Spectrum defense fund marks eleventh year

First begun in 1996 to protect the 2 meter band from "Little LEOs" (low-earth orbiting satellites), the ARRL's Spectrum Defense Fund marks its eleventh annual appeal this year, urging members to take a stand to protect the Amateur Radio spectrum from broadband over power lines (BPL).

The ARRL's concern is not whether BPL will ultimately succeed or fail, but whether the federal government will fulfill its obligation to ensure that BPL systems - if and when they are deployed - will not pollute the radio spectrum.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, calls protecting the radio spectrum against BPL interference "a good example of how the ARRL works on all fronts to protect Amateur Radio. We must be patient - spectrum defense is a never-ending mission. We must be resolute, not discouraged by the occasional setback. We must be creative, seeking alternate paths to success. Above all, we must be accurate; credibility is a precious commodity that is too easily lost."

The ARRL first brought problems concerning BPL interference to light five years ago in the October 2002 issue of QST, calling it a potential source of "radio smog." In that time, the League has fought hard to protect our precious spectrum, including the fight for "stronger protection against BPL interference in the FCC's rules, and when the FCC failed to go far enough we took them to court - a huge but necessary financial commitment. We have taken our case to Congress, seeking legislation directing the FCC to do a serious study of the interference issue. We have done our technical homework, verifying the inadequacy of the FCC's rules and documenting violations by irresponsible BPL companies," Sumner said.

He continued: "But we also have cooperated with reputable firms, helping them to understand the seriousness of the issue and the steps they need to take to avoid problems with radio amateurs. We've made some important gains on that front -- no thanks to the FCC, which (unlike many in the BPL industry) remains more interested in defending its early errors than in correcting them."

Sumner does explain that BPL interference issues are not all that the Spectrum Defense Fund is allocated for. He says that next year, the ARRL will begin its preparation for the 2011 World Radiocommunication Conference; agenda items for WRC-11 will be discussed this year in Geneva at WRC-07. "We will continue to defend our spectrum access against reallocation as well as against the insidious threats posed by unlicensed devices and systems," he said.

All ARRL members are an essential part of the team that will ensure that we win the fight over spectrum encroachment. With a successful Spectrum Defense Fund campaign, "the ARRL is able to stand up for Amateur Radio - just as the League has done since its founding nearly a century ago," Sumner said.

He pointed out that the proceeds to the Spectrum Defense Fund are restricted to being used only for that purpose - spectrum defense: "When you make your contribution, you can be sure that your contribution is spent on these, and only these activities. If you've checked the ARRL audited financial statements that we post on the ARRL Web site each year, you know that the expenses attached to protecting our frequencies are never fully funded by the Spectrum Defense Fund. Membership dues and other revenues cover the rest. In fact, every penny of income the ARRL receives is devoted to the protection, promotion and advancement of Amateur Radio. It's why the League was created in 1914 and why it exists today."

For more information on how you can support the ARRL's efforts to protect the Amateur Radio spectrum, please see the Spectrum Defense Fund page on the ARRL Web site.

Source: The American Radio Relay League