HR 607

[N8YX]

Though I don't agree with the League's whole EmComm whackerism bent, I do feel that their Spectrum Defense efforts are worthwhile and encourage anyone with a little extra mazoola to donate said fundage to that cause.

[n2ize]

Perhaps the idiots who wrote the bill aren't even aware that such thing as "ham radio" exists. Politicians are getting dumber and more clueless by the day.

In any event radio spectrum is like gold these days. It's invaluable. Fight for it or lose it. A lot of politicians couldn't give a shit about ham radio.

[ka8ncr]

How much spectrum does "public service" need anyway? They have been given an entire 700 MHz allocation and have yet to use it.

When they build their nationwide network, are they going to disband the local and regional digital trunking systems that chew up nearly all of the 800 MHz band?

[W3WN]

Perhaps the idiots who wrote the bill aren't even aware that such thing as "ham radio" exists. Politicians are getting dumber and more clueless by the day.

In any event radio spectrum is like gold these days. It's invaluable. Fight for it or lose it. A lot of politicians couldn't give a shit about ham radio.

The politicians didn't write the bill. Neither did anyone on their staff. Someone in the industry wrote it, and got one of their in-the-pocket "friends" to file it on their behalf, and similar "friends" to sponsor it.

All the politicians will hear is about the "jobs" that the sale of this "new" spectrum will generate. They'll be told that there's nothing but a small group of selfish old people who don't vote... hams... who are hogging this valuable spectrum and keeping commercial interests from using it... ITU treaties? Never heard of them.

What we have to do is start writing our Washington goniffs... be they Senators or Congress(wo)men... and tell them, politely but firmly, that we OPPOSE this spectrum grab, and that we DO vote. And keep writing them. Even the ones who don't directly represent us.

Because the first rule of a politician who's won office is to get re-elected. They start getting rumblings of disconent from the grass roots, they make take notice. They start seeing an avalanche... well, they may be dishonest, greedy, and try to steal anything and everything they can, but they're not dumb.

[kb2vxa]

1) ALL of it!
2) Only because manufacturers aren't pushing it... yet.
3) They just got finished re-banding it, what makes you think they'll ever DIS-band it?

If you do an FCC database search you'd be surprised how many interoperability assignments there are. So why don't you already know this even though you have a scanner?
"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence...

And you thought paper repeaters were a ham thing?

[W3WN]

So... it's been over two weeks since the news broke.

What have YOU done about it? [Not you COR, since you're out of the country...]

Have you written or emailed or phone your CongressGoniff, er, Congressman to indicate your displeasure with the concept of losing 2/3 of the 70 cm band? (Especially when the "D-Band" that is proposed to be re-allocated is two 5 MHz segments... and the bill proposes taking away 40 MHz in the 70 cm region alone... 420 - 440 & 450 - 470 MHz. And that may mean goodbye, FRS & GMRS!)

No?

Even if you don't like the organization, go to the League's web site and look at the sample letter they have there. Rewrite it in your own words, or write one of your own in your own words.

Then -- send it to the lobbying firm of Chwat & Co. Yes, it's the one the ARRL pays for... and this is WHAT they pay them for. They will HAND DELIVER all signed letters received to the CongressGoniff's offices.

Remember, that statistically, for every letter that's written, it also represents at least 1000 people who felt the same way and didn't write. (That's the math they use, so I am told.) So enough letters from constituents can make a difference.

Sample letter can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Advoc...0draft%203.doc . Read it, revise it, sign it. (And they must be signed to be effective!)

Then send it...

Mail to: John Chwat, Chwat & Co., 625 Slaters Lane Suite 103, Alexandria VA 22314-1176
Fax to: (704) 684-7594
Email to: arrl@chwatco.com

What? You can't be bothered enough to take 5 minutes to print a letter, sign it, and mail it? Is this the Island or... another site we won't mention at this time, that's all talk and no action...

[NQ6U]

Already done, Ron. Not only did I e-mail a comment to my Congressperson, I followed up with a real letter.