Professional Amateurs

"Professional Amateurs"... Is That an Oxymoron?

Elsewhere on the web, an article suggests the FCC allow encryption to be practiced by amateur radio operators. The purpose of encryption is to hide something, and we hams have nothing to hide. We are a hobby. That's all that needs to be said on that subject.

Of course, I am very aware of the word "Service" in our name, which many hams feel obligates us to provide a "service" to the public. We do have that capability, yet it is obvious it is not a requirement, since the vast majority of hams do not do so. If it were a requirement, by nature of the fact we are the Amateur Radio Service, then it would also be a requirement of the Citizens' Radio Service (CB) as well as Family Radio Service, the General Mobile Radio Service, and even the Wireless Telecom Service. Also we would probably have to keep accurate logs of our service to the public, in order to have and renew our ham licenses, to justify our existence and our right to participate in this hobby.

That is not the case. You are not even obligated to use your cellular phone to seek assistance in an emergency, such as passing an accident on the highway. We in amateur radio are first and foremost a hobby, and our numbers prove that beyond a doubt.

However, this is not the end of the story. In the February, 2003, QST magazine, though, NE2Q asks the question, "Are We Really Amateurs?" This Op-Ed piece suggests we lose the word ‘amateur' as it connotes a negative opinion among the general public. He suggest, paraphrased here, that the public does not want to see "Amateur Doctor," or "Amateur Police Officer" at the scene of their emergency, and likewise do not wish to see the term "Amateur Radio Operator" in relation to someone who is handling the communications for the emergency. Presumably, he would suggest we adopt the word and the manner, "professional."

He further suggests we have a nationally-standardized uniform, with letters on the windbreaker or jacket, similar to the ones used by the ATF, FBI, DEA, etc. His feeling is if we present a more professional image and drop the use of the word "amateur," we will be more recognizable in the eyes of the public and the media as knowing our jobs and being critical to performing them.

This stems from the "Gimme a badge and some authority" school of amateur radio that is permeating the hobby, and is another sign of the fact some of us vastly overrate our skills as well as our importance. No, "vastly" doesn't even begin to cover it! The very idea of a jacket with the letters "FECA" (Federal Emergency Communications Agency?) on the back conveys that we are professionals. But we aren't! They give the public the impression, "Here is an authority figure." This is so far out of line with the hobby of amateur radio it is simply unfathomable.

It is true a few of us are doctors, paramedics, police or fire officers, lawyers, and even pilots. The vast majority of hams, though, ARE amateurs, by every possible definition of the word. NE2Q asks, "Is it because we aren't paid for our services?" Of course not! It is because we do not have, nor do we seek to acquire, professional level skills. We do not do it for a living; we do it for fun. Very, very few of us are qualified professional communicators, and those who are, are so because of their employment or training in other than in ham radio. An amateur radio license does not make us a "Super-Hero", or expert at anything at all. Including radio, or emergency communications. Those who think that isn't true have highly inflated views of the hobby and its operators, most of whom are at the plug it in and go on the air level of skill.

But maybe, as I study the plan, it COULD work after all! Let's suppose those of us who wish to participate in coordinated emergency communications, get special training. Then we are issued a uniform and a badge, something that is standard across the nation. We go to a resident school to learn Federal Emergency Communications Administration procedures. We are issued a license that states, "Federal Radio Operator's License." Or, to differentiate from the General Radio Telephone License, we will call it the "Federal Emergency Radio Operator's License."

It will be in three classes. The entry level, as well as the apprentice, will wear a yellow hard hat at the scene of assistance. His license will be on yellow background, and his badge will state on it, "FECA Officer, Grade III." He will have taken and passed a basic Federal Emergency Radio Operator's course, to allow him to use the FECA procedures. He will wear a uniform that is similar in design to that of the DEA. His rank, which will range from beginner (Private) to Corporal, depending upon his experience, will be displayed on his sleeves in the form of stripes.

The next class will wear a red hard hat, which is the symbol in the construction and industrial field of the Foreman. He will have passed a more advanced test, and will have more stripes on his sleeves. His badge will have a pale red background, with the words, "FECA Officer, Grade II." He will also supervise the yellow hats, and assign duties within an emergency scene.

The top class will wear a white hat. As we all know, the white hard hats are the engineers, architects, construction superintendents, etc. The same applies here. He will wear the same basic uniform, but his rank will displayed in the form of gold or silver bars or oak leaves on his collar and his shoulder pads. His badge will have a silver background, and the words "FECA Officer, Senior Grade." He will have passed very advanced tests, and, in addition to being responsible for communications, he will interface with the heads of other emergency agencies, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and local and regional civil authorities. He will be responsible for disbursement of funds, writing of grants, and communications within a regional area. His rank will range from Second Lieutenant, through First Lieutenant and Captain, to Major. The head of the FECA will be a one-star General, and will be located in Washington, D.C.

All of these emergency radio operators will be issued not only uniforms and badges, but when on duty will be paid for their work. They will be issued radios that are channelized, and that operate on at least 12 channels in the VHF range of 158.000 to 170.000 MHZ, including two channels for repeaters. Repeaters will be encoded and encrypted, and completely inaccessible to radios without the continuous encrypted sub-audible data stream.

Regional FECA centers will have HF capabilities, using up to 1500 watts output on SSB, and encrypted data, on 4.3 to 4.8 MHZ, 6.6 to 6.9 MHZ, 10.2 to 10.7 MHZ, 13.4 to 13.8 MHZ, and 17.2 to 17.8 MHZ. (Yes, we know these ‘authority' guys would love to be able to hop onto the ham bands and order everyone to get off the frequency, but by assigning them their own frequencies, they will not have to deal with the "amateurs" at all.)

All equipment will be type accepted. All maintenance or adjustment of transmitter operations will be by holders of General Radio Telephone Operator's licenses. No Morse code operations will be permitted, even in emergency. All HF voice and data transmissions will be encrypted, and where possible, all VHF communications will be as well.

While the name of these operators will officially be "Federal Emergency Radio Operator," they may be called "Professional Radio Operators," as opposed to "Amateur Radio Operators."

Meantime, a quasi-parallel radio service, called the Amateur Radio Service will continue to perform volunteer duties where applicable, and will be fun for all who join it.

Ed

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