This is the image that will greet you if you click on the following OFCOM Link ….. Here

This is the text that accompanies the image …..

.

“Ofcom has today {23rd June 2023 - Ed.} proposed changes to amateur radio licences and policies to make sure our regulations meet the needs of current and future amateur radio users.

Amateur radio, sometimes known as ham radio, has been an important part of wireless communications for over a century. Every amateur radio user in the UK needs a licence from Ofcom, and there are more than 101,000 amateur radio licences on issue in the UK currently.

Ofcom’s changes are designed to provide radio amateurs with greater operating freedoms to reflect how the hobby has evolved. At the same time, we are seeking to make getting and using a licence simpler, as part of a broader effort by Ofcom to streamline, standardise and where possible further automate elements of our licensing work.

.

………………..More than 101,000 amateur radio licences are on issue in the UK currently

.

To enable radio amateurs to undertake a wider range of activities we are proposing that in most frequency bands we would increase the maximum power that radio amateurs are allowed to use. We are also proposing to allow some low power airborne use and permit the operation of beacons, gateway and repeater equipment under the licence, without a specific licence variation being required.

Ofcom will maintain the current three tier lifetime licence approach but look to improve the process for revalidating licences online, which is currently required every five years.

With each licence we assign each user a unique identity, known as a call sign, which radio amateurs use in their activities. We have set out a number of changes to modernise and streamline our call signs policy.

For example, we will make it simpler for the amateur radio community to use special event call signs and allow licensees to change their call sign. We are also proposing that individual licensees should only hold a single personal licence and call sign at any one time, to ensure that the unique identity of a station is maintained.

Ofcom’s consultation is open until 4 September 2023. We will consider responses before publishing our decisions.”

Now, you can call me a miserable old cynic, if you like, but I always start twitching when I read that Ofcom are planning changes to our licenses.

Thus, my first thought is always of Greeks and Trojans !

Anyway, the actual ‘consultation’ document, we have been invited to respond to by no later than 5 pm on the 4th September 2023, consists of 101 pages.

So you'll need a few stiff drinks, a good constitution and plenty of time to read, digest and respond to it.

Strangely, noting the 101 pages, I thought of the story of the 101 Dalmatians and all those Black spots. Too much time baby sitting the Grand Children …. Which in my mind, at the time, appeared as 101 ‘Black Holes’ in the published, or even in the interpretation, of the published text.

I think that the changes, in general, are about bring our licence into line with CEPT and more broadly in line with other nations regulations.  Some of the proposals I am perfectly happy with, and others I perceive as a disaster waiting to happen.

Question …. Do I think the RSGB has been involved in the evolution of the consultation document ?  My view is, I doubt it.

Certainly, if they had indicated such, via info published in RadCom or the ‘grapevine’, then I’m sure that I and many others, would have known about it prior to the Ofcom statement.

I believe that when Ofcom are planning to make changes to any part of the Amateur licence which will directly impact upon the bands, modes, power levels, and exam requirements, etc., other than perhaps legislative issue resulting from the broader legislative changes affecting the entire UK spectrum, then Radio Amateurs, not necessarily or exclusively the National Society, should be involved in each stage from planning through to production of the document that will be offered for PUBLIC consultation.

UK

I would also suggest that this involvement should be transparent, in as much as the Amateur community being aware that changes are being planned and that Radio Amateurs are involved from the start.

Question …. Do I think that any response or responses from the Amateur radio community at a personal or National Society level, will change the general broad outline within the consultation …. No.

I believe that they may be prepared to perhaps tinker with a few relatively minor bits and pieces, but I doubt that they will be swayed from their planned intentions / strategy.

From my prospective, it’s already been typed up and sitting on someones computer, just waiting for the go button to be pressed.

Having said that, I don’t think that we should be prepared as individual Amateurs, through our local clubs, or National Society, to blindly accept or reject any proposals that come out of Ofcom.

They describe us a stakeholders in the RF spectrum, and thus offer us the option to participate in the decision making process through a public consultation, which could well be influenced by business and industry, with no regard for Amateur Radio, and who do pay for the part of the RF spectrum that they currently have access to.

It should not be forgotten that Ofcom are a regulator with the remit of making money from the RF spectrum.  This seems to me that they have one foot in each camp, if I’m being generous.

I believe that when Ofcom are planning to make changes to any part of the Amateur licence, then Radio Amateurs, not necessarily or exclusively the National Society, should be involved in each stage from planning to production of the document that will be offered for PUBLIC consultation.  I would also suggest that this involvement should be transparent, in as much that the Amateur community should be aware that there are changes being planned and that Radio Amateurs are involved from the start.

Anyway, as I said at the start … you can call me a miserable old cynic, I’m don’t really care, but I do care about our wonderful hobby, and

regarding our valued hobby.

a done deal, irrespective of what significant objections and / or better options the Amateur community are able or prepared offered.