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G4EBT > NEWS 18.04.07 15:33l 191 Lines 6603 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : E65178G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: RSGB junk mail M0PZT
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0AAB<DB0KFB<DB0CZ<DB0GE<DB0LJ<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 070418/1229Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:27414 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:E65178G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@WW
Charlie, M0PZT wrote:-
> ...and in other news:
> * "roll it up and place it in the bin", says GM, Peter Kirby.
> The issue of the RSGB sending un-solicited invitations to join it's
> company/society was debated this week when a number UK radio amateurs
> received an invitation to join the RSGB "free for 3 months" if paying
> by Direct Debit.
I too was one of the chosen many who got the RSGB junk-mail shot.
I filed it under "burn before reading".
>Yes, the company that claims to represent the interests of our hobby,
>gets to broadcast it's slanted musings over the airwaves, and appears
>to be on-par with George Bush in the credibility stakes would also like
>un-restricted access to your bank account.
Never a truer word.
> Upon receiving a sternly-worded letter from Charlie M0PZT - Peter
> Kirby, the General Manager of the RSGB found it necessary to go on the
> defensive and quote a 1961 address of the then President of the Irish
> Radio and Transmitting Society, Harry Wilson, EI2W:
> "There is no excuse for any licensed amateur in the country to remain
> outside of an organisation that was constituted and is still working
> for his survival".
Arrant nonsense.
RSGB is fighting for its *own* survival - not the hobby's,
as a glance at its annual accounts will show. (Dire).
RSGB is self-important, self-delusional, self-serving and class-obsessed.
It's lost its way.
Everyone knows from RSGB propaganda at rallies, in Radcom and its "Grim
Reaper" ads in PW that it entered into a combative relationship with
Ofcom.
That's why many such as me - after more than 30 years a member, resigned
rather than to fund and put the seal of approval on RSGB's churlish
antics.
> The "excuse" that many amateurs give for not joining the RSGB, it would
> seem, is that the Society has a very twisted view of the hobby, it's
> future and the direction it may be taking.
Exactly so.
RSGB's been in a rut as deep as a grave for decades.
It's impeded progress of many developments in the hobby, but many like
me felt it was the right thing to support the only national society, in
recognition of the efforts of its many unpaid volunteers.
But when you rely on volunteers you get the most willing - not the most
able. Some do it for the best of altruistic reasons, others are just
ego-tripping control freaks.
Often they're just old fogey traditionalists who want to maintain the
status quo. They have an aversion to new technology - especially anything
to do with computers or internet. We saw it with repeaters, SSB, the Morse
test, packet, IRLP, the new licence structure and the recent Ofcom
initiatives.
People like that are excess baggage and just clutter up the hobby.
>Despite enjoying a cosy relationship with industry communications
>regulator, OFCOM, the RSGB have previously depicted this Government
>body as "the Grim Reaper" in an advertisement that predicts the death
>of our hobby "within 5 years thanks to de-regulation".
RSGB showed a lamentable lack of vision, seeing de-regulation only as
a threat, failing to consider what opportunities there might be.
The terms of the licence were 50 years out of date, incomprehensible,
widely misunderstood by many including the now defunct RA, and even
unlawful in some respects. But RSGB wanted things to stay just as they
were, and to squander members' subs to keep it that way.
It claims to have its finger on the pulse of the hobby yet was
ill-prepared for de-regulation, and failed to recognise that whatever
RSGB's views are, Ofcom has a statutory duty to de-regulate and will do
so.
RSGB had ample time to consider the implications of a modern regulatory
environment, but seemed to think Ofcom was just like the RA - "a rose by
any other name".
Not so.
Hansard - House of Commons:
6 Mar 2002 : Column 375
Deregulation Committee:
14C It shall be a duty of OFCOM to establish a Deregulation Committee to
provide advice to OFCOM about how relevant proposals about the regulation
of communications could be modified to deregulate the communications
industry.'
End quote.
Communications Act 2003 - duty to deregulate:
Quote:
Duties to review regulatory burdens:
(1) OFCOM must keep the carrying out of their functions under review
with a view to securing that regulation by OFCOM does not involve:-
(a) the imposition of burdens which are unnecessary; or
(b) the maintenance of burdens which have become unnecessary.
Not difficult to understand is it?
What did RSGB do?
Sat on its hands for a couple of years then went at Ofcom like a bull at a
gate, throwing its puny weight about, badgering amateurs to "join the
fight to oppose any form of deregulation".
Anyone RSGB members who had any positive suggestions for bringing the
hobby into the third millennium, but misguided enough to channel them
through RSGB was either ignored or treated with disdain.
The answer was simple - kick the RSGB into touch, resign and dela direct
with Ofcom.
Ofcom has a duty to consult widely with its "citizen consumers". (That's
us). Ofcom will listen to and act upon sensible ideas from anyone
regardless of RSGB's intemperate posturing.
Not just an opinion, a well-documented fact.
Despite RSGB's ludicrous puffed up Wikipedia entry, not a single thing in
the licence revisions stems from RSGB. Except that is, the bureaucracy of
five-yearly renewals of the licence which we could do without, especially
elderly amateurs who aren't internet savvy.
Everything else was opposed by RSGB.
It told us so.
> Rather than wanting to be taken to task over the sending of such
> un-wanted mailings, Mr Kirby advised M0PZT to:
> "roll it up and place it in the bin".
> M0PZT is tempted to return the original letter to Mr Kirby, with the
> revised advice of "roll it up, turn it sideways and... " ;-)
> http://www.m0pzt.com/rsgb.htm
Excellent website Charlie. Your website footnote re the letters
on the site from yourself to RSGB and mine to Ofcom/RSGB says:
>Bulletins provided courtesy of GB7PZT BBS (no relation). If these
>disappear from the BBS, please tell me - and with David's permission,
>I'll post my own copies of them.
Be my guest.
I'll e-mail you my letter to Rob Mannion, PW editor, re the "Grim Reaper"
adverts if it's of interest. If not just do a PK - "roll it up and bin
it"!
Amateur radio needs RSGB like a fish needs a bicycle.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 12:56 on 2007-Apr-18
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