A great bunch of folks who understand and comprehend the true threats to
amateur radio.
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http://www.eham.net/articles/6675

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The Tampa Bay Hamfest Issues a Challenge
Dan Johnson (W4BNC) on October 7, 2003
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The Tampa Bay Hamfest Issues a Challenge
In Defense of Amateur Radio
By: Dan Johnson - W4BNC
October 6, 2003
This December 6th and 7th, the twenty-eighth annual Tampa Bay Hamfest
will continue the celebration of everything good that is Ham Radio. But
our celebration will be tempered by a new and ominous threat to our
frequencies and our operating privileges. A proposal to allow Broadband
over Power Lines (BPL) is currently pending before the Federal
Communications Commission. BPL has the potential to cause devastating
interference to the entire radio spectrum between 2 MHz and 80 MHz.
The Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council (FGCARC), sponsors of the
28th Annual Tampa Bay Hamfest, has overwhelmingly voted to donate $1.00
of each admission ticket sold at this year's hamfest to the ARRL - BPL
Legal Defense Fund. FGCARC is proud to issue the Tampa Bay Hamfest
Challenge to every other major Hamfest nationwide. We challenge you to
follow our lead by contributing ONE DOLLAR per ticket to the ARRL
Amateur Radio Defense Fund.
"I am very pleased that our group has chosen the high road to defend our
frequency privileges", says Dan Johnson, W4BNC, this year's council
president and hamfest chairman. Our success has been derived from the
dedication of a loyal core group of members from 28 ham clubs within the
West Central Florida Section that have come together with one common
goal; that is to promote a successful hamfest. At a time when many
events are on a decline we have been fortunate to experience growth over
the last 3 years.
The Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council, Inc. recognizes the
substantial threat BPL is to the over eight hundred sixty thousand
Amateur Radio licensees nationwide. For this reason, the 2003 TampaBay
Hamfest will be conducted "In Defense of Amateur Radio". ARRL Labs
Technical Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI will present information on BPL. ARRL
Southeastern Division Director Frank Butler, W4RH will discuss the
ARRL's actions, to date, to stop this threat. Other forums will focus on
positive steps Hams can take to advance the Amateur Radio art. And, our
vendors will bring the latest Ham Radio technology to their booths.
Come help us "In Defense of Amateur Radio" at the twenty-eight annual
TampaBay Hamfest, December 6th and 7th at the Manatee Co. Civic Center,
Palmetto, FL. For more information, visit our website,
http://www.fgcarc.org.