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Trevor M5AKA
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The new Cave report -
emerging Issues
From Trevor, M5AKA
A new Spectrum Consultation document was issued on Thursday. It can be
downloaded from:
http://www.spectrumaudit.org.uk/pdf/Emerging_Issues.pdf
On page 58 regarding Ofcoms proposal to issue a Licence for Life for
Maritime Licences it says:
"The proposal to issue life time licences does remove the possibility
of applying incentive pricing as a tool for encouraging more efficient
spectrum use. We are therefore keen to ensure that thorough consideration
has been given to whether there could be scope, now or in the future,
for using differential pricing for on board licences, and will be following
this up with Ofcom in the coming months.
Any pricing proposal would need to take account of the international situation,
and consider the possibilities of vessels registering in jurisdictions
outside the UK."
This is a strong reason for the Maritime Service to support Licence for
Life in an attempt to block the possibility of "Spectrum Efficiency
Charges" being introduced at a later date. While annual licence fees
are being charged there remains the opportunity for the regulator to modifiy
(increase) those charges in the name of spectrum efficiency or other goals.
The thinking at Ofcom has for some considerable time been leading down
the road to imposing high charges on users to encourage the release of
frequencies. While MOD was a prime target the same logic can be applied
to other spectrum users including Amateurs!
Page 37 comments on MoD which now has to pay for it's frequencies. Our
430 MHz band amongst others is shared with the MOD.
"One scenario might be that MoD pay the whole fee for a band (maintaining
recognition that a band remains under their management) and then charge
out for use by others, retaining the income."
It could mean MoD would rent out a band (such as 430) to a 3rd Party
for a large fee. But another user might not be keen on sharing it with
Amateurs as well !
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Trevor is a member of The Chelmsford
Amateur Radio Society
Support Essex Air Ambulance - Apply for the Chelmsford Award
See CARS website http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/
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