> -----Original Message-----

> From: Mike D. [mailto:hrg@cifnet.com]

> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 9:40 AM

> To: dick@pobox.com

> Cc: n4mm@arrl.org; wt3p@arrl.org; w5zn@arrl.org; Bruce Boston;

> fghester@aol.com; k9km@arrl.org; w5jbp@arrl.org

> Subject: Novice Survey results

>

>

> Dick,

>

> The results of the Novice Survey came as no surprise to me. I

> believe the survey was tainted by its form. The survey's preamble

> pointed the respondent to the committee's desired outcome. If the

> League uses the results of this "survey" to file a Petition with

> the FCC, it will not represent the consensus that the FCC was

> looking for. It will merely represent what the

> League proposed in July of 1998 (125 kHz Phone subband expansion)

> before taking this, most recent, survey.

>

> A number of NTS training nets meet within the frequencies

> suggested for reallocation. The number of stations checking into

> NTS training nets is higher than it was just 18 months ago. That

> includes a lot of new hams. The Illinois Training Net has seen a

> dramatic increase in participation. Metro Amateur Radio Club (an

> ARRL affiliated club with 100-members) operates a

> slow speed code net on 7.138 MHz. The River Valley Slow Speed Net

> also meets on this frequency. There simply isn't enough

> CW/Digital subband to move these nets, along with the existing

> hams (of all license classes) who use these frequencies. If these

> nets were forced to go lower in the band they would be competing

> with higher power stations, and Canadian phone nets.

>

> In a Dave Sumner editorial, he talked about taking a plane trip

> and discussing amateur radio with an EE who sat next to him. Dave

> lamented about how the engineer perceived hams who operate with

> antiquated analog SSB technology. Dave's intention was to promote

> hi-tech modes to radio amateurs. The number of hams who use sound

> card digital modes increase every day. Amateur

> radio needs to allow for this expansion and encourage technically

> savvy computer enthusiasts (i.e., young people) to join our

> ranks. Reallocating CW/digital subbands to phone will only hinder

> our progress.

>

> I know you are not an active CW/digital operator, but surely you

> see the merit in maintaining a technology-driven service. The

> miscreant operators Riley Hollingsworth decries, exclusively

> operate voice modes. These are also the modes most easily

> intercepted by public officials, watchdog groups and SWLs. The

> public's perception of amateur radio will not improve if we

> encourage non-technical phone discussions on 75-meters. The phone

> allocations are the biggest source of enforcement actions.

>

> Amateur radio needs to remain a hi-tech service. We must justify

> our existence to those public officials and bureaucrats who favor

> selling off our spectrum for the "greater good." Don't let the

> League misappropriate its limited resources when it should be

> concentrating on things like CC & Rs and Spectrum Protection.

> Please do not vote to expand phone subbands "to the detriment" of

> hi-tech CW/digital operation. Please do not vote for the

> expansion of phone allocations even if you think others will vote

> that way. You are my representative with the League. Vote for me

> and for the long term good of

> the service.

>

> 73 de Mike, N9BOR

> ARRL Life Member

> http://www.qsl.net/n9bor