"Mike Coslo" wrote

Here is a hypothetical situation:


----------------------------------------------------------------------

97.1 To get an Amateur Radio license, you are required to pass
a technical test to show that you understand how to build simple
equipment which meets spectral purity specifications of (.....blah,
blah, blah). You will be issued a license and callsign when you
pass the test. Transmit your call sign once every 10 minutes when
on the air.

97.2 Your power limit is 1.5KW to the antenna.

97.3 Here are your bands. Stay inside of them.

97.4 Your are encouraged to tinker and experiment and communicate
and do public service and talk to strangers in far away lands and
launch communications satellites into space and any other cool
technical "radio stuff" you may think up. The government doesn't
care what mode you use for any of this, except that 10 years from
today, all non-digitized modes will be retired.

97.5 Play nice. We'll try to keep the CBers out of your hair.
Deliberate interference, unresolved dirty signals, or other asinine
behavior on your part will cause Riley Hollingsworth to come and
permanently kick your ass off the playground. Have fun.

Love always,
/signed/ FCC

----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Just as the amateur service thrived on the challenge of being "banished" to
the
shortwaves back 80 years ago or so, I think another "challenge" is needed to
revitalize the spirit of experimentation and invention. We need to be
kicked
out of our comfort zone.

Give us the authority to freely tinker, explore, innovate, and generally be
"hams" again. That's how we "colonized" the electromagnetic spectrum,
"proved
it in", and "made it safe for commerce". As long as we don't spill out of
our assigned segments, let us play without technical micro-management.
Who knows what we might develop!

73, de Hans, K0HB