From this week's ARNewsline(#1473): www.arnewsline.org

RESTRUCTURING: UK POLL SHOWS HAMS OPPOSE LICENSING FOR LIFE

British hams have told U-K Radio Regulator Ofcom that they do not want
lifetime licenses. This in a poll commissioned by the regulatory agency.
Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham in the U-K, with mo

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The majority of radio amateurs want to keep the existing amateur radio
licensing regime or change to a longer license renewal period rather than
switch to a license for life, according to an Ofcom commissioned MORI poll
into the future of amateur radio in the UK.

The survey of 1,572 amateurs also revealed that two-thirds of amateur
radio licensees believe that the current licensing arrangement is "about
right".

Ofcom is keen to issue amateur radio licenses for life. But 52% of
respondents to the MORI survey said they prefer either the existing
arrangement or an extended renewal period.

Among members of the RSGB, the life-time license is even less popular, with
around two-thirds favoring the current arrangement or a longer renewal
period. Only a third preferred a life-time license. Interestingly, support
for the lifetime license was less among frequent radio users than among
those who use their radios irregularly.

Of those who wanted a longer renewal period, 60% preferred a five year
renewal period, 23% a three year renewal period and only 10% a ten years or
more renewal period. The survey also showed that only a tiny minority (1%)
wanted to abolish the licensing arrangement altogether, radio amateurs
generally believing that the licensing system was vital in maintaining
standards of on-air operation. Less than 1% wanted to replace the current
Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced licenses with something else.

Radio amateurs were generally also not keen on Ofcom's plans for web-based
electronic licenses, with only two in five giving their support to this
idea in spite of Ofcom offering to provide a license postal service for
those who don't have access to the Internet.

I'm G4NJH, in Nottinhgam.

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The results of the poll do not appear to be in any way binding on Ofcom
which previously stated that it wants to issue ham radio licenses for life.
(GB2RS)