Must be a hoax. Powell has no idea about what is going on with ham radio.

Dan/W4NTI

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),
is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service
throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin
County, Tennessee."

Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be
based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive
to the value of the communications in progress, according to the
Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane
would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North
Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special
high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same
old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated.

Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being
charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can".
Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates
"because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said.

In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure
that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be
assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing.
Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected
would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on
claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name
"Billy Beeper".

Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10.

---30---

In rec.radio.amateur.policy "K?HB" wrote:
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),
is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service
throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin
County, Tennessee."

snip for brevity

Amazing how an obvious piece of satire has resulted in so much pontification.

Or maybe not so amazing...

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.

But do you know what the REALLY SAD part of this story is...?

There are likely to be alot of hams that will believe it to be true.

Only way better to stir up the hams beside's the
issue of CW is the topic of money.

(rotflmao - sheesh!)

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),
is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service
throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin
County, Tennessee."

Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be
based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive
to the value of the communications in progress, according to the
Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane
would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North
Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special
high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same
old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated.

Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being
charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can".
Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates
"because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said.

In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure
that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be
assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing.
Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected
would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on
claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name
"Billy Beeper".

Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10.

---30---

"Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com wrote in message hlink.net...
Must be a hoax. Powell has no idea about what is going on with ham radio.

It's another rather well done Brakob spoof/troll just to see how many
would actually fall for it. I'm appalled!

w3rv


Dan/W4NTI

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
Mike Coslo wrote:

L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.

I think Hans is, as usual, being very funny. This scenario reminds me
of the Japanese ham who wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast
DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been told that there were
jokes in the Bulletin. He wondered if Cass could possibly point out
some of the jokes.

Dave K8MN

Dave K8MN

When did David hold a JA call?