RADIO SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN

THE FUTURE OF AMATEUR RADIO
LICENSING

BRIEFING NOTE

During autumn 2004 at about the same time that Ofcom published the consultation paper, The Radio Spectrum Framework Review, RSGB was led to believe that a further consultation paper concerning the future of amateur radio licensing would be published, probably early in 2005.

In preparation for that document RSGB intimated to Ofcom representatives, on an unofficial basis, that the Society would be prepared to assume the responsibility for issuing licences and all the administration work that would involve. RSGB was aware that Ofcom wished to substantially reduce its financial commitment to licence issuing particularly the resources currently involved.

During February 2005 it became apparent that Ofcom had abandoned the idea of a consultative document and was preparing a 'proposal document' that would set out Ofcom's intended preference and in which some reference would be made to low priority alternatives. This would pay lip service to consultation and instead would confirm Ofcom's proposals.

The Society began to realise that the intended preference was to tempt amateurs with a free licence for life and then after a few years completely de-regulate our hobby.

The free licence for life was going to be proposed in such a way that amateurs would think they were going to get a good deal and then once that had been accepted Ofcom would re-visit the licensing issue and de-regulate. We must be on our guard as they have made the de-regulation statement both in the 'Spectrum Review' consultation documents published in late 2004 and in the yet to be published 'Future of Amateur Radio Licensing' consultation document. It is vital that we stop any attempts to de-regulate the hobby, therefore, we must oppose any movement towards a licence for life.

IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT REGIONAL TEAMS GET OUT TO THE CLUBS NOW AND GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS

De-regulation would disenfranchise all amateurs.

De-regulation would remove the need for examinations.

De-regulation would mean that anyone operating on the amateur bands would not need a licence.

De-regulation would mean that without a licence ALL UK amateurs would be prevented from operating abroad whilst on holiday.

De-regulation would mean that any amateur who moves to live in another Country would NOT have a licence to enable them to transfer to a licence in the new Country.

De-regulation would mean the end of the repeater network.

De-regulation would mean the end of the packet network.

De-regulation would mean the end of all NoVs.

De-regulation would mean the end of band plans and a free for all on the bands.

RSGB is not prepared to see the hobby of amateur radio destroyed.

RSGB does not intend to be enticed by short-term promises of a free licence.

RSGB will do all in its power to prevent deregulation

RSGB has approached authority to highlight the dangers of de-regulation. As a result of our initial approaches the Ofcom Board has thrown out the immediate publication of the supposed consultation document. They have sent the document back for re-evaluation.

RSGB has 80 years of amateur radio experience.
We know what the hobby needs.
We are prepared to challenge Ofcom arrogance.
We deplore 'preferred options' being issued under the guise of consultation.
We will now seek to get a document that is genuinely 'consultative'

RSGB is prepared to assume responsibility for issuing and renewing licences.

However, when the new document eventually sees the light of day it may still try to de-regulate our hobby.

If that happens we will need every amateur, both our membership and those few who are not members, to be prepared to fight to save amateur radio. If you do not fight, when the time comes, be prepared to say goodbye to operating on holidays abroad, to foreign DXpeditions and all the benefits the hobby brings.

THESE ARE NOT EMPTY THREATS ON THE FUTURE OF AMATEUR RADIO. THEY ARE REAL AND THEY MUST BE ROBUSTLY OPPOSED BY THE AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY.

THE RSGB IS THE ONLY NEGOTIATION VEHICLE

SO THE MESSAGE TO MEMBERS AND NON MEMBERS MUST BE

JOIN US TO FIGHT DE-REGULATION

JOIN US TO SAVE OUR LICENCE

JOIN US IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE OUR SPECTRUM

JOIN US TO SAVE OUR STATUS

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