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GM7HUD > HF 05.05.03 21:09l 39 Lines 1904 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 781144GM7HUD
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Re: New BBS
Path: DB0FHN<DB0ZWI<DB0HDF<DB0ERF<DB0SON<DB0MRW<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<UT1IZA<
WB0TAX<HA3PG<CT2GWY<GB7YKS<GB7MAX<GB7ESX
Sent: 030505/1834z 64556@GB7ESX.#31.GBR.EU $:781144GM7HUD [Witham, Esx]NNA V3.1
Mike UA9CIR wrote:-
> No, an internet host happens to have an identifier similar to a ham
> radio callsign.
> Such identifiers are not callsigns so they don't have to be unique.
> Neither do they need to have any connection with the Ham Radio
> authorities, UK or elsewhere.
I do wish our foreign readers would keep up with the law in the UK before
they start telling the world what is and isn't radio.
GB7ABC was once an amateur radio BBS. As such the sysop (GW3TMH) would
have held the necessary licence ammendments to permit him to run such a
BBS. The fact that he now is running a system wholly internet based makes
no difference under recent clarifications made by the UK RA. (For our
foreign readers, the RA (Radio Authority) are the UK equivalent of the
FCC.) They have recently written and explained that ***ANY*** operation
taking place over the internet where communications are identified by an
amateur callsign and the communications end up being accessible by amateur
radio (no matter where in the world that radio may be UA9, VK, ZL, KH6
etc.) are considered to be *RADIO COMMUNICATIONS* and such are governed by
the UK ham radio licence, even if the activity using a UK callsign took
place wholly over wired comms (such as dial-up modems, ADSL, cable modems
etc.) So GB7ABC is actually a RADIO BBS in the UK even though it has no
radios connected.
Hopefully the sysop will still have his NOV (ammendment to his licence to
runa BBS) and will have that updated to allow connection to the internet.
Even though GB7ABC doesn't connect via radios, the sysop must still have
all the necessary UK paperwork in place or else he'll be placing his
licence at risk.
Such is the strange legal situation in the UK. If you don't believe me
I'll pass on the RA official's contact details who has made this ruling. I
wonder if he was truly aware of the precedent he was making.
73 de Andy GM7HUD
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