RAHIO HAMS READ THIS ONE

[Guest Clive]

Hi all, From previous communications it seems that we have a fair few Radio Hams amongst us Motorhomers. OFCOM COME TO A DECISION ON AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING. On February 14th Ofcom announced the reform of amateur radio licensing which is intended to reduce the administrative burden on the UK’s 63,000 amateur radio users. Extracts from the Ofcom executive summary:- • To issue lifetime amateur radio licences which will remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until such time as the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. There shall be no end date on the amateur radio licence. Such licences will be personal to the licensee and will not be transferable. • To provide an online, web-based, self-service licensing service as an alternative to the postal service. • To issue electronic licences (probably PDF documents) to users of the online, web-based, self-service licensing service. Users of this service would print a hard copy of the licence which must be kept at the main station address. • To continue to make paper licences available (but subject to a small administrative charge). • To modify the original proposal by requiring licensees to validate their licence details at least once every five years in order to maintain their lifetime licence. • It is Ofcom’s intention that from 1 October 2006 (the intended implementation date), all amateur radio licences will be issued by Ofcom. • Ofcom has carefully considered representations about the proposals that it has received from stakeholders. Each consultation response was considered with equal weight, regardless of whether the response was attributed to an individual or organisation, published anonymously or submitted as a confidential response. For more infomation log onto www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/statement/

[Guest roger s]

Yes a fat lot of good and a waste of money that consulation was. Who ever heard of a minority winning a vote (other than in general elections!)

[Guest clive]

I guess that because they gave every input equal weight irrespective of if it were the RSGB or Joe Bloggs that it came out as it did. But only last month they did the same with ships radio licenses.