Ofcom Consultation
Ofcom Amateur Radio Licence Consultation
Dear UKSMG Member,
Over the past weekend at the RSGB Convention, it became very clear that it is particularly important we are all aware of the proposed changes that Ofcom intends to make to our Amateur Radio Licences.
At the UK Six Metre Group, your committee feel very strongly about this topic, and on this occasion we feel that it is important enough to bring it to the attention of our UK members.
Amongst other changes, Ofcom are proposing to remove the need to change the Regional Secondary Locator ie. M,W,I,U,J & D when a station operates from a different part of the UK.
In the UK we are uniquely privileged to be able to move freely between our individual entities, amending our prefix accordingly.Â
Whilst the proposals will not be mandatory they will cause sufficient uncertainty amongst the amateur fraternity to render the current system of country identification unusable.
Ofcom's consultation document invites input from us in the Amateur Radio community to respond to their proposals,
and the RSGB have responded on behalf of their members, and have already provided a response form on their website.
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However, Ofcom require input from individual amateurs as they have stated (during their presentation at the RSGB Convention) that they will not accept ‘block’ comments from the RSGB on behalf of us all. They have also said that if there is insufficient opposition then the changes will go ahead. In our opinion, most of the changes are innocuous, but two particularly important questions needing a response are Q1 & Q7.
We urge you to take a small amount of time to read the RSGB Guidance and complete the Ofcom Consultation Response form.
Click here to view the RSGB website - UK Amateur Licence Review
Click here to view the Ofcom Online Response Form
Ofcom have stated that unless there is significant opposition to this proposal, it will be implemented !Â
Time is short, and all responses to Ofcom must be received by 5.00pm, 20th October 2014.
Thank you,
Over the past weekend at the RSGB Convention, it became very clear that it is particularly important we are all aware of the proposed changes that Ofcom intends to make to our Amateur Radio Licences.
At the UK Six Metre Group, your committee feel very strongly about this topic, and on this occasion we feel that it is important enough to bring it to the attention of our UK members.
Amongst other changes, Ofcom are proposing to remove the need to change the Regional Secondary Locator ie. M,W,I,U,J & D when a station operates from a different part of the UK.
In the UK we are uniquely privileged to be able to move freely between our individual entities, amending our prefix accordingly.Â
Whilst the proposals will not be mandatory they will cause sufficient uncertainty amongst the amateur fraternity to render the current system of country identification unusable.
Ofcom's consultation document invites input from us in the Amateur Radio community to respond to their proposals,
and the RSGB have responded on behalf of their members, and have already provided a response form on their website.
Â
However, Ofcom require input from individual amateurs as they have stated (during their presentation at the RSGB Convention) that they will not accept ‘block’ comments from the RSGB on behalf of us all. They have also said that if there is insufficient opposition then the changes will go ahead. In our opinion, most of the changes are innocuous, but two particularly important questions needing a response are Q1 & Q7.
We urge you to take a small amount of time to read the RSGB Guidance and complete the Ofcom Consultation Response form.
Click here to view the RSGB website - UK Amateur Licence Review
Click here to view the Ofcom Online Response Form
Ofcom have stated that unless there is significant opposition to this proposal, it will be implemented !Â
Time is short, and all responses to Ofcom must be received by 5.00pm, 20th October 2014.
Thank you,
| UK Six Metre Group secretary@uksmg.org |
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