[net.ham-radio] Reagan signs RFI bill

karn (09/15/82)

President Reagan has signed the bill authorizing the FCC to impose RFI
immunity requirements on TV receiver manufacturers, to allow amateurs to
assist employees of the FCC in policing the airwaves and administering
license exams, authorizing a three-year test during which members of the
FCC may accept travel reimbursements from industry groups [I assume this
covers paying an FCC engineer's salary to make a licensing trip to a
hamfest -PRK] and to allow the FCC to use lotteries to award various
licenses.

The new law also allows the FCC to stop issuing individual CB licenses
to consumers.  This doesn't mean the end of CB radio; it just means that
a formal license isn't required.  They expect to save $400,000 on
license processing.

This is very good news for amateur radio.  I am waiting to see if
there'll be any effect on local skirmishes such as the Burbank, Illinois
(I wrote MY letter, did you?) RFI ordinance.

Phil Karn, KA9Q