Most of what you said is fairly accurate. However, I have read where some certain things like a percentage of cash seized during drug busts do go back to law enforcement for enhancing equipment. Too bad the FCC enforcement division does not get at least a percentage of the forfeitures and fines. I believe we would see an improvement in enforcement.
That is a whole different ballgame. Please don't try to lump CB amps in the same category as drugs, etc.
Unless the CB amps are inflicting problems on the ham bands that directly affect you, or interfering with you, then don't worry about it. It is not your problem. Leave the enforcement to the enforcers. If the interference is illegal use, and is directly impacting you, then file a complaint and go up the chain of command.
I can't speak for you because I don't know you, but we have some local hams here that that think they are cops and can harass people. The ham license does not give hams the right to any enforcement. They have to do it like anyone else. File a complaint.
And if you are not encouraged by FCC enforcement, or lack there of, then it is because of funding and manpower. So join the rest of the other gov't depts without proper funding and manpower.
Nobody lumped CB amps into the same category as drugs. I was stating an opinion, that just like other law enforcement entities, the FCC should be provided a percentage of any collected fines, if those funds will result in direct enforcement. Illegal junky amplifiers are everyone's problem. For legitimate users of the radio spectrum, we don't need the additional noise/interference from IMD and harmonics. From a safety standpoint, I don't like the fact that some moron without a clue about RF safety, running a 1kw+ mobile amplifier, can drive down the road subjecting others to high levels of RF, without their knowledge or consent. Do you believe it is okay for someone to place an antenna radiating 1KW or more 5 feet away at eye level near a school bus load of kids, or near a person who is using medical equipment to sustain life? I certainly don't, and anyone with a half a brain should agree. The best way to deal with any type of illegal activity has always been the same, at the source.
I agree with N2EY, I know of at least one case that involved a ham being accused by his neighbors of causing wide spread neighborhood interference. Only after some detective work by the ham, it was discovered that someone on the CB band running illegal power was the culprit. Ham antennas are more visible, we are the first ones to get blamed for interference of any kind. In this particular case, the person using the CB amp had discretely placed his antenna in a tree.
I never mentioned anything about personally doing any type of enforcement. How in world did you get that idea? The subject of the post is the lack of enforcement by those who are supposed to be doing it, the FCC. Your post can almost lead someone to believe that you think it's ok for people to manufacture these amplifiers, as long as they are not causing you any immediate problem.
Your allegation is the first I have read in a really long time, of hams acting like cops trying to perform radio enforcement on their own. Further, I've never knew that harassment is part of an enforcement effort. Nevertheless, do tell, so we can all read about what you are alleging. Have you reported it to Laura Smith at the FCC?
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