The Radio Nightmare
By Bill Continelli, W2XOY
Imagine you are trapped in a world that is a combination of Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” and George Orwell’s “1984”. Imagine being tied down to a hospital bed, in an unknown city, with no idea where you are or how you got there. Imagine being denied access to your radios and your cell phone.
I don’t have to imagine it. I lived it.
It started simply enough. I was scheduled for surgery on September 15, 2008, in a Syracuse, NY hospital, to remove a pituitary cyst. I would have the operation, spend two or three days in the hospital, and then join my wife, Nancy, in Cincinnati, where she had a seven week teaching assignment. I would recuperate in the hotel while she worked.
In preparation, I packed all the essentials---meaning radios. In my main radio bag, I had a Yaesu FT-817 HF/VHF/UHF transceiver; various handhelds including a Yaesu FT-60, a VX-5, and an ICOM IC-V8; a Radio Shack scanner; two Kaito shortwave radios, a GMRS/FRS ht, and a CB walkie-talkie. In a smaller camera bag that I always carried with me, I had a Yaesu VX-6, a Nokia palm sized electronic organizer (with internet and e-mail access), and a spare cell phone. Of course, I had an ample supply of batteries, chargers, and antennas. Our reserved hotel room was on the 16th floor, with a balcony. I was prepared for seven weeks of radio heaven.
Nothing went as planned.
The operation took place, as scheduled, on September 15th. There were unexpected complications. As a result, I spent two weeks in the Isolation and Intensive Care units of the hospital, with feeding and breathing tubes down my throat. I was semi-comatose, under heavy sedation, with major drugs, including morphine, pumped into my body via an IV. Nancy had to cancel her Cincinnati assignment, rented a motel room in Syracuse, and visited me every day, waiting for me to wake up.
During this two week period, my mind, possibly fueled by the morphine, was active. I had vivid and graphic dreams, creating a fantasy world that was so detailed, I thought it was real.
This dream world was set sometime in the near future. Per the “Digital Radio Act of 2009”, analog transmissions of any type were prohibited. All radio and TV stations were digital. The concept of “free” radio and TV was gone. Every time you tuned in to your favorite station, or watched your favorite show, your receiving device logged the station and the amount of time. At the end of the month, payment was automatically deducted from your account. All transmissions used proprietary digital software—if you didn’t subscribe (and pay), you couldn’t receive anything. Everyone was required to subscribe. Each receiver was licensed, with an annual fee. Internet usage was monitored and taxed. The Government issued cell phones free of charge to all citizens age 18 and over. What was the catch? You paid every time you used the phone; you had to carry the cell phone with you 24/7; and there was no way to shut the phone off.
In regards to the concept of radio as a hobby; it was officially obsolete.
The Government wasn’t issuing any new amateur radio licenses. In fact, the Government prohibited the sale of any new
scanners, shortwave receivers, ham and CB transceivers, and any type of two way radios. The official explanation was that the digital infrastructure now in place was so efficient; anyone could contact anyone else anywhere without the need for an archaic, analog, spectrum wasting system such as ham or CB radio. The unofficial reason—the Government wanted to control, monitor and tax every aspect of personal communication. With all radio, TV, cell phone and internet activity routed through cell towers, cable systems, and satellites, the Government could allow or deny access to anyone. In addition, people could be taxed for every minute they used the system. Naturally, “free radio” was a danger to this concept. It would be impossible to effectively monitor, control, and tax “free radio”; therefore, it had to be banned.
In this dream world, there was a legal loophole. Amateur Radio operators, CB enthusiasts, MURS, GMRS and FRS users, and shortwave listeners were “grandfathered” in. They could continue to operate their radio equipment on frequencies they were authorized to use before the digital changeover. In addition, AM and shortwave radio stations that were independently owned and generated more than 50% of their programming from local sources were allowed to remain on the air, although with only 1000 watts. The Government shut down all independent FM and TV stations, because they were a waste of precious RF spectrum, and did not generate tax dollars. The Government believed that “free radio” would wither and die in a few years, due to attrition.
The Government, however, underestimated the love and passion that we have for our radio hobby.
A small, but fiercely devoted, group of radio enthusiasts continued to operate their individual stations. In this alternate reality, there were only about 150,000 active hams, and another 500,000 users of CB, MURS, GMRS and FRS radios. Nationwide, there were about 300 AM broadcast stations on the air, as well as five or six shortwave stations, including WWCR and WBCQ. The ARRL was still around and now represented all “free radio” adherents. The Government, however, had revoked the ARRL’s 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, and the League was in financial trouble.
Believers in “free radio” were defiant and almost militant in defending and preserving an individual’s right to the airwaves. We avoided digital broadcasts as much as possible. We eschewed the use of the internet. The law required us to carry our cell phones everywhere; however a “free radio” attorney pointed out we were not required to recharge them. We flaunted our hobby whenever possible; our belts were loaded down with 2 meter handhelds, CB walkie-talkies, MURS, FRS and GMRS radios; our cars all sported hamsticks and 102” whips; there was an increase in the use of traffic nets and packet radio. ARRL Radiograms were popular again. Whenever possible, all communications were by “free radio”.
In addition to the ARRL, we formed regional Radio Councils across the country. I was president of the Eastern NY Council. (Hey, it’s my dream; I can make myself president if I want). These Councils guarded our frequencies against intruders; monitored local law enforcement agencies to ensure that “free radio” users were not harassed; kept watch for pending legislation that might impact us; and coordinated the regional nets. The Councils also tried to educate the public about the benefits of “free radio”, and acted as a central exchange for repairing, rebuilding, and refurbishing old ham, shortwave and CB radios.
On the national scene, the ARRL and the Radio Councils challenged the constitutionality of the “Digital Radio Act of 2009” in Federal Court. We won a major victory when a Federal District Court ruled that the Act was unconstitutional. Although the Government filed an immediate Appeal with the Supreme Court, “free radio” enthusiasts everywhere were invigorated and energized. We knew that the Act was doomed, and that we would no longer be compelled to use a monopolistic infrastructure, created by an Unholy Marriage between Government and Corporation.
The Government and the communications industry were in a panic. If the Act was overturned, they would lose billions of dollars in taxes and user fees, not to mention the ability to completely control how, where, and when we communicated. If they couldn’t win legally, well, there were other means.
Suddenly, things began to happen to ARRL and Radio Council leaders. Some disappeared; some had sudden heart attacks; a few committed “suicide”; others had “accidents”. As for me, I was in an unusual position. In my dream (as well as in the real world), I was a federal employee. Furthermore, I was an officer and steward in NTEU, a union that represents many federal workers, including FCC employees. One day, while at the Federal Building in Buffalo, I was seriously injured when part of the building collapsed under suspicious circumstances. I was rushed to the hospital and, while I was in ICU, I was indicted for various federal crimes, including treason, tax evasion and (believe it or not) being AWOL from my job. I was transferred to a hospital in a federal prison.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, I had been under sedation for two weeks. The nurses noticed that I was becoming very agitated; I tried to pull the feeding and breathing tubes from my mouth. When they tied my hands down, I chewed through the breathing tube, and pushed it out with my tongue. Since the immediate medical crisis was over, they decided to remove the tubes, and take me off the drugs.
I awoke in the real world sometime during the middle of the night on September 30th. I saw that I was in a hospital bed, hooked up to oxygen and an IV. In my mind, there was only one explanation---I was in the prison hospital. A few minutes later, a nurse came into the room. “Bill, you’re awake! Can you hear me?”. I just stared at her without responding. I was a prisoner, and I had no intention of cooperating.
The next morning, I was overjoyed to see Nancy and my mother walk into my room. Wow, the federal prison allowed visitors! I tried to talk, but the feeding and breathing tubes had destroyed my vocal chords. I had no voice. In addition, because my lungs were damaged, it was even difficult to whisper. With a lot of effort, I told them to call my attorney, and asked them about the status of my case. They looked confused; what case? I was surprised; didn’t they know what was happening? Laboriously, I explained everything that occurred in my dream world (the real world to me). I emphasized that my freedom, and the future of free radio depended on the outcome of the upcoming court cases. They needed to call my attorney, NTEU Union officials, other Radio Council members, and members of the free radio community to get the latest information and coordinate our next steps.
My wife smiled; to me it seemed to be a condescending, amused smile. They spoke to me as though they were talking to a child. They told me it was all a dream; I was not in prison; I was not under indictment; ham and CB radio were not in danger; I was still in the hospital with complications from the operation to remove the pituitary cyst.
I was speechless (literally) and dumbfounded. Were they on drugs? Why were they lying? The cyst operation was last year, in 2008. It was now 2009, and I was in federal prison. Did the Government pay off my wife and mother? Were they part of the conspiracy? Had they been threatened?
I argued with them for hours (try arguing when you have no voice). They found my story to be fascinating and amusing, but they insisted it was a dream. Then, Nancy went to the closet to hang up her sweater. Suddenly I saw my salvation. The camera bag was in there! With the VX-6, the Tracfone and the Nokia electronic organizer! If I could get that bag, I could call for help! People in the free radio movement would come and rescue me!
Trying not to look excited, I nonchalantly asked for the camera bag. “Why? What do you need? I’ll get it for you” Nancy replied. “I just want the bag to look through it” I hoarsely whispered. My wife’s next statement sent me into a quivering rage; “Don’t give him the bag Ma, he wants the radios so he can call for help”. Nancy told me “Bill, you’re delusional. You can’t tell reality from fantasy. You can’t have the radios until you recover”. “Besides”, my mother added, “you have no voice; no one will hear you”.
I was furious. I cursed my wife and mother, calling them every name in the book. I verbally abused them for hours. They sat there quietly and took it. Looking back, I’m extremely ashamed and sorry for what I said. At the time, however, I truly believed that I was in my alternate world, incommunicado, and that my wife and mother were in on the
plot.
After they left, I fell asleep. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night. The closet door was open, and I could see the camera bag. I tried to get out of the hospital bed. Unfortunately, I was extremely weak, and had no coordination. I tumbled to the floor. Undaunted, I started to crawl to the closet. The nurses rushed in. “BILL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” they screamed. “Trying to escape” I whispered in response. They put me back in bed, and attached me to a bed monitor. They warned me that if I tried to get out of bed again, they would tie me down. I gave in; I knew I was defeated.
The next few days were anti-climatic. As my body gradually flushed the sedatives away, I became more lucid. Gradually, I realized where I was, and why I was there. By Monday, October 5, I could talk again, and was coherent enough that Nancy gave me my camera bag. I called family, friends, fellow hams, union officials, and co-workers. I listened to AM, FM, Amateur, and CB transmissions on the VX-6. Everything was normal. I was finally discharged on Thursday, October 8. I still have some medical issues; I can’t walk or drive. My hands shake and I tire easily. But in three months, I’ll be back in shape.
As I sit home recuperating, I mentally review the events of the past month and keep asking myself “was it just a dream?”. It was so detailed, so real, so vivid; I’m convinced it was more. Some have suggested that I had a near death experience; others say I actually was able to see into the future. I don’t know. However, I do know that I came out of this experience with a newfound love and appreciation for ham, CB, shortwave, MURS, FRS and GMRS radio. The scanner is now on 24/7, the two meter handheld is always at my side. Having “lived” in a world without radio, I’m now dedicated to preserving and protecting my hobby.
As a footnote, my co-workers took up a collection for me. They bought a $200 gift certificate---to Amateur Electronic Supply. In addition to ham radios, AES carries a large selection of non-amateur equipment, such as GPS devices. That $200 will buy Nancy a nice gift. After all the abuse I gave her, she deserves it.