What's the FREQUENCY, Kenneth?
By Ken Collier, KO6UX

On April 28, 2000 something amazing is going to happen, something that could have a profound effect on the future of amateur radio in the USA for years to come.

No, it isn't license restructuring. By April 28th the dust will have begun to settle on the license restructuring issue, leaving behind a simplified amateur radio license structure and the largest flurry of license upgrades in history. As exciting as the new license structure is, it is overshadowed by the potential ramifications of April 28th. That's because on April 28th, ham radio goes to the movies.

The new movie Frequency is a sci-fi action thriller starring Dennis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, and ham radio. It opens in most U.S. cities on Friday April 28th. By now many of you have begun to see commercials and trailers for the film.

The movie, itself, features ham radio in no small way. The basic plot involves ham radio signals reaching across time, as is evidenced in this excerpt from the official movie web site (www.frequencymovie.com): "What if you had the chance to travel back in time and change just one event in your life? For John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), there is no question. He would undo the events of October 12, 1969, when the out-of-control Bruxton fire took the life of his father, a heroic firefighter (Dennis Quaid). Now John may get exactly what he wished for . . . and much more than he bargained for. One day before the anniversary of his father's death, in the midst of the spectacular sky storm known as the aurora borealis, John Sullivan discovers in the house he inherited his father's old ham radio and begins to play with it. Through the electrical static, he finds himself talking to a man who claims to be a firefighter and who appears to be awaiting the World Series of 1969. Is John really talking to his own living father on the very same day, in the very same house, but exactly three decades ago?"

As an amateur radio operator, it is exciting to see our hobby so prominently featured in a major studio movie like Frequency, and I see it as an incredible opportunity. Without a doubt, Frequency is the single most important thing to happen to amateur radio since single side band supplanted AM as our mode of choice. Frequency offers us, as amateurs, a unique opportunity to do something that we, as a group, are normally bad at: promote the #@$& out of amateur radio.

I am convinced that if amateur radio is to survive as a viable institution through the 21st century, that we are going to have to get the word out about what it is that we do. Think about it! If city governments and housing associations really understood the long distance emergency communications capabilities of ham radio, would restrictive antenna ordinances and covenants still hamstring hams? Or would communities instead be encouraging hams to erect towers and antennas for emergency communications use?

The problem is that few people outside of amateur radio have an accurate picture of what hams do, of what we are all about. Many people don't even know that ham radio exists, equating hams with dreaded Citizens' Band radio operators. Restrictive antenna covenants and declining number of new amateurs are both the direct result of people not knowing about the great hobby and service of amateur radio.

So, think of Frequency as a chance to educate the world about the fun side and the serious side of amateur radio. Whatever you do, don't just let the movie go by: DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Now is the time for your club to organize. Approach the local theater owner about the possibility of having a club table outside the theater during opening weekend. Pass out brochures on amateur radio. Do a HF or satellite demonstration showing off the long-distance capabilities of amateur radio.

As hams, many of us think of the exciting elements of ham radio as being commonplace. The average person doesn't. You can instill a sense of magic and wonder in people by showing them how it is possible to talk around the world without any wires connecting you to the person with whom you are speaking!

We at PREMIER Communications feel so strongly about the positive effect of Frequency that we have joined with the American Radio Relay League and several other companies within the amateur radio industry. Together, we are co-sponsoring an award for the amateur radio club that does the most spectacular job of promoting amateur radio in conjunction with Frequency. The winning club will receive a donation of a sensational amount of amateur radio equipment, including an ADI AR-147+ 2-meter mobile. The exact details of the contest will be announced by the ARRL shortly.

So get out there and do something to promote amateur radio. If everyone does their part, the impact - like the movie - can reach across time, helping to mold a positive future for the greatest hobby in existence.

* * * Ken Collier is the marketing director for PREMIER Communications, the maker of ADI radios and PRYME two-way radio accessories.