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Hot off the Press...............................
David Hendon Chief Executive of the Radiocommunications Agency has today (18/2/02) announced that he will be moving back to central DTI in April this year, succeeding Bill Macintyre as Head of the Communications and Industries part of the new Business Group of the DTI.
There is no news yet of who the new RA Chief Exec. will be.
NEW Foundation License
Press Release - 21 September 2001
The Radiocommunications Agency has today announced a series of changes to the radio amateur licensing regime so as to make it more attractive as a technical hobby. These include:
lowering the Morse Code speed requirement from 12 words per minute (wpm) to 5 wpm for full licensees;
amalgamating some license categories;
allowing trainees to operate while supervised before passing an examination; and
the introduction of a new Foundation Class license, from the beginning of 2002, for newcomers to the hobby.
Commenting on the new Foundation license, Martin Cain, Head of the Radiocommunications Agency's Specialist Sectors Unit said, " There has long been a need to stimulate further interest in amateur radio in the UK. My colleagues and I firmly believe that the Foundation License, coupled with the support of existing radio amateurs, will go a substantial way to achieving this aim".
Don Beattie, the President of the RSGB, warmly welcomed agreement on the Foundation license."We now have a more accessible entry point for those who want to become radio amateurs. Hopefully many will go on to grow in technical skill and competence through qualifying at the more advanced levels of licensing. I ask all UK amateurs to help make the new Foundation License the success it deserves to be".
For full details of the changes, please see the document: A new structure for amateur radio licensing in the UK on the Radiocommunications Agency website at: www.radio.gov.uk/topics/amateur/amateur-index.htm
Advertising on Packet Radio
The Radiocommunications Agency announced today that from 1 April 2001 Radio amateurs are able to advertise either amateur or computer related equipment via amateur radio.
Following consultation with the Radio Society of Great Britain, we are allowing advertising over packet radio for a trial period (one year) after which a thorough review and overview will take place. Future discussions will hinge on whether or not this facility should/could be extended to other modes/bands.
Amateurs can place a private (not commercial) advertisement only through their nearest available operational mailbox, where it will be held for viewing. The SyOps would be responsible for ensuring that the advertisement complied with license conditions. If this were not the case the SysOp will be required not to place the advert on their system.
For further information in connection with the license conditions, please refer to the Gazette Notice published on the Agency website under 'Whats New'.
Amateur Radio: More Frequencies Released For Internet Linking
Following discussions between the Radiocommunications Agency and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), additional frequencies have been agreed with the VHF Committee to enhance the facilities already available to access the Internet. From 20 February 2001, the use of this facility has been extended to Novice Radio Amateurs, also. The frequencies now available are as follows:
145. 2875 MHz
145. 3375 MHz
431. 075 MHz
431. 125 MHz
431. 150 MHz
434. 475 MHz
434. 500 MHz
434. 525 MHz
Radio amateurs are encouraged to apply for a Notice of Variation and explore this new and exciting, facility. Individuals interested in this facility can now apply on-line (but with manual verification/back end processing) via the RSGB DCC website. The Radiocommunications Agency will issue the NoV at headquarters. For full details, please visit:
http://www.dcc.rsgb.org and see the "Internet Linking" Section. Details similar to those available for packet nodes will be published (by the RSGB) on the Internet (see website address above), etc for information purposes.
Abolished - Under 14 Age Restriction!
Following recent discussions with the RSGB, it was agreed that the 14-year Age restriction (to obtain a Full Amateur Radio Licence) should be completely removed. Previously, to be eligible you had to be 14 years of age or over or have held a Novice licence for a least a year. If you have obtained a pass in the RAE (and either the 5wpm or 12wpm Morse test for a Class A/B and A respectively), you may apply for a full licence. It is no longer a requirement to have held a novice licence for a year if you are under 14.
This initiative is part of the ongoing process to refine and improve access and facilities for amateurs. Both parties feel that (in view of the increasing technical and operational ability of youngsters today) this restriction is a particular anomaly, which ought to be discarded, and recognising that those talented youngsters should be actively encouraged and nurtured.
After all, if you are good and keen enough, you are old enough!