Posted on 10/15/2019 5:48:02 PM PDT by econjack
I found this on the ARRL.org site:
Report Causes Concern and Confusion in California’s Amateur Radio Ranks.
10/15/2019
By all credible and reliable accounts, the State of California has not turned its back on Amateur Radio as an emergency communication resource nor have established repeater owners been asked to remove their equipment from state-owned sites unless they pay sizeable fees. The California controversy, inflamed by a viral YouTube video, stemmed from a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) communication telling a repeater owner or group that Amateur Radio equipment would have to be removed from a state-owned site or “vault” if the owner(s) determined the cost was too great to proceed with a formal application to keep it there.
“I do understand and appreciate all of the service you have provided in the past,” CAL FIRE’s Lorina Pisi, told the unknown repeater owner(s) or group(s) last month. “However, with constantly changing technological advances, there is no longer the same benefit to State as previously provided. Therefore, the Department no longer financially supports HAM operators [sic] radios or tenancy. If you desire to enter into a formal agreement to operate and maintain said equipment, you must complete and submit attached collocation application along with fee as outlined on page one of application. There is cost associated with getting an agreement in place.”
It’s not clear to whom Pisi’s memo was addressed, since any name or names were redacted from the version of the memo that is being circulated. ARRL reached out to Pisi this week but has not heard back.
After receiving a lengthy communication from attorney Nathan Zeliff, K6DPS, of Shingletown, California, citing Pisi’s letter, Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko did some asking around of his own. He reported that Jim Price, the Communications Center Operation Officer for the State Office of Emergency Services, explained to him that the matter is not a new one, and the issue of repeater equipment in state radio vaults has been going on for 5 years or longer.
“He said this gets down to a local level, if the local officials feel there is a need to have the ham radio repeaters in vaults in their area,” Bosenko told Zeliff. “As such, this gets down to authorization for vault space, clearances and authorization to access equipment in the vaults and contract agreements for the equipment to be in the vaults. The matter of cost and who will bear the cost for contracts and vault space has also been an issue for years.”
ARRL officials who have also looked into the situation agree that it’s been blown out of proportion by parties with their own agendas.
“The State of California has not made any determination we can find ‘that Ham Radio [is] no longer a benefit,’” Pacific Division Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, is quoted on the Sacramento Valley Section website. “What happened is that CAL FIRE has transferred responsibility for its communications sites to its property management department. That department has the task of evaluating each site, its condition, use, and tenants. If a repeater not known to be associated with the emergency management function of a local jurisdiction is found in a CAL FIRE vault, the default action is to move it out or subject it to commercial rental rates.”
“Our contact in the California Office of Emergency Services suggests that, if any affected repeater is in any way involved with local emergency or government support activity, they should ask that agency to engage with CAL FIRE concerning the repeater. If the agency makes the case, there is a good chance that the repeater will be unaffected,” Tiemstra added.
ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, has been responding to inquiries with the same message.
Well, it’s California.
Damn. I just posted exactly the same thing from ARRL. Shoulda known to read through the entire thread before posting. You’re faster than I am.
“What happened is that CAL FIRE has transferred responsibility for its communications sites to its property management department. That department has the task of evaluating each site, its condition, use, and tenants. If a repeater not known to be associated with the emergency management function of a local jurisdiction is found in a CAL FIRE vault, the default action is to move it out or subject it to commercial rental rates.”
To me, that means the issue is still active and the public need to know that a potentially life-saving service to them may simply disappear because of some pissing contest between state agencies. Not good.
I am a bit conflicted on this. Both as a amateur and a commercial radio provider. I currently have a two repeater system on a tv tower in a major city. I pay $1200 per month rent. I recently noticed a couple of new stations installed at the site. I inquired as to who they were and found out they were amateur systems. How much do they pay? $0. Their equipment takes up three times as much floor space as mine does.
In all my years here I have yet to notice anyone from a amateur club at a scene of some disaster. In fact the major Hospital in the area took out all the systems that some club had installed, and the unknown repeater they had installed on the roof.
I have monitored the repeaters and the only thing I hear related to “PUBLIC SAFETY” is to avoid areas where there is some incident that ties up traffic.
After the club found out who I was they asked me to hook up some interface to their repeater. They didn’t know anything about the repeater even with the tech book on it.
They didn’t have any knowledge of electronics, they were just appliance operators.
I respect the General & Extra class licenses but have little for the Technician class 2 meter and 70cm repeaters.
Nothing wrong with posting it twice.
> In all my years here I have yet to notice anyone from a amateur club at a scene of some disaster.
I don’t think the amateurs (as a category, across all classes) really figure in until there is a disaster bad enough that there are no other “comms.”
Seems to me that the equipment footprint and rack space usage could be worked on. Nothing wrong with telling the hams to make their stuff smaller and removed unused junk.
California is surrounded by 7 land,
California gets 6 all to itself
I’m now W4 operating /6.
If you need help with studying, let me know. Happy to help and always happy to welcome a new ham on the air.
You’re of course correct, not sure what I was thinking (or not thinking as the case may be ....)
Thanks. I’m looking for some flash cards of the test. I do best with rote memorization. Know anyplace I can find some?
L
What are you using to study? Are you using the Tech Q&A guide or online testing resources?
Using the online study aids. I found a set after I asked you. The interwebs have everything.
L
Isn’t that cool? Hey, when you’re ready to get on the air please make sure you contact me. (I’ll send you FR Mail.) I’ll help get you on the air. I know you’ll pass, you’re a smart guy. FWIW, I passed my Tech 35/35 and my general 49/50. I still say the one I missed was bullsh*t but oh well. :-)
-PJ
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