The likelihood of the internet being censored a la China is very real - it is the next step past the Fairness Doctrine. The Chicoms would be delighted to sell us the software.
During WWII, ham radio was shut down due to security reasons, and in the patriotic fervor of the day, there was total compliance. Ham operators tend to lean to the right, and the overwhelming majority are disgusted by how the FCC has become overrun with lawyers instead of engineers. Any attempt to impose radio silence on the part of 0bama and his thugs would be ignored by a large fraction of the hobby.
Ham radio is ‘regulated’ by the same FCC that is supposed to regulate CB radio. There are simply too few FCC field agents to regulate the thousands of illegal CB operators. Ham radio is primarily self-policing. The FCC generally acts in accordance to complaints from other hams who observe illegal operation. If it were inundated by thousands of ‘illegal’ ham operators, it would not be able to react to all of them.
For those not currently involved in amateur radio, the licensing process is quite easy, as the morse code requirement has been eliminated. Now is a good time to pick up the gear, and familiarize yourself with its operation. Regardless of whether you become licensed or not, it is a good idea to own at least a VHF/UHF scanner capable of receiving the 2-Meter ham band, as well as local fire and police transmissions. A shortwave receiver is also essential.
Re. EMP and nukes:
EMP is a very real threat. There are ‘EMP’ bombs that are low-tech and non-nuclear, that can still cause a lot of localized damage. Mostly the effect will be propagated along lengths of wire. It will have the effect of a nearby lightning strike. You can buy EMP-surge suppressors - which are actually less substantial than lightning surge supressors. Regardless, you can expect widespread power outages, blown power tranformers, blown commercial comm equipment, no telephone, internet, or satellite. If you have gear that is in a metal cabinet (as is most ham gear) and UNPLUGGED it will not likely be affected.
There is another effect of a nuke that will have an effect on radio, and that is the ionizing radiation will wipe out HF (shortwave) signal propagation. The most likely remaining service will be AM radio, which propagates via ground-wave, and will be less affected. Most AM broadcasters have backup diesel generators and weeks worth of fuel, and lightning-hard transmitter installations. They won’t have their satellite feeds of Rush anymore, but they will be able to run local, live programming.
One of the big brother intrusions into the ham licensing world was the mandate of entering your social security number in their database, or no license.
No reason for this other than control.