Could the FCC "sunset" all American amateur radio?

[Citywide173]

About 80,000 hams in the US were active enough to get a digital ID of some sort (DMR, NXDN, etc.) over the last few years. Some of those are duplicates, so probably about 75,000 realistically. Doesn't mean they ever used the radio, but at least they're active enough to still be at least somewhat involved in amateur radio. There are probably 150,000-200,000 people who use HF somewhat regularly. My guess would be 25-30% of the total licensed hams in the US are actually somewhat active. Just a guess, of course.

3.797 million square miles in the us. That comes out to 0.021 hams per square mile (or 0.19 per square mile of all licenes). 80,000 or even 748,136 people is a woefully small number when compared to the number of paying customers the FCC has. There is no argument that could stop them if they wanted to sunset ham radio.

 

[GlobalNorth]

The amateur secondary allocation to the 3.5 GHz band ended today. Yes, existing users are "grandfathered" for a short time, but there goes another chunk of technologically worthy bandwidth. Of course, the ARRL argued the experimentation and public service points, but to no avail.

Oh well, at least 160 meters is still available to those few who live on farms/ranches/rural tracts with no HOA or deed restrictions.

 

[k6cpo]

Things may change if we get a new FCC Director with the new administration...

 

[wa8pyr]

I think you are dating yourself with some of these beliefs.

Most major municipalities/counties/states now have redundant communications systems that have backup generator power in multiple locations, communications trailers (COWs) and satellite capabilities. Most minor municipalities don't even have an EOC. I have never seen an amateur operator at our EOC and can attest to the fact that even when they are present at events, such as the Boston Marathon, their interaction with public safety for communications purposes is almost non-existent.

That said, I do carry a HT with me on Marathon Monday just in case, but I am the anomaly. In the past, your statements were true, but as time has moved forward, the amateur operator has been far outpaced by technology and, as a result, is becoming more and more irrelevant as a tool for assisting public safety.

Actually, if your area is one of those it's one of the few. True, many major municipalities and some states do have redundant systems, trailers, satellite access and whizz-bangs galore etc as you noted, but it's far from most, and many (probably most) counties do not even remotely have the kind of redundant communications capability you're thinking of. They can't afford it.

I do this for a living, and amateur radio is still an active component of emergency operations planning all over the country; as the prior commenter noted, the local ARES folks are generally up and running long before the local infrastructure has been restored, at no charge to the served agencies. The value of Amateur Radio communicators has been noted time and again during natural disasters.

On your point about some amateur radio support being a Charlie Foxtrot, I have to agree. Most I've dealt with are pretty good and very dedicated; there have been a few that weren't so great, but that was due more to new folks with limited training more than anything else. In our EOC, we use hams as communicators in the radio room in addition to manning the ham station and providing comms for evacuation centers. The county I used to work for did the same, as do virtually all the counties in Ohio to some extent or another.

 

[N4GIX]

If the general public really wanted to use reliable communications means, GMRS would see a lot more users, and users using mobile radios with decent antennas. But they won't, and they don't.

GMRS is growing a great bit over the past few years. In fact, now that the FCC is allowing repeaters to be linked, there are several large and growing networks in existence. See: myGMRS.com - GMRS Repeater Directory for example.

Here is the system map for the largest of the networks: Live Status – Midwest GMRS Repeater Network

 

[N4GIX]

I do this for a living, and amateur radio is still an active component of emergency operations planning all over the country; as the prior commenter noted, the local ARES folks are generally up and running long before the local infrastructure has been restored, at no charge to the served agencies. The value of Amateur Radio communicators has been noted time and again during natural disasters.

I believe that these days what hams have traditionally provided is largely irrelevant and redundant in many parts of the country. However there is one unique service that hams can provide during a local disaster. That is email via Winlink on HF. It is the "new relevancy" in an era when cellular and internet service might be non-existent or very spotty, yet voice coms may well still be intact.

Here in District 1 of NW Indiana we are in the process of setting up six or more portable HF systems for rapid deployment that will provide Winlink for the EOC and other relevant agencies during an emergency. We can allow the 'client' to compose their own email(s), then the ham operator will send it on its way. The operator can also print out any incoming email(s) for the client as well.

We set up an HF/Winlink station out in the field during a recent SET exercise in less than 15 minutes, and handled many test 'emails' during the exercise!

 

[belvdr]

I believe that these days what hams have traditionally provided is largely irrelevant and redundant in many parts of the country. However there is one unique service that hams can provide during a local disaster. That is email via Winlink on HF. It is the "new relevancy" in an era when cellular and internet service might be non-existent or very spotty, yet voice coms may well still be intact.

Here in District 1 of NW Indiana we are in the process of setting up six or more portable HF systems for rapid deployment that will provide Winlink for the EOC and other relevant agencies during an emergency. We can allow the 'client' to compose their own email(s), then the ham operator will send it on its way. The operator can also print out any incoming email(s) for the client as well.

We set up an HF/Winlink station out in the field during a recent SET exercise in less than 15 minutes, and handled many test 'emails' during the exercise!

I see that as a good thing, but the last time I saw a demo of WinLink (10-12 years ago), I was about to fall out of my chair from boredom as it was way too slow.

On a similar topic, wouldn't a satellite link be faster and allow more clients to connect securely? Dunno, just throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks.

 

[mmckenna]

On a similar topic, wouldn't a satellite link be faster and allow more clients to connect securely? Dunno, just throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks.

Yes. We have those at work for talking between sites. Both voice and data. We have a few satellite phones available, also.

ALE for HF radio is 'automatic' as the name implies. Mobile installs of HF are available. Dedicated installs at EOC's are easily done. Portable setups are fairly easy and training an end user to set it up is a heck of a lot easier than background checking a bunch of volunteers.

Satellite communications work worldwide and can be operated by anyone. We have a fixed antenna at our EOC, and a mobile antenna on one of the trucks. It really is plug and play. We can call anyone with a telephone. We have dedicated talk groups available.

Sending e-mail via satellite is easy, and it is about to get a whole lot easier...

Amateur radio has its place, but it needs to pay attention to the current technology to understand what's needed. The 'old way' of doing this is always a good fall back. I'd love to see amateur radio find their niche in the current communications structure, but that's not going to be Baofengs saving the day.

 

[chrismol1]

regarding winlink setups. Have hams ever setup old fashioned radio teletype writer machines in decades past? Maybe old war surplus stuff or were there commercial units available

 

[nd5y]

Have hams ever setup old fashioned radio teletype writer machines in decades past? Maybe old war surplus stuff or were there commercial units available

Yes. A lot of hams used RTTY machines in the past and some still do.

 

[N4GIX]

I see that as a good thing, but the last time I saw a demo of WinLink (10-12 years ago), I was about to fall out of my chair from boredom as it was way too slow.

On a similar topic, wouldn't a satellite link be faster and allow more clients to connect securely? Dunno, just throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks.

Well, there are newer and more efficient protocols available such as VARA (which is what FEMA uses), and if one can afford a PACTOR modem that is much faster and more robust than a simple sound card or even SignaLink sound card.

Of course satellite link would be ideal, but I'm thinking about poorer communities and even counties who could not afford such cool toys.

 

[W5lz]

The key to all communications (emergency or not) is what's available. Having the latest and greatest would be nice but it's uncommon. So, you use what most people have. I mean -right now- not a week from now, the lowest common denominator. That's what's going to be the best for the good communications. Got a chance to get that latest and greatest? Get it! But don't forget the old stuff too.

 

[Boombox]

As an SWL and mere observer, I think ham radio will sunset itself before the FCC or Congress takes any action to sunset it.

 

[mmckenna]

As an SWL and mere observer, I think ham radio will sunset itself before the FCC or Congress takes any action to sunset it.

Hams do tend to be their own worst enemy.

 

[merlin]

They are not going to, they are on the same side. FCC just sets standards and any reasonable ham should follow thos standards at worst. Spurious emissions and interference to other services is everyone's responsibility.
Last thing you want is a neighbor 4 blocks away complaining that you are being heard on an electric blanket thermostat.
Really, about all I see dying is the radio experimenter/designer/home brewer. I think the reason is running out, buying a tiny shirt pocket radio, and talk globally on it.

 

[KC5CSG]

Is there any reason that the FCC would not sunset all amateur radio and just sell it off to the highest bidder or just declare it a threat to "national security" to make it illegal?

I think they should. Amateur radio occupies very valuable spectrum. One of the reasons there isn't a country wide outrage about the useless amateur hobby (no longer really a service) is because most Americans are not aware that this hobby exists anymore. Frankly, the FCC should dissolve the hobby and sell it to commercial tax paying entities, or place the entire service under Part 95 rules which would allow all citizens access.

 

[kinglou0]

…..or place the entire service under Part 95 rules which would allow all citizens access.

All people including non-citizens already have access to all amateur bands with a series of frankly easy tests.

The technician exam is nothing short of a joke at this point and if one can’t be bothered to put a few hours of memorization to use, they can hit the road. Children as young as 7 can pass the technician exam.

I can’t think of many other countries in the world that offer the amateur privileges that the US does with such a low bar of entry.

 

[KC5CSG]

All people including non-citizens already have access to all amateur bands with a series of frankly easy tests.

The technician exam is nothing short of a joke at this point and if one can’t be bothered to put a few hours of memorization to use, they can hit the road. Children as young as 7 can pass the technician exam.

I can’t think of many other countries in the world that offer the amateur privileges that the US does with such a low bar of entry.

I have several friends who are not hams who get on the amateur portions all the time. They just go to FCC ULS or QRZ and hijack a call.

 

[mmckenna]

I think they should. Amateur radio occupies very valuable spectrum.

It's no where near as valuable as some would like you to think. Amateurs often forget that they are not the sole users of this spectrum, and US rules don't trump ITU...

4MHz worth of 2 meter spectrum would have some value for LMR. Problem is, the ITU rules get in the way. Canada and Mexico would be impacted by it.

70cm band is secondary to military use, and the military isn't going to give it away.

900MHz is secondary to ISM, and all ready too many ISM devices out there. Anterix would probably love to gobble it up into their nationwide LTE system for cheap, but that would impact ISM users.

The HF spectrum is of very little value to anyone. Even then, ITU rules would get in the way of doing anything else with it.

Above 900MHz, again, a lot of it is secondary allocations, and there's a whole lot of spectrum up there.

 

[N8WCP]

I think they should. Amateur radio occupies very valuable spectrum. One of the reasons there isn't a country wide outrage about the useless amateur hobby (no longer really a service) is because most Americans are not aware that this hobby exists anymore. Frankly, the FCC should dissolve the hobby and sell it to commercial tax paying entities, or place the entire service under Part 95 rules which would allow all citizens access.

Why so bitter? Was the hobby well known in the past, unlikely. Valuable spectrum? Maybe the microwave freqs but certainly not HF. Our club supports many local events and EMA so as a service, it's still valuable.