RadioBanter - The April Fools Joke that came true?

Shades of the early 1900s. It seems that those who do not study history are
doomed to repeat it.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Keith" wrote in message
nk.net...
:From: Keith )
:Subject: FCC Chairman Wants Change in Amateur Radio.
:Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.amateur.misc
:Date: 2001-04-01 00:32:05 PST

April 1, 2001 -(AP)
FCC Chairman wants to eliminate Morse Code and wasted spectrum by Hams.
In a speech Saturday night to the telecommunications industry FCC
Chairman
Michael Powell spoke out against the use of Morse Code and the waste of
valuable spectrum by ham radio operators, ham radio operators are licensed
CB
operators that pass a Morse Code test. The Chairman is concerned about the
waste of spectrum worth billions of dollars to the telecommunications
industry that is currently being used by Ham Radio operators.
The Chairman also wants a big change in the spectrum wasted in the Ultra
High Frequency area of spectrum in which Ham Radio Operators hold a
staggering sixty megahertz of spectrum, more then any other radio service.

"Amateur Radio operators in this frequency band only need about two
megahertz to chat with each other about the weather. Cellular and portable
communications are in great demand and the FCC should not allow a few
thousand people to hog spectrum needed by millions of consumers."

In a detailed presentation he outlined his plan to ask the
International Telecommunications Union for the reassignment of a four
megahertz chunk of spectrum to the airline industry that is presently held
by
amateurs near the overcrowded civilian aircraft band. He also outlined the
conversion of thirty megahertz of frequency for use by telecommunications
providers for data systems that could be used to supply high-speed access
to
the internet via radio frequencies.

To demonstrate why the FCC Chairman believes the Amateur Radio Service
is
wasting spectrum he played several tapes of licensed ham operators
using vulgar language and jamming stations in the band he wishes to
convert to the airline industry.
When asked by reporters about the possible opposition to his plan by ham
radio operators the Chairman smiled and exclaimed, "We are going to cut it
off and kill it!"
© 2001 Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
--
Best Regards,
Keith (Use Reply-to for email)
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Best Regards, Keith http://kilowatt-radio.org/
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