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Author Topic: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...  (Read 1174 times)

KD2TTM

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FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« on: July 23, 2021, 01:40:09 PM »

I live in a very small rural town and have lots of hobbies.  I rely on Internet forums for learning, sharing experiences, and just plain old enjoyment in reading about things I like.

On one of the forums, a member mentioned he was a ham.  Several others chimed in.  So, I started a thread where members could post their call sign so we could all have a list and be able to tell if we had stumbled across one of our forummates while on the radio.

But the first person responding said he would not post his call sign as it gave away his name and address.  And no one else made a post after that.  And I understood completely.

It didn't stop me from being a little frustrated though...

In these times of identity theft, etc., do you think there is a way for the FCC to change the system to somehow protect privacy?

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WA2EIO

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2021, 01:43:21 PM »

I would think that a Federal license is a matter of public record.   

  You would also put QRZ out of business!   ;)
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WA9AFM

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2021, 01:52:30 PM »

One quick was is to take out a post office/UPS box as your contact address.  Also, you might use a business address, with your boss' permission, as a mailing address.  If there is serious concern regarding personal safety, you can appeal to the FCC to mask your address.
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KD2TTM

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2021, 02:01:04 PM »

One quick was is to take out a post office/UPS box as your contact address.  Also, you might use a business address, with your boss' permission, as a mailing address.  If there is serious concern regarding personal safety, you can appeal to the FCC to mask your address.

Ahh... I forgot about the PO Box option.  Effective, but could be very inconvenient for some people, depending on their work schedule and how far they live from the nearest post office.

I don't personally have an issue with all this.  After my experience with not being able to get folks to share their call signs publicly, it just got me wondering...
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WA9AFM

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2021, 02:17:05 PM »

The UPS post box is available 24/7. Also, you can use the PO box to satisfy FCC contact address requirements and receive routine mail at your home address.

Stating your call sign publicly isn't an option.  FCC requires you to ID every 10 minutes or at the end of a contact; whichever comes first.
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W9IQ

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2021, 02:28:17 PM »

Just be prepared. Taking out a PO Box requires a more stringent identification procedure than 'disenfranchised' voting requirements.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: July 23, 2021, 02:48:19 PM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

N1IG

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2021, 02:37:09 PM »

there is so much "private" information that is publicly available, that taking steps to hide your identity almost makes you easier to find.  you just end up dropping more breadcrumbs.  the person who is so worried about protecting their privacy, will eventually end up posting something that clearly identifies who they are.

privacy is a nice thought...

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K3XR

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2021, 03:35:36 PM »

On one of the forums, a member mentioned he was a ham.  Several others chimed in.  So, I started a thread where members could post their call sign so we could all have a list and be able to tell if we had stumbled across one of our forummates while on the radio.

But the first person responding said he would not post his call sign as it gave away his name and address.  And no one else made a post after that.  And I understood completely.

You can look up a call by county, town and zip code.  What's the big secret?
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K6SDW

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2021, 03:42:52 PM »

Have you Googled your name/phone number lately? The Internet knows all about you - forever and there's nothing you can do about it....

GL/73
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KM1H

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2021, 05:23:45 PM »

Quote
The UPS post box is available 24/7

OH?  Not in the 35 years Ive had mine; not even Saturday after 12 noon.
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KD6VXI

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2021, 06:10:02 PM »

That's not common, Carl.

I've had more than a couple PO Boxes over the last 20 years.  Living rural had its good points with noise levels, but bad points when half the time the post office couldn't find your road.

As to your call giving up personal information, what?  Google your name.  You'll probably find where you currently live, the last 20 plus years of addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.

I recently looked up a friend who had moved from Oregon back in 1999.

Took all of 3 hours and I was talking to him on the ohone.  The fact he hadn't had a computer in 22 years didn't matter, the fact he has a flip phone didn't matter. I was still able to find him.

Giving your call on a web forum, guess those guys never heard of qrz.

//smacking my head//

--Shane
KD6VXI
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WA2EIO

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2021, 06:34:17 PM »

Quote
The UPS post box is available 24/7

OH?  Not in the 35 years Ive had mine; not even Saturday after 12 noon.


UPS, not USPS.   From the UPS site, they ARE available any day any time.
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W9FIB

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2021, 03:32:46 AM »

Quote
The UPS post box is available 24/7

OH?  Not in the 35 years Ive had mine; not even Saturday after 12 noon.


UPS, not USPS.   From the UPS site, they ARE available any day any time.

The lobby with the USPS PO boxes is open 24/7 in my little town here. But USPS only has someone on duty at the window from 8 AM to 12 PM Monday to Friday. And a couple hours on Saturday morning. So I can get my mail anytime as long as it fits in the box.

Many UPS stores are commonly privately owned. Their boxes are often in the store itself (at least the few I have seen) and they run on posted hours. No 24/7 there.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

K1CJS

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2021, 11:14:19 AM »

Quote
The UPS post box is available 24/7

OH?  Not in the 35 years Ive had mine; not even Saturday after 12 noon.

I think you are speaking of two different animals.  The USPS PO Box is not (although some offices have extended hours) while certain UPS (United Parcel Service) boxes are--in storefronts where there is a 24 hour lobby for them.
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KM1H

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Re: FCC license and privacy; something I hadn't thought of...
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2021, 12:21:36 PM »

Quote
The UPS post box is available 24/7

OH?  Not in the 35 years Ive had mine; not even Saturday after 12 noon.


UPS, not USPS.   From the UPS site, they ARE available any day any time.

Duh, what is an S between friends; sorry for that goof.
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