I wanted to let this silly ARRL and FCC thing simmer a while before pointing out that these folks are “preaching to the choir.”
In case you missed this when they put it out:
Dear ARRL Central Division Member,
I have received a number of inquiries asking why the statement from ARRL HQ titled ” The ARRL on the Purpose of Amateur Radio”
had been sent this afternoon. The online web version can be seen here;http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-on-the-purpose-of-amateur-radio
Please take a look at the other news piece that was posted today on the ARRL.org Website. The attached link has the Enforcement Advisory posted by the FCC today, Sunday 17Jan21.
Hopefully this will provide the context for the letter sent today from the ARRL HQ.73, Kermit Carlson W9XA
Here is a direct link to the original FCC scold – https://www.fcc.gov/document/amateur-personal-radio-users-reminded-not-use-radios-crimes
This whole thing is silly and misses the point that FCC-Licensed and ARRL-affiliated hams should be considered to always be “wearing the white hat.” Hams=Good Guys, not the problem.
The scold should have reserved for non-licensed activists openly carrying HTs while doing social mischief. These activists appeared to be using Chinese HT’s and web sources suggest that these HTs were reprogramed to obscure their unlicensed use.
And the licensed ham should have been encouraged to use their capabilities to monitor and if possible record/identify/locate those misusing Amateur and other frequencies.
Our amateur radio community basically self-polices itself for the FCC, largely self-administrates its testing process, and has a century of goodwill working with the government.
Remember that is a government we elect and fund – a government drawn from the people including Radio Amateurs.
It usually is counterproductive to punish, which includes shaming, the innocent.
Wiser would have been to have engaged the Radio Amateur community to assist in solving the problem.
It is very curious that the ARRL rolled-over rather than pushing back and on its own encouraged a positive ham participation in solving the problem. As a group we directly pay to represent our hobby they fell short of expectations. It seemed like the ARRL response was mostly about liability reduction than stepping up be a positive influencer.
I think we can do better – so let’s go for it. Taking cue from the OO (Official Observer) concepts of the past, it is time to monitor and report to the FCC and law enforcement the interlopers.
73
Steve
K9ZW