to upgrade to 
>Intermediate or Full level. At the risk of making myself unpopular with 
>M3s I believe that, if BR68 is to undergo major change, the opportunity 
>should be taken to limit Foundation licensees by frequency, in addition 
>to power.
>
>Unlike power levels, it would be easy for the amateur community to 
>police limitations based on frequency. If we don't want to disturb the 
>privileges of existing M3s, then simply move to a new callsign block (M4 
>or whatever you like) and limit M4s by frequency. This gives them more 
>of an incentive to upgrade. It's a matter of debate whether they should 
>be excluded from whole frequency bands, or just limited to segments of 
>the HF bands, as is done in the States.
>
>My suggestion would be that the schedule to the Foundation Licence limit 
>the HF frequencies available as follows:
>1.850-2.000
>3.550-3.650
>7.025-7.100
>10.100-10.150
>14.050-14.250
>18.068-18.168
>21.050-21.250
>24.890-24.990
>28.000-28.450
>  
>
Those of you associated with the then HF Committee a few years back will
remember that it was a recommendation from that committee to the Board
that the Foundation licencees be limited by frequency rather than by
power.   Unfortunately, for whatever reason this recommendation was not
accepted and the result is the existing system which cannot be
policed.   In some European countries, having followed our lead in
introducing a Foundation licence they did however introduce frequency
limitations.

Unfortunately in this world of political correctness it appears we fall
over ourselves to give anyone who asks anything they want as easily as
possible.   If they don't get it they will probably sue!

73

Colin, G3PSM (one of the original grumpy old men)