Deregulation still a threat

At a meeting between the RSGB and Ofcom which took place on 25 March, Ofcom's Deputy Chairman, Richard Hooper, assured the RSGB that deregulation of amateur radio was not an option that Ofcom were considering at this time. Despite these assurances the RSGB remains unconvinced.

Ofcom is committed under the Telecommunications Act 2003
to ease the regulatory burden wherever possible. The RSGB would argue that changing the expiry date on the amateur licence will not ease this burden, radio amateurs will still be required to hold a licence, and the costs and administration involved in issuing that licence will still exist.

Only deregulation will fulfil Ofcom's objective and that is why the RSGB remains sceptical of Ofcom's statement and
position.

The meeting with Ofcom was productive. The RSGB team was well received and the Society's concerns regarding deregulation and the proposal to issue a `life time' licence were noted.

It is the RSGB's understanding that the proposed consultation on the future of amateur radio licensing will now begin around the middle of April. A further meeting between the Society and Ofcom is planned after the publication of the consultation document.

A full statement on the RSGB position will be placed on the Society's website shortly and will appear in the May edition of RadCom.

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