Newington, CT, Apr 13, 2005

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) says its intervention with
Ofcom--the UK telecommunications regulatory agency--apparently has prompted
Ofcom's Board to revise its anticipated "Future Licensing Consultation
Document"--essentially a rule making proposal. The RSGB is on record as
being "strongly opposed" to any steps by Ofcom to deregulate Amateur Radio
in Great Britain, fearing that it could lead to the elimination of amateur
licensing altogether. The RSGB says it believes the revisions to the
proposal have to do with deregulation.

Publication of the consultation document has been put off until after the
general election in the UK, possibly around the end of May, the Society has
announced. But RSGB General Manager Peter Kirby, G0TWW, says the Society
remains wary about Ofcom's intentions.

"Ofcom have assured us that deregulation is not an option that they are
considering at the present time or in the future," Kirby told ARRL, adding
that he remains unconvinced. "Deregulation of Amateur Radio has appeared in
three separate Ofcom documents in the last four months. I think they speak
with forked tongue!" The RSGB has expressed concerns that Ofcom is planning
to propose a free lifetime license for radio amateurs to entice them into
accepting general deregulation down the road.

An RSGB delegation that included RSGB President Jeff Smith, MI0AEX, and
Kirby met with Ofcom officials March 24. Ofcom Deputy Chairman Richard
Hooper chaired the session, and the Ofcom Board had been set to review and
approve the consultation document April 5. The RSGB says it also hopes that
Hooper's announced departure by year's end will not affect Ofcom's thinking
on the issue. The Society says it was encouraged by Hooper's personal
assurances that the deregulation of Amateur Radio was not on Ofcom's agenda.

The Society says an earlier draft of the consultation document stated that
Ofcom was proposing to reform Amateur Radio licensing to reduce the
regulatory burden on radio users. The RSGB has vowed to fight any moves to
deregulate Amateur Radio in part because that would altogether eliminate
training, examinations and the need to get a license or a call sign. In such
a deregulated environment, the RSGB maintains, anyone could buy radio gear
and operate on the ham bands, leading to widespread interference problems.
Perhaps most important, the Society says, deregulation would disenfranchise
UK amateurs from the rest of the Amateur Radio world.

"The RSGB agrees that the Amateur Service in the United Kingdom is
over-regulated but strongly believes deregulation is not the answer," the
Society said in a statement following the March 24 meeting with Ofcom. The
Society said Amateur Radio Service has been a breeding ground for technical
innovation and development. "To deregulate would be to amputate the hand
that feeds industry with those needed engineers and scientists," it
concluded.

The RSGB says the best option would be a renewable five-year license. It's
also indicated to Ofcom that it's willing to take on the role of issuing
amateur licenses and assuming the administrative costs and burden of doing
so.

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, has said the level of deregulation the RSGB
fears would fly in the face of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) Radio Regulations, which oblige administrations to license radio
stations--including amateur stations--and to verify the operational and
technical qualifications of amateur operators.
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/13/100/?nc=1