CQ Magazine calls on FCC to resume amateur enforcement

'CQ' magazine is calling on FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Kris Monteith to move swiftly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as Special Counsel for Amateur Radio, and to bring FCC enforcement back to the ham bands.

Writing in his Zero Bias editorial in the December 2008 issue, 'CQ' Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that the Commission not only has failed to name a successor to Hollingsworth, but that not a single amateur enforcement action has been taken since his retirement this past July.

At that time, the editorial noted, the amateur radio community was assured that the Commission's dedication to enhanced enforcement in the Amateur Service remains strong. However, the FCC's total inaction since July suggests otherwise.

"This is deeply disturbing and of grave concern," wrote Moseson, adding, "It would be a tragedy, and a travesty, if the FCC were to go back on its promise to be there for us and allowed amateur enforcement to once again drop off the radar."

The need for continuing amateur enforcement was reinforced after the issue went to press when "CQ" was informed of an outburst of racist diatribes on 20 meters, including the transmission of recordings of a Hitler rally and Nazi marching songs.

"This type of behavior was all too common before 'Sheriff' Riley came to town a decade ago," noted Moseson, "and it quickly disappeared once it became obvious that someone in authority was paying attention. But now, only a matter of months since Riley handed in his badge, it has become obvious to these hams that they are once again free to do whatever they please without fear of any consequences."

"The FCC must get back into the amateur enforcement business, and it must do so quickly," says Moseson, "before the situation once again gets out of control. Enforcement Bureau Chief Monteith must act promptly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth and assure amateurs that they have not once again been abandoned by the Commission."

The full text of Moseson's editorial is online at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/, linked from the December issue highlights.