Riley Hollingsworth Speaks in Boxboro

HOLLINGSWORTH SUGGESTS STEPS TO BRIGHTER AMATEUR FUTURE

Looking "beyond enforcement," FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, has offered his ten personal suggestions to secure a sound future for Amateur Radio.

Speaking at the ARRL New England Division Convention August 26 in Boxboro, Massachusetts, Hollingsworth recapped the nearly two years since he took over Amateur Radio enforcement. Hollingsworth proclaimed the Amateur Service "fundamentally sound" today and said complaints now are decreasing.

With some major enforcement issues out of the way, Hollingsworth encouraged amateurs to "seize the moment" to ensure a bright future for Amateur Radio. "Look beyond enforcement," he urged, "because if I do my job right, in five years you won't even remember my name." Hollingsworth said that while no one can predict the future, amateurs must invent theirs in an era of converging digital and RF technology.

And he reiterated a phrase that has become a Hollingsworth mantra: "There is no reason why our Amateur Radio Service can't be the envy of the rest of the world." Getting there, he suggested, comes with each amateur's taking responsibility for his or her behavior on the air. Amateurs should encourage arrogant, negative operators to "take their anger and hate to the Internet," he said. "Every minute they are on the Internet is a minute they aren't on Amateur Radio."

Among other suggestions, Hollingsworth said hams should be proud of what they have accomplished. "Let the public know what you are, what Amateur Radio is, and why it's valuable," he said. He also urged hams to "operate as if the whole world is listening" and to never let ham radio "become the audio version of the The Jerry Springer Show."

He also called upon veteran hams to take newcomers under their wing and teach them "all you know" about the hobby.

Hollingsworth also expressed his support for the ARRL, which has backed his enforcement initiative on behalf of the FCC. "Take care of the one voice you have," he advised. "You must never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. They just did."

"Enjoy ham radio," Hollingsworth told his audience. "Celebrate it. But realize it comes with responsibility."

Riley Hollingsworth's Ten Personal Suggestions for Amateur Radio Operators 1. Be proud of what you have and let your feelings be known. Let the public know what you are, what Amateur Radio is, and why it's valuable. Let your feelings be known to Congress, to the FCC, to the media, to your states and to emergency agencies. Sprint does. AT&T does. Motorola does. 2. Operate as if the whole world is listening. It is! 3. Take nothing for granted. Bill Gates can't, and you can't either. 4. You're at a crossroads now. An old Chinese philosopher (or my grandmother--I can never remember which!) said, "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it." Seize the moment, and make this your finest hour. Ham radio has been at a crossroads before and has thrived. Continue that tradition. 5. Make sure that, on your watch, Amateur Radio never becomes obsolete. 6. Teach the new licensees all you know. We've needed numbers for a long time.. Respect this wonderful legacy known as Amateur Radio that our mentors and Elmers gave us. Every time you key the mike or hit the key, think about what a legacy you were given and your duty to pass it on. 7. Enjoy ham radio. Celebrate it. But realize it comes with responsibility. Every gift of lasting value always does. 8. Stay away from arrogant, negative operators who know all the answers. They just haven't thought of all the questions. Encourage them to take their anger and hate to the Internet. Every minute they are on the Internet is a minute they aren't on Amateur Radio. 9. Never allow Amateur Radio to become the audio version of The Jerry Springer Show. 10. You may not always agree with the League, and that's fine. But I'm standing here before you tonight talking about enforcement because they never gave up. Take care of the one voice you have. You must never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. They just did. There are no comments on this article: Post One

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