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G4EBT > FREECB 20.11.03 00:34l 114 Lines 5103 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8C1875G4EBT
Read: GUEST DG9VH
Subj: UK CB licence to be scrapped!
Path: DB0FHN<DB0THA<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0IUZ<DB0GOS<ON0AR<ON0AR<GB7FCR
Sent: 031119/2313Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:26001 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:8C1875G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : FREECB@WW
A proposal is underway to de-regulate the UK CB Service with effect
from July 2004. CB is described by the RA as:
"A short-range radio service for both hobby and business use, designed
to be used without the need for any technical qualifications. To prevent
interference to other radio users, all CB equipment must meet certain
minimum performance specifications, and users must adhere to maximum
power thresholds".
At present, under the WT Act 1949, every CB user in the UK must obtain a
licence, renewable annually, for a fee of 15GBP if aged over 21 or under
75.
There's a proposal to completely withdraw the present UK-only 40 CB
channels, and retain just the 40 Pan-European Channels. The RA say that
at its peak, there were 300,000 CB licences in the UK, which has fallen
to only 24,000, and the steadily declining CB activity levels doesn't
justify the retention of 80 channels.
To prevent this closure from causing major inconvenience, it is proposed
to give a minimum seven years notice, so the earliest date for closure
will be 30 June 2010.
It is also proposed to scrap the requirement to hold a licence for CB,
pointing to a useful precedent as far back as 1981, when the need for
a licence for model aircraft control was removed.
The Communications Bill presently before Parliament contains a number
of new provisions relating to authorisation of spectrum. One new
requirement concerns the need to consider exemptions unless there
are good reasons on interference grounds to need a licence.
Spectrum management will transfer from the RA to OFCOM, which will take
over the RA's role. It is the government's intention that OFCOM should
encourage a deregulatory approach wherever possible.
Deregulation is seen by the RA as a positive move which will put and end
to form-filling, expense and delays in obtaining licences. The operating
conditions currently in place in the CB licence booklet, (RA369), and the
technical specifications will remain the same, to safeguard the power use
of the spectrum.
Though this is a significant move for the UK, a decision of CEPT
(ERC/DEC/98) 16) has already suggested that Member states exempt these
services from licensing, and many other EU Administrations have done so
already.
The new amateur radio licence structure in the UK is in line with the
deregulatory approach. Entry requirements need be no higher than the
minimum consistent with minimising risk of interference to other spectrum
users. Anything that goes beyond this is unsustainable.
Licensing is nothing at all to do with what existing radio amateurs think
an ideal radio amateur should consist of, which only confuses the issues.
How people do or don't progress through the hobby, and the level of
expertise that they do or don't attain is quite a separate matter.
As with all other hobbies, will depend upon their own wishes, not the
whims of licensing or attempts by existing participants to mould
newcomers in their own idiom, (which is futile, and destined to fail
anyway).
Want someone to share your interest in Morse code or home-brewing, or
whatever? Then explain the benefits and why you get pleasure from it,
and offer to help them learn. Telling them that "anyone who doesn't
want to learn is bone-idle" is a total turn-off.
One thing that the RA could do which would help a little, is to scrap
the need for mandatory log-keeping. Most amateurs will want to keep a
log anyway, but it's a complete red herring to say that with higher
power than CB, we need to keep a record of every transmission "in case
of complaints of RFI". If an RFI complaint is received (very rare), then
it's a simple task to make test transmissions to check if the station is
the source. (No other spectrum users have to keep a mandatory log).
Wev'e generally done well out of the RA down the years. Let's look forward
to more and more relaxation of red-tape and rules and regs in amateur
radio, so people can just get on with it.
It's good to see the RA slimming down and being absorbed into OFCOM. I
understand that the transistion has gone smoothly to plan, and RA staff
have this week moved into OFCOM premises from Wyndham House.
Amateur radio is only a tiny part of their work anyway. Total RA net cash
inflow year to March '03 was 80 million GBP (up from 72 million to '02).
Income from amatuer radio = about 1.5%, most of which will have been taken
up by licence admin costs. May as well make the amateur radio licence free
and renewable every five years.
RA has an interesting and well put together website with lots of info
about amateur radio, such as the syllabus's of amateur radio courses,
guidance to course instructors, licensing info, and lots of useful links.
find it at:
http://www.radio.gov.uk/topics/amateur
Take a look - you'll be impressed!
73 - David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Eddystone User Group Member
G-QRP Club Member No: 1339
QTH: Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
david@crofters89.freeserve.co.uk
Message timed: 23:04 on 2003-Nov-19
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
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