dzekevich@kirk.DEC (10/01/84)
Subj: FCC Auxillary I attended the ARRL N.E. convention this year at Boxboro, Mass. Another job well done. One point of interest that caught me by surprize (maybe it has been on the net, but I was sleeping). I attended the FCC talk by the 1 area field engineer in-charge and his regional boss. They brought up the new up and coming FCC Auxillary. It seems that the FCC is going to stop monitoring the ham bands, and leave it to the ham radio community. They want to form an auxillary something like the Coast Guard Auxillary for the Coast Guard and Civil Air Patrol. So far, the ARRL has been the only org. to apply. The FCC will be allowing their OO's to have a little more clout. So far, the idea sounds pretty good to me. The idea is to go after the real problem makers and not to nail the person who slips up once and a while (ie calling CQ and noticing your dial is 100 Khz. from where you should be). The auxillary would try to handle the people who are repeat offenders. If the auxillary can not solve the problem (like getting cooperation form the person involved) the FCC will issue an intent of a pending fine ($750 min) and the person would have 30 days to show why he should not pay it. One other thing noted was that a Federal District Judge will hear the cases. No more FCC judges. So, the civil arm of justice will be hearing disputes. One thing did bother the FCC - the ARRL was the only group to apply. Thus this net note - who else out there even knows about this auxillary idea? The (FCC) does not like monopolies. If only one group applies, no auxillary 'till another group applies (I think that's the way I heard it). How about getting some conversations going on an FCC Auxillary? 73, Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW dec-decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-kirk!dzekevich Mon 1-Oct-1984 08:26 SYS$BATCH