August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),
is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service
throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin
County, Tennessee."

Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be
based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive
to the value of the communications in progress, according to the
Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane
would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North
Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special
high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same
old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated.

Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being
charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can".
Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates
"because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said.

In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure
that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be
assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing.
Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected
would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on
claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name
"Billy Beeper".

Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10.

---30---

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

L.

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. "This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at http://tinyurl.com/48krd),
is designed to raise funds to subsidize the deployment of BPL service
throughout America, but especially in disadvantaged places like Franklin
County, Tennessee."

Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee structure will be
based on actual on-the-air use of amateur radio, and will be sensitive
to the value of the communications in progress, according to the
Chariman. "As an example, emergency communications during a hurricane
would be billed at a higher rate than less valuable usage like the North
Carolina Lumbago Net." Powell remarked. "Contesters would get special
high volume discounts, since their communications simply repeat the same
old stuff over and over all weekend long" he stated.

Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in use, with CW being
charged a premium rate because "it get's through when nothing else can".
Video modes like SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates
"because a picture is worth a thousand words" the Chairman said.

In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's father, Secretary of
State Colin Powell, stated that the IARU would be contacted to ensure
that foreign DX operators communicating with US stations would be
assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC "Most Wanted" listing.
Secretary Powell cited an alleged operation from "T5" which he expected
would owe "several tens of thousands of dollars" retroactively based on
claims on an internet newsgroup by an operator with the screen name
"Billy Beeper".

Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10.

---30---

L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for
Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.


I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense.

L.

Mike Coslo wrote:

L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.

I think Hans is, as usual, being very funny. This scenario reminds me
of the Japanese ham who wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast
DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been told that there were
jokes in the Bulletin. He wondered if Cass could possibly point out
some of the jokes.

Dave K8MN

Dave K8MN

"Dave Heil" wrote

This scenario reminds me of the Japanese ham who
wrote to Hugh Cassidy, editor of the West Coast
DX Bulletin years back, saying that he had been
told that there were jokes in the Bulletin. He
wondered if Cass could possibly point out some
of the jokes.

No jokes, only Eternal Enigmas and the Inevitable TruthsT.

73, de Hans, K0HB/4ID

Subject: FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS
From: "L."
Date: 8/12/2004 10:28 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: . net

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for
Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.


I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense.

There's a good reason for it NOT making any sense.

It was generated by K0HB.

Hans spent some time making a little fictional "news release" since he's
unable to directly address the matter objectively. Since I've managed to
derail his rant, he's taking a different approach.

73

Steve, K4YZ

In article .net,
says...

August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur

snip silliness

Ok... That wasn't bad. I got about ten lines in before I started
chuckling, so you actually had me going for a second. ;-)

I only have one question: Why didn't you save this for April Fools
for next year? It would have made a first-class entry!

73 de KC7GR


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

In article ,
(Steve Robeson K4CAP) wrote:

Subject: FCC Announces use-based fee system for ARS
From: "L."
Date: 8/12/2004 10:28 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: . net

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
L. wrote:

That doesn't even make sense - if that is true. Charge MORE for
Emergency
Services? That is one of the key reasons FOR Amateur Radio........
Something stinks there.........

You've just stumbled onto a little range war, L. That tinyurl link is
the page of another Ham that suggested increased fees for licensing, and
Hans is just being Hans.


I kinda wondered about that! The whole thing made no sense.

There's a good reason for it NOT making any sense.

It was generated by K0HB.

Hans spent some time making a little fictional "news release" since he's
unable to directly address the matter objectively. Since I've managed to
derail his rant, he's taking a different approach.

73

Steve, K4YZ


I beg to differ, gents. I got three lines into Hans' message before I
backed up, started again, and then had an uncontrollable giggling fit.
That piece of wit, humor, and good fun is in no wise a 'rant'; and in
fact, it makes a helluva lot more sense in its logic and structure than
virtually anything the FCC sez these days.

Considering what is happening lately to once-upon-a-time "public"
facilities in this country (entry fees, user fees, lurking fees, etc.) I
fully expect the Feds to propose exactly what Hans jests, but they would
impose a more cumbersome and less logical fee assessment.

Yet, maybe even the FCC would grant ARRL Field Day a "free ride" ... it
serves no purpose as an emergency exercise, no information of any value
whatsoever is exchanged, and sufficient equipment is knocked out of
service to ensure less QRM in the weeks and months following.

Gray K7VGW

--
Reply to: allen/at/graybyrd/dot/com

"KØHB" wrote in message
link.net...
August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (API)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael Powell released
preliminary news of a new "user fee" based revenue system for amateur
radio operators. [...snip...]
Stay tuned for further details. Movie at 10.
---30---


Cute!

Too sad about his daughter, though.

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.