...the state (of CA) Fire District has decided that Ham radio equipment in remote areas must be removed unless radio operators cough up a big fee to lease the land from the government Ham radio operator use station repeaters to relay emergency traffic, especially when cell towers and other means of communication are down. This is done free by the radio operators; they buy, maintain, and operate the service at no charge to the state. Their thanks for this service: $2500 application fee to lease a tiny piece of land, $3000-5000 admin fee, plus an annual rental fee. The real...