FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau:
from
The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 47
Website:
http://www.arrl.org/
on
November 27, 2003
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FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau:
The FCC has announced a reorganization of its Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau (WTB)
http://wireless.fcc.gov/ "to more effectively support the
FCC's strategic goals--broadband, competition, spectrum, media, homeland
security and modernizing the FCC." The WTB administers the Amateur Radio
Service (Part 97) and amateur licensing, but the changes are expected to
be transparent to the amateur community. The Amateur Service now will be
administered by the newly named Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure
Division. D'wana Terry, formerly chief of the Public Safety and Private
Wireless Division, will head the new division.
"The bureau's portfolios have been redistributed along the lines of
strategic goals, consolidating similar functions to focus resources
better," the FCC said in a November 24 public notice. As a result of the
reorganization, which the FCC approved November 13, WTB expands from five
to six divisions: Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure, Spectrum
Management Resources and Technologies, Auctions and Spectrum Access,
Spectrum and Competition Policy, Mobility, and Broadband.
In addition to the Amateur Service, the Public Safety and Critical
Infrastructure Division will oversee Part 95, Marine, Aviation,
Intelligent Transportation Systems, Public Safety Fixed Microwave, Public
Safety and Private Land Mobile services and E911, among other areas.
Responsibilities moved elsewhere include Fixed Microwave (Part 101),
Instructional Television Fixed Service, the Multipoint Distribution
Service, and the Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service.
The action reduces the scope and size of WTB's larger divisions and
eliminates separate branches below the division level, while retaining
their current functions. One of those was the Licensing and Technical
Analysis Branch, headquartered in the FCC's Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
office. Among other tasks, that branch has handled the granting and
issuance of Amateur Radio licenses and the vanity call sign program.
Another was the Policy and Rules Branch at FCC Headquarters, which has
been the home of Bill Cross, W3TN, an FCC figure well-known within the
amateur community. Among other tasks, that branch has handled Amateur
Radio rule making petitions and Part 97 rules interpretations.
A potential plus of the new arrangement is that Cross now will work under
another amateur licensee, Mike Wilhelm, WS6BR, who will report to Terry.
The FCC said eliminating branches would promote greater management
flexibility in deploying resources and lead to a flatter, more flexible
organization without altering the bureau's overall mission. The Commission
said it was able to carry out the reorganization by redeploying existing
positions.
WTB Chief John Muleta said the reorganization will result in "a
mission-driven team that will be innovative in its approach to regulatory
policies and customer service."
Source:
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 47
November 28, 2003
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
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by NY7Q on November 27, 2003
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HERE IT COMES, JUST LIKE CLOCK WORK. FIRST LOWER CODE, DO AWAY WITH CODE, DO AWAY WITH EXAMS ALL TOGETHER, IN THE MEANTIME PUT AMATEUR RADIO UNDER ?????, YOU NO CODERS HAVE OPENED UP THE END OF HAM RADIO..
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FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
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by KU4GW on November 27, 2003
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DAMNED BUREAUCRATS! WHY CAN'T THEY LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE?
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by AG4RQ on November 27, 2003
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I still say that the non-commercial wireless services should be turned over to NTIA.
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by W4CVL on November 28, 2003
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Ok, so please explain to me why this news warrants such a negative response. I don't see anything inherinantly evil about the new management structure. Certainly nothing to generate a R.I.P. for HAM radio.
If we are witnessing the death of HAM radio, I don't see it. From the way you are typing, IF HAM radio were to die, you wouldn't have a reason to live. Now, THAT, my brother is a sad commentary on YOUR life.
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by KG6AMW on November 29, 2003
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If government does nothing and spends too much, their screwed. If they reorganize to work better, their screwed. If they enforce the laws, their screwed. If they don't enforce the laws, their screwed. Clearly, some of you guys don't quite get it. Do a little independent reading and critical thinking (versus just listening to AM radio) before you subscribe to the all government is bad and worthless routine, otherwise you expose a lazy thinking process that's laughable.
KG6AMW
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by K4FAU on November 29, 2003
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Your right -- ever since the Army went from horses to jeeps its all been downhill for the ham radio community...
opps I mean ever since they went from vacuum tubes to transitors its all been downhill...
opps I really mean that the complete overthrow of the ham radio community has been the addition of one guy on the FCC board to overlook commercial additions... well that can't be it...
so i guess you guys are right .. its the doing away with morse code that will bring the over throw of the govt as we know it to pass.....
The funny thing is that we as Americans don't care at all that the rest of the world, 21 countries so far have done away with the morse code as a testing requirement -- that other countries are allowing their citizens on the air in multitude -- but damn it -- we Americans are going to keep our fellow Americans off the air even if we have to cut our own throats doing so...
such idiots....
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FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
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by EARTHLING on November 30, 2003
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<<<The funny thing is that we as Americans don't care at all that the rest of the world, 21 countries so far have done away with the morse code as a testing requirement -- that other countries are allowing their citizens on the air in multitude>>>
Why should we care what the other countries do? America isn't a follower, it's a leader.
<<<we Americans are going to keep our fellow Americans off the air even if we have to cut our own throats doing so...>>>
Ham radio has not died out do to having a morse code requirement for about 100 years. There isn't any need to change this, it is doing just fine.
Why do you feel that every American has the right to get on the air? This is one of the reasons that we have tests, ham radio is not a right, it is a privilege! You have to earn the right to get on the air. I will take quality over quantity any day. Anything less is just CB.
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FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
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by K9COE on December 4, 2003
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My comments are this, and if someone reading this disagrees, GREAT, if you agree, GREAT, I don't care, these are MY OPPINIONS, not statements of fact.
Remember that when you talk on the air, ANYONE with a receiver can listen to you AND when you write things here ANYONE with internet access can read them. Don't be surprised if someone at the FCC or someone related to someone at the FCC reads these posts from time to time. I'm sure all of the in fighting, ESPECIALLY the code vs. no code battle plays right into the FCC's hands. IF they have an agenda which wants the spectrum we use to be "realigned" we are surely helping them by weakening out own position by showing that we are a fractured group of cry babies who can't even agree on who should lobby on our behalf, be it the ARRL or some other as yet to be determined organization.
As far as code vs no-code, haven't we beat the horse long enough? Come on, for heaven's sake, give it up, it's done, it'll never go back to the "old days". I think maybe the thing the militant gotta have code at all cost guys are seeing is not the death of ham radio but their own death and they have nothing else left to moan and groan about.
America drops the code test. Well if the rest of the world drops code, I guess Americans will only be talking to Americans. Dropping of the CW test doesn't mean the end of code. What it does mean is that only those with an interest will pick it up. Not every ham works PSK, RTTY or SSTV, probably because you don't have an interest in it. Yeah, yeah, yeah..CW will get you through when condx are bad. So who knows...dropping CW may be the biggest disaster since the invention of sliced bread. I don't know, I'm just a no-code General who operates mainly digital modes so what do I know!
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by N3ZKP on December 4, 2003
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<< I'm just a no-code General who operates mainly digital modes so what do I know! >>
How did you manage this?
Or do you mean a low-code (5wpm) General.
Not critizing, just curious
Lon
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by K9COE on December 4, 2003
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Yeah...sorry..I'm a LOW-code General who operates No Code... ;-)
JS
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by N3ZKP on December 8, 2003
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Join the party!
I'm one of those low-code extras. :)
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by FRANKM12 on December 13, 2003
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To all,
Whatever anyone thinks of this subject is fine. However, one thing is for sure: This subject MUST be decide upon by the FCC BEFORE it destroys Amateur Radio completely! And yes, there are elements that DO profit off of watching this shark chumming expedition continue!
One of the things that makes me sick is that some of the code fanatics act like all "no coders" are lazy bums who simply don't want to learn code. Blanket statement thinking like that was one of the first things a sophomore learns is ridiculous.
Some of us, like myself, are 53 year old retired/disabled combat vets from Vietnam. I worked on B-52's at the ripe age of 19 during the war. I was assigned to AMS (avionics maintenance). When I try to talk to people here in Central Fla, the "older hams" totally ignore me. I ask for a signal report and no one replies 99% of the time. Isn't that against the rules? The repeaters are being used for intercoms for exclusive little cliques.
I would have to say that if I were an enemy looking to attack this nation, that the state of Amateur Radio is shot, and that fact would be another reason to go ahead and whack us. NO comarderie exists anymore. No one seems to care about the possibility of this system being used to prevent a holocaust.
AS far as us being "the leader", we will continue to be so ONLY if we are united as a nation. Disunity will lead to ultimate choas. Amateur radio is now choatic due to this insane war about morse code.
Transmission nets and passing messages is fine. But if we forget what this whole thing is about, WHICH WE HAVE, then the whole system becomes superflous.
So keep up the miserable treatment of "no coders", don't talk to them, create more choas. The enemy is listening and taking notes!1
The only thing this re-organization is doing is to create a more fluid Amateur Service in the event of attack upon CONUS. Wake up Hams!
73
frank
KG4VLQ
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by FRANKM12 on December 13, 2003
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At any rate let it not be said that I didn't take a stand:
The text of my email to the President:
"Dear Mr. President,
Let me first say that I appreciate your heartfelt concern for our troops in Iraq. God Bless you and your family Mr. President. We are fortunate to have you in office during such crucial times.
There is an issue which is bothering me, one that does affect our National Security and one that can be decided upon rather expediously and without many problems. The issue is whether or not the FCC decides to eliminate the Morse Code requirement for Amateur Radio licensing. Right now, the issue is "up in the air" and causing much intrepediation within the Ham Radio community.
Our enemies are looking at this issue. They can see how this impacts our ability to communicate during times of great emergency. So called "older hams" who have passed this Morse Code requirement treat "new hams" very poorly and most of the time refuse to even talk to them. This is not conducive to the emergency infrastructure demands we have. The temporary paralysis this problem could cause could possibly cost thousands of lives in a horrible emergency, in my opinion.
My anaylsis is that we need more new Amateur Radio operators. Eliminating the code requirement at the General level would assist in this goal. Morse Code can be used by any amateurs at this time anyway. A 20 WPM option could be put at the General and/or Extra class license(s) and a certificate issued, for example.
I feel this issue is important, Mr. President. I agree with the re-structuring of the FCC pertaining to the Amateur Service. It is a good measure. However, the FCC needs to act ASAP on this issue. I have contacted Commissioner Powell on this matter and have urged him to make a decesion soon.
Merry Christmas to you and your Family, Mr. President!
73
Frank A. McCann
361 Miller Road
Sanford Florida 32773
KG4VLQ"
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RE: FCC Reorganizes Wireless Telecommunications Bu
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by FRANKM12 on December 13, 2003
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Subject: An addendum to correct a mistake
"Dear Mr. President,
In my previous email, I made a mistake. I should have said that the Morse Code requirement could be put within the EXTRA class license at 20 WPM.
Forgive me for the mistake.
Frank A. McCann
361 Miller Road
Sanford Florida 32773
KG4VLQ"
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