Improving the Amateur Radio service in Europe, by Peter Vekinis, KC1QF

Here is the text for the book: Improving the amateur radio service. If you have comments, please let me know. E-Mail to: [email protected]. Thank you, and 73s.

Peter P. Vekinis is responsible for the Dissemination of Esprit programme results at the European Commission in Brussels. He has been a radio amateur (ham) since 1975.

He can be contacted at the European Commission, BU-31, 200 rue de la Loi, 1049 Brussels, Belgium, by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at + 32 2 296 8154, fax: + 32 2 296 9229

Introduction

I became a radio amateur in 1975 at the age of 19, when I lived in South Africa. In those days, my main interest was talking to the world. I knew a few things about electronics and thus had the basic knowledge to pass the amateur radio test, a test that demonstrates knowledge of principles of radio communications.

In the years since, I became involved with the Amateur Radio service in the United States, Greece, Belgium and Ireland. I have proposed many specific changes to many of these areas on topics such as satellites, Special Olympics support and related topics. My main theme has been and will always be, using the communications medium to support our communities. Communities that are becoming more and more insular, where people only look after themselves and no one else.

The desire to write this document and make a personal 'crusade' towards its completion comes from two areas: to follow President Santer's message on the "instillation of community service to Europe's citizens" and to ensure that radio amateurs can have the tools and government support at their disposal to accomplish this task.

Summary

This document discusses and argues in concrete terms, that applying community service rules and regulation of the amateur radio service will enable radio amateurs to easily help their communities, support the public administrations in its community help efforts, save millions of pounds of government expenditure and illustrate to the public how forward looking and how responsive the government can be in making sure that the community comes first. Above all, the anticipated increase in radio amateurs will make their participation in their communities better and re- establish the feeling of community help. There is nothing better than people realising they have helped save lives.

Reasons for this document

There are many reasons for this document.

• Firstly because the current state of affairs in amateur radio is deteriorating.
• Secondly because there are strict public expenditure controls.
• Thirdly because, as President Santer of the European Commission said "we need to re-instil the feeling of community help to our citizens."
• Fourthly, because unless radio amateurs can be made to realise that there is more than just electronics in their hobby, their hobby will die a slow death.
• Fifthly, many of the early inventions on communications which were accomplished by radio amateurs, are slowly drying up.
• Sixthly because in our world, communications is the keyword, amateurs must become communications based and not just radio experimenting.
• And seventh, and perhaps most important, unless radio amateurs can be motivated to help their communities, with their communications ability, their desire to help others, and their belief that they can do it better, cheaper, faster, they would be wasting an extremely valuable resource, the radio spectrum.

In order to perform these changes the European government must make the first steps and bring into action changes that open-up and improve the regulations currently applicable to the amateur radio service.

Chapter 1

The background

The ITU definition of a radio amateur service is: A radiocommunications service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunications and technical investigation carried out by amateurs, that is duly authorised persons interested in radio techniques, solely with a personal aim and without a pecuniary interest for the benefit of themselves and their communities.

Amateur radio is for people interested in the technical side of radio and able to provide emergency communications in disasters, all for the general benefit of the public. The service is called an amateur service because it is not commercial therefore no business may be conducted on it.

Many countries have community help as the number one reason for Amateur radio existence and regulations. In all, 48 countries abide by such a principle, like the United States, Canada, Australia, most of South American countries, Israel and Jordan. The reason is simple. Radio amateurs (radio hams) have at their disposal something very precious: the ability to communicate without using a government established infrastructure not only point to point (like a phone), but to be able to broadcast at the same time to other radio amateurs and pass messages for the benefit of their communities, citizens and people in need..

In Europe this is not the case. In Europe, mainly due to historical reasons and the fact that the Communications departments did not see the opportunities presented to the communities by radio amateurs, the service is just a hobby. Originally, amateur radio was designed for experimentation and the ability to offer people a new way of innovating new radio communications methods. These days however, this idea has fallen by the wayside as market factors are now influencing radio innovations rather than individual actions. Add to this are the severe restrictions imposed on radio amateurs by the administrations and we find a service with no motivation and no stimulation. In fact, we can ask ourselves, what does the service do for the public at large? In most cases, nothing. Administrations don't allow them to do anything.

When we compare Europe's performance in the field with other countries, especially the Americas, we see that Europe lags behind in just about every area of amateur radio service. This is because amateur radio in Europe is offered as an electronics hobby and not as a communications service. And this is all due to the relative restrictions imposed, the lack of community service and the fact that amateur radio and hams in general aren't motivated to change anything.

What we have to realise is that we have at our disposal a large number of radio amateurs, call them communications specialists, who can make, under the proper conditions, an important contribution to the government, to our communities, to our people, all on a volunteer basis, that us free of charge!

Chapter 2

Background on the radio amateur service in Europe and appropriate comparisons.

Income to the European Governments:
In Europe, there are about 240000 radio amateurs. They pay an average of about ECU 25 per year for their license, which translates to about ECU 6,000,000 per year to the governments concerned.

They buy radio equipment and they would need such equipment to be able to operate. Equipment has a small duty into the European Union, in the range of 6.5% (customs code 85252090)- 90% of all the equipment has this duty on it as it is either made in the Far East or the U.S.

They are then liable to V.A.T. at the average rate of about 18.7%. As all of the equipment is for end use and assuming that there are 150,000 radio amateurs that would need equipment and the average price of a radio set is about ECU 700, the total government income from the VAT and duty would be about ECU 26,460,000 pounds, paid every 3 - 5 years the time when equipment rotates in the hands of average hams. So the governments do make money from the service (albeit a very small amount).

As a comparison, in the US a license is free and valid for ten years. In Australia, it costs about ECU 8 per year; in Canada it costs about ECU 14 per year. The US believes that as hams play an important role in their communities, their license should be free (asking for money and people's time is seen as asking too much).

Tangible Expenditure by hams in other areas.
Appropriate radio components, antennas and similar items. This equals to a small amount.

Intangible expenditure by hams
None.

Tangible contributions to the community by hams
None. Not permitted.

Intangible contributions to the community by hams
None. Not permitted.

Savings on government expenditure due to service done by hams
None. Not permitted.

Increase in communications systems, especially as backups.
None. Not permitted.

Radio spectrum space used by hams.
The radio amateur service uses spectrum in Short wave, VHF, UHF and microwave bands. Spectrum is allocated in regions specified by the International Telecommunications Organisation as ITU region 1, 2 or 3. ITU region 1 is mainly Europe and Africa and is rather constricted to radio amateurs and their choice of frequencies; ITU region 2 is the Americas and ITU region 3 is mainly Australia and the Indian subcontinent. ITU recommends frequency use, although in many cases there are severe 'historic' discrepancies and use depended on the governments wishes not the advise of the ITU.

Geographic distribution of hams in Europe.
Most radio amateurs are found in the main cities, with the capitals having almost half of the radio amateur population, followed by smaller cities. The reason for this is that many people want to be radio amataurs but since they have to travel quite long distances to get to a government test session, they just dont bother.

Comparison of European radio amateurs population to other countries.
Europe has about 240000 radio amateurs. This means that one person in 1250 people is a radio amateur. In U.S., the ratio is 1:416, in Japan it is 1:25, and in Australia it is 1:500. This indicates that the amateur radio population in Europe is small in comparison to other nations.

Licence types
Under current regulations, there are two main licence types in Europe, A and B. One needs Morse code (needed under international agreement for operation on HF frequencies) and the other doesn't need Morse code. Tests are given twice yearly by the Department (or more often). Some countries have nivice licenses, which unfortunately provide unequivalent frequencies between states.

As a comparison, in the US there are 5 license types: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced and Extra. Technician is similar to the CEPT class B and General is similar to CEPT class A. In the US system, tests are given by other registered radio amateurs that have higher classes than the ones tested (i.e. a General Class can test a Novice, not the opposite). Teams of three amateurs must be present, and they are required to sign documents on the fairness of examination and accept the responsibility that if the examination was inappropriately conducted the examiners may lose their licenses. The examination costs about ECU 8, mainly to offset the expenses of the examiners. The examiners donate their time for the test. Their test site must be announced well in advance and all their records are kept. This allows many more people to get the licenses than would otherwise be possible, especially in rural areas.

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Chapter 3

The seven principles for the amateur radio service

In looking at ways of improving the amateur radio service in Europe, and in trying to establish the future way of using the incredible resource of radio amateurs available, I propose the following seven guiding principles:

1: Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary, non commercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

We have at our fingertips an incredible resource. This resource must be utilised. It must be utilised to provide emergency life-saving communications whenever and wherever necessary. Normal communications channels often breakdown in times of disasters such as aeroplane crashes, storms, fires and other disasters. They breakdown because the demand is so great, that the circuits are overloaded. Amateur radio is frequently the only means available to contact the outside world and hook up with the telephone system from areas not affected. In many countries, the Red-Cross and other civil defence areas use radio amateurs to provide their communications services free of charge.

One of the more noteworthy aspects of amateur radio is its non commercial nature. In fact radio amateurs may not and must not accept payment for operating their stations. They must make their services free of charge., Now this is a welcome change in a world of tight government spending! This is true whether they assist a search and rescue operation, passing health and welfare messages, communicating with nuns and missionaries to the farthest corners of the globe or providing communications in marathons.

Why do hams do all of this for free? Because it gives them immense personal satisfaction. As Jacques Santer said recently, "we must instil upon all of Europe's citizens the feeling of helping our communities, our towns and cities." Helping an old lady cross the street may have been the norm in my time but these days it is becoming optional. Being able to help the communities gives radio amateurs an immense feeling of personal satisfaction. The rules must then promote public service communications and make this, the amateur radio service's, number one priority.

2: Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of radio communications.

When radio started, there were no rules. Subsequently rules were introduced which led to amateurs to make inroads into new areas. They developed microwave communications, the cellular telephone system, satellite communications and more. Now we are at the point where we must develop the service for which radio hams exist. We must experiment with state-of- the-art technologies. These technologies get developed at no cost to society and then become part of everyday communications life, look at GSM. The rules must promote amateur experimentation.

3: Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for skills in both the communications and the technical phases of the radio amateur's art.

Along with the technical knowledge radio amateurs possess, amateurs also hold special training exercises in preparation for communications emergencies. Simulated exercises and tests are designed to make the public service element available with built in knowledge for the situation at hand. This improvement should be done in conjunction with the Red Cross and civil defence in association with the search and rescue services currently in place.

4: Expansion of the existing skill base with the amateur radio service: trained operators, technicians, communicators and electronic experts.

Self-training, station operating, communications and technical investigation are all elements of the amateur radio service. Radio amateurs are a public resource. The more we have, the better we can serve our communities.

5: Continuation and extension of international goodwill.

Hams are unique even in these days of worldwide jet travel. They journey to the far reaches of the globe with their radios, they make friends with foreigners, they advertise what a wonderful place Europe is and they invite and get invited to explore each others countries. All radio amateurs have a certain type of bond where no matter where they are, they become friends because they share a commitment to the 7 principles. Radio amateur communications cross the boundaries between countries and cultures.

6: Improvement of education through amateur radio.

One of the most important taska amateur radio can perform is to help school children explore the world in which they live through amateur radio. Currently, the American Shuttle operates a programme called SAREX (Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment for Schools) which allows schools to have children communicate directly with the space shuttle! Just seeing the children's faces when they discover that our hobby allows normal people talk to an orbiting spacecraft is unique. This way they explore the world. In cooperation with geography, language and culture classes, school children can interact with other school children at no cost to the government.

7: Making Amateur radio a hobby for the future

PICOSATS is a project designed to launch multiple extremely small satellites into orbit so that they can offer 24 hour coverage using small handheld transmitters and receivers from anywhere on the earth for radio amateur usage in conjunction with public service. This is a futuristic approach; the first of its kind and ready to be in place by the end of 1997. Offering free communications, courtesy of radio amateurs, from anywhere on the globe. This is another example of creativity, and stimulation at work, at no cost to the government.

By offering the rules and regulations ideal for the future and by changing the hobby from a technical hobby only for the selected few, to a service ready to help pour communities we can set the foundations for the future and make an example to be followed by everyone.

There is also another very important reason on the benefits of making amateur radio a hobby for the future. The participation of many more people should be encouraged. The assurance that by having a novice licencee, to be tested in a field setting by others amateurs will open the hobby tremendously, especially in schools. The ability to expand the 2 meter band from 144MHz to 146MHz and extend it to 148MHz, the extra segment on a secondary basis, will make the band better able to offer the appropriate communications necessary. All of these suggestions are aimed at making the regulations more 'user friendly.' This will mean more radio amateurs, thus more people will be available for community service, and the government will get more 'bang' for its 'buck.'

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Chapter 4

The problems today and their solutions

Today we can barely do the above. Due to regulations, we cannot do at all, principles 1, 3, 4 6 and 7 and we can only partly do the rest. In fact we wonder about the purpose of the amateur radio service as a service to the community. We are hindered by the regulations that were designed for a world that has disappeared long ago. Our society is getting harder and harder. Government departments are strained for cash. We have a most amazing resource and it is time to put it into place, to put it to good use.

I therefore propose the following changes and additions to the appropriate regulations governing amateur radio in the various member states:

Change 1: Age of license	The minimum age of license shall be 11. This ensures that school children of secondary schools will be able to take the test and be granted an applicable license thereby creating the basis necessary for high school amateur radio stations.
Addition 2: new license class: Novice	A new class of license should be introduced andmust become available throughout the union. The new class will be called, The Novice License and will allow the licence holder VHF and some HF privileges, the same in every member state. It is suggested that license holders be made to answer 30 questions and either pass a 5 word per minute Morse code test, or none. Passing the morse code would give access to HF frequencies. The person should be tested by three other, full licence holding radio amateurs, who have registered their test intent with the department of communications. The examinations should be held wherever the three amateurs want, as long as it is publicly announced one month in advance. The candidate should also show a proficiency of receiving 5 wpm Morse code. In order to make this license applicable, the candidate should have available the frequencies, which match novice license holders in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, UK and others. Morse code emissions in the 80, 40, 15 and 10 meter bands. SSB on the 10 meter band and FM in the 2 meter band. Results: If this were to start Jan. 1, 1996, test sessions could be held in smaller cities around Europe, literaly doubling the number of radio amateurs within a yea. This can be advertised in schools, and other areas. This can be done on a volunteer basis,at no cost to the governments.
Addition 3: Public service	In order to allow radio amateurs the ability to perform public service communications, a radio amateur station will be allowed to pass messages on behalf of other people as long as a licensed radio amateur is present and controlling the station. In practice this may mean using amateur radio ground stations to contact the Space shuttle for schools putting pupils and students on the air talking to astronauts, offering public communications passing messages for health and welfare use, connecting an amateur radio station on the telephone ensuring that in case of emergency alternate routes of communications are made available. All of this service available free of charge to the communities. These regulations must be made simple and precise so that no decision need be made by the radio amateur whether his action is legal or not, thereby delaying his or her action. Result: It would be useless to speculate the amount of suffering and lives saved by using the free and volunteer resources of the radio amateurs and the amateur service in general on behalf of Europe's communities. In many countries this has been demonstrated over and over.
Addition 4: Emergency communications	In order to benefit the public, it is necessary for radio hams to be publicly reachable if they have the intention of participating in emergency actions. Thus it is suggested that a register of hams wishing to participate in such actions be created and kept up to date. This list should be made available at all the Red Cross facilities across Europe, the Police and civil defence. This list in fact will most probably include the key hams in Europe who will call the rest into action. In common with other countries offering similar actions, they should be structured for immediate action. It is up to the Civil defence and the appropriate associations to set-up up their members for action under, perhaps the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Result: The Red Cross and Civil Defence will have at their disposal a group of volunteers who will devote their time and effort to emergency communications.
Addition 5: Promoting radio communications	European hams should be allowed to experiment and be encouraged to invent and offer new uses for radio equipment. This should be done in conjunction with their use of frequencies, international allocations and current practice. The various communications departments will endeavour to support frequencies in use by radio hams. In particular and in order to advance the art of radio, additional frequencies should be allocated including the use of 146MHz to 148MHz on a secondary basis, 440 to 450MHz on a secondary basis and 430- 440MHz on a primary basis as currently existing. Currently, ITU region 1 has 144-146MHz for the Amateur Radio service while ITU regions 2 and 3 have 144-148MHz on a secondary basis. It is recommended that 146-148MHz is also allocated on a secondary basis so that we end with a worldwide 144-148MHz band. If there are problems with these frequencies due to neighbouring constraints, guard bands should be allocated on the border with such states. In addition, the Communications departments should endeavour to keep and even try and expand the current radio amateur bands. There would be no point in getting radio amateurs motivated and stimulated to service their communities, if radio spectrum was being taken away from them. Result: by offering radio amateurs such small changes, they will have the motivations necessary to offer their services to their communities. After all it is a two way street.
Addition 6: Extension of definitions of who can participate in Amateur Radio	Radio amateurs are ambassadors of their countries when it comes to executing long distance communications. As such, they are meant to operate following current practice. However one additional flexibility is required and that has to do when passing health and welfare messages of people not normally in contact with communications facilities in Europe and abroad. People who don't have radio amateur licenses are third parties, such as nuns and missionaries in Africa, South America and other such places, performing public service. Third party traffic is defined as 1/ Third party messages, such as 'say hello to Peter for me', 2/ phone-line interconnection where a radio amateur connects his radio to a telephone set to establish communications with other third parties and 3/ direct participation where third parties are actually present. Third party is one of the biggest public benefits of amateur radio. It has not been permitted widely so far, because in the past public administrations did not want to lose a single penny in telephone revenue. However, this is not the point of third party. Under international regulations, third party is "communications with third parties, that is people not holding radio amateur licenses, whereby such communications are unimportant enough not to warrant the use of the public telephone system." In these days of liberating everything in telephony, this issue doesn't have any effect anymore.
Additio n 6: (Continued)	In Canada, the government says: "The wisdom by which the government has permitted and in sometimes defended the freedom of third party, has been demonstrated time and again. There is no way to calculate the value of lives and property that have been saved by the intelligent use of third party actions via the telephone system; via direct participation in emergency situations. The public has been well served by radio amateurs performing such actions." Third party is especially important in getting the telecommunications authorities to offer competitive schedules for normal telephone use. And they have done that to very good effect in many countries, supported by the individual governments. Result: It would be unjust to ask radio amateurs to contribute to their communities if you didn't give them the tools and the facilities to self-motivate, stimulate and perform. Opening up their hobby to the societies is what it is all about.
Addition 7: Improvement of education	In order to make use of the facilities available through amateur radio and teach school children the importance of public service, support for the community and behaviour above the call of public duty, the school curriculum should be made aware of the availability of amateur radio and the role it can play in its field of endeavour. This may take place as an event contacting Space Shuttle Astronauts, the importance of public service, the world of radio communications and making friends across the world. Education and amateur radio go hand in hand. By using some of the equipment currently available; by accepting help from radio amateurs in the school's district and by having school children participate in communications they will get stimulated in Geography, languages, and communications skills, at no cost to the government. We cannot afford to say "the youth of today is realy bad." If we do, we would be saying that of our own children. We must educate and motivate our youth to do thing consistent with our society. This is important. Result: Radio amateurs are ready and willing to do this for our schools, for our children, for our future.
Addition 8: Prohibited practices	It is important to clearly define what is prohibited in the amateur radio service. By having clear guidelines, we can ensure proper conduct of the service. Prohibited from the amateur radio service should be: Direct and indirect payment A radio amateur must never accept any money, either directly, or indirectly for operating his station. The definition of a radio amateur says it all: "Recognition and enhancement of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary, non-commercial communications service." Broadcasting Broadcasting refers to transmission intended for the general public and as such, there are plenty of radio stations to listen! Music Not permitted. Criminal activities Not permitted Codes and cyphers Not permitted, except in space telecommand (see below) Obscenity and indecency Radio amateurs must use their correct judgement in using appropriate language. Interference Radio amateurs must not cause deliberate interference to other stations and, take action to help, whenever this happens unintentionally. Result: A clear set of rules of what cannot be done is necessary.
Addition 9: Legislation on Amateur Space Operations	Overall Europe must introduce amateur satellite station legislation. Legislation is necessary because an amateur satellite (of which there are many in orbit) is an international transmitter and must be controlled in case of interference. In common with other countries, the laws relative to space operations are: Any station can be a space station It must be possible to make the space station stop transmitting, if requested. The space station may re-transmit the signals of other stations. Space stations do not have to identify themselves Space station must transmit on certain frequencies The licensee of a space station must notify the communications department, not less than 24 months before mission, again not less than 5 months before starting to transmit. It must also advise when transmission will cease and when parts of the spacecraft have ceased to operate. These elements are important to ensure that any international questions on the spacecraft can easily be answered. The space operation legislation is very important especially in the case of Picosats, which will launched as Co-European Spacecraft. Result: The Picosat project is currently in creation phase. Therefore, by next year such legislation must be in place.
Addition 10: Authorised transmissions	It would be ideal to define what kind of two- way communications are applicable to Amateur stations. These are: Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with other stations in the amateur service. Transmission necessary to exchange messages with other non-amateur stations, such as those designated by the government, while providing emergency communications, i.e. civil defence, Police etc. One way transmissions are forbidden except to adjust the station (brief transmissions), telecommand, to provide emergency communications, to assist people in learning the Morse code and for radio amateur related news bulletins and telemetry.
Additional Considerations for invalid people	One area where amateur radio excels is offering a wonderful hobby for the benefit of people that have disabilities. The blind, the dumb, the deaf, they can all participate in the hobby because it offers facilities for everyone. The blind could use the radio communications, while the deaf and dumb can use the computerised facilities to digitally 'talk' to correspondents across the globe. We all know that our hobby is not structured to support the invalid population. This is where specific legislation comes in. It is suggested: People with serious invalidities, whose invalidity is signed by a doctor known to the candidate, pass a 5 word per minute code test instead of the 12 word per minute code test towards an HF license. People that cannot use radio communications, i.e. the deaf or dumb, who will use digital communications will benefit from an HF license and will not be required to do a Morse code test, although if they want to, they will be able to do a morse test. The societies representing radio amateurs in Europe, will have to take a pro-active step and translate legislation documents into Braille or put them onto cassette tapes for the benefit of invalid people.. Result: By offering additional facilities to the invalids in our population radio amateurs will be able to provide service to people, for whom, governments often do nothing about.

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Chapter 5

Questions and Answers

Lets look at some questions that are raised as a result of these changes and their possible answers.

Isn't 11 years too young to understand what amateur radio is all about?

No, it is not. Think about this. If someone can comprehend what is amateur radio, the rules and regulations and the electronics involved, then surely that person should be granted a license. If we don't allow this, then we are saying that our youth is less intelligent than other countries' youth where no age limit exists? Certainly not. And let's not forget that just about all the youth would normally be offspring of radio amateur families where the equipment is widely available. I just don't think there are many 11 year olds with jobs and salaries to buy their own equipment, do you?

Why is the Novice license so important?

The novice license is the entry point to the amateur radio system. It is available in some countries but not available in others. What ever form it takes it must abide by the following two important points: It must be equivalent to other states' novice licenses and it must be granted easily and cheaply in the field. Some countries, especially the UK charge 15 pounds for the morse test and another 20 pounds for the written test plus 15 pounds per year. This is way too much for a hobby that is supposed to offer service to the communities free of charge!. How can we charge and expect volunteer service? Thus I propose a test system for Novice licenses in the field, which abides by the following principles:
1/ There must be three examiners, who are full licensed radio amateurs
2/ There must be advance notice of the examination date.
3/ There must be no cost associated with this license.
4/ Maximum validity of three years, non renewable.
This will permit a smooth running examination system which may take place throughout the Union without regard to a particular place or time, making it much more applicable to a starting radio amateur. The three years is ample time by which additional information can be gained with view to obtaining a full amateur radio license.

What's the point with 3rd party traffic?

The third party traffic is the facility available whereby radio amateurs allow others to communicate using their equipment. In many countries, it is allowed under the following conditions: the communications must be controlled by a licensed radio amateur, and transmitted information must be of a technical or a personal nature. In Europe, this is NOT allowed. This is because European Governments did not and probably still do not want any revenue lost by the telephone monopolies. But, what revenue are we talking about? Communications are unimportant enough, that if there was no amateur radio 3rd party permissions, there would be no point in having these communications in the first place; so where is the money lost?

There is a much larger reason why 3rd party is very important. And that is the ability to allow people perform in an emergency situation without undue hindrance. If a ham, who needs to get help from someone needs to decide whether the communication is allowed or not, whether he may lose his license or not, then there would be no point in using our communications facilities for it. If a doctor needs to speak to a patient, this must be allowed. If a firefighter needs to talk to someone on another fire fighting area, this should be allowed. If a fund raising, public benefit race organizer needs to find out what is going on in another part of the race, he should be allowed todo so. Third party traffic is the facility offered to radio amateurs to help people in need, to pass welfare messages in case of disasters, to be able to communicate in whatever mode would be possible, in order to help. And by allowing radio amateurs to help, governments would take advantage of the following:

• A large, free, group of volunteers that can be mobilised quickly and efficiently
• Free services to our communities when the need arises
• The ability to communicate irrespective of the established infrastructure
• A reason of purpose for the amateur radio community that can easily be supported by governments against commercial interests.

If there was a group of people that could communicate free of charge and offer services to the communities, then the governments would certainly help them in getting more power, more frequencies, whatever they need. It is after all, a two way street.

Why use Amateur Radio to improve Education?

Amateur radio and education go hand in hand. In Europe today it cant be done. Students aren't allowed to participate; they aren't allowed to have stations; they aren't allowed to obtain licenses because of their age.

This must change. The space shuttle contains an experiment called SAREX (Space Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment). Europeans cant take part because they aren't allowed.

Students are often misguided and end up in really bad conditions especially in the inner cities. We must try and correct this. We must face up to this challenge. We must try and do whatever we can, in our rather small world of influence, in order to instil a sense of direction; an interesting hobby which not only teaches technology and communications but public service. But to do this, we must allow lower age limits, better conditions, more new permissions. It is then, that the glow of children's faces when talking to space shuttle astronauts can enter our bodies and fulfil us with pride.

It is our duty to do this for our children and our children's children.

Why make special concessions for invalid people?

There are many invalid people in Europe. By the year 2000, almost 41% of the population may be classified as invalid.

Amateur radio is a service intended for people with all five senses. But what about those that do not have the five senses. Why keep them out? Why not open up a hobby that teaches and entertains. That connects the less-well off with the millions inhabiting our world. This is what amateur radio is all about and this is what we must do. It opens up a new world to a group of people that due to their inabilities was not available before.

However, we cannot allow our regulations to function as they are. We cant expect an invalid person to pass a stringent Morse code test. We cant stop him or her from saying hello to someone across the world because there is no 3rd party allowed.

The specific regulations outlined in this document must be put in place to make the hobby more accessible to this segment of our population.

Why not get a portable phone and do away with these changes?

There is a big amount of difference between a mobile phone and amateur radio. Lets look at some them:

A Mobile phone costs money. Portable phones cost money. They cost from ECU 40 in the UK to about ECU 1000 elsewhere. A mobile phone does that: allows the person to communicate to another person. Because it is a point to point link, it has many disadvantages:

• Mobile phones allow contact when a phone number is known in advance. It allows the person to contact another person assuming you know the other person's number. This assumption has no value when a radio ham is in a foreign area. Where he needs to ask for a doctor, or a tow truck, or to pass messages for school children. If the problem is major, then you can call 100. You then have to explain the problem to many people on the 100 line, many miles away from where you are, before they actually can help you with the right service. If the problem is not major, whom do you call with a phone? Noone; you don't know the number. With a ham radio, all you do is say "if there is any doctor listening, please let me know. There is an emergency here and I need help" and so on. Thus ham radio is multiple point, requesting help from anywhere, and anyone.
• Mobile phones cannot be used to offer public service. What do you do when a firefighter needs to talk to another firefighter? Call on a mobile phone? On whose number? whose cost? Radio amateurs offer their services free of charge. Offering easy-to-use, familiar walkie-talkies.
• If a radio is connected to an interconnect unit, you can then request to speak to a doctor via the phone, with the same radio, while other people are listening who may also be able to help. You cant do this with a phone (it is a point to point unit). Thus the ability to raise more than one person is very important.
• Mobile phones are limited to range and coverage. Mobile communications are extremely topical. They don't serve many areas. Amateur radio is everywhere; up a mountain and down a valley and there are always people listening on most of our frequencies. With a phone you are limited. This widespread signal availability is very important.
• Mobile phones cost to be used. That means that if there is someone who needs to ask a doctor for help, the person with the phone will be charged. This is not very cheap. It is not right either. You cannot ask someone to offer help and at the same time charge him for it. The help comes from the goodness of the heart of the radio amateur. It should not be abused.
• Above all mobile phones are meant for people who just need to pick up a phone and dial. Radio amateurs are not just 'people.' They are often trained experts in many fields from electronics to first aid, from communications to technical wizardry. They have experience in emergency communications and they know what to do when something like that happens.Their expertise comes with their territory and with their license. And this is available for everyone to use.

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Chapter 6

What will these changes allow: possible case studies

Changing the age limit to 11

A high school student hears about the SAREX experiment. He or she realises that this is a great opportunity to take part in a new field. He then decides to learn about amateur radio and finds out: 1/he is too young; 2/ there is no easy way to get into the hobby (no real novice license). He then loses interest and already finds out that his society is not exactly open to what he wants to do and increase his knowedge. Therefore, he changes and does something else. What kind of a world do we live in that a youngster with interest in space and technology, the kind of youngster who will build our futyre is not allowed to participate? Surely we MUST change this.

This will allow youngsters to enter the amateur radio hobby. It will offer an extremely timely, internationally oriented, appropriate hobby for them to do. Where they learn what is community service, what is helping others, what is international goodwill. There is no better way to learn these things than with amateur radio.

Allowing 3rd party

Possible Case Study 1: I am a radio amateur. I am driving home in Northern Europe, say Ireland. It is raining outside. I am listening to the radio. All of a sudden a student cyclist has a puncture. I stop to ask him if there is anything I can do. He says, "I see you have some sort of a radio. Can you please call my mom and tell her I am going to be late; it is my birthday and I have to fix the tyre first." Unfortunately I cant do it. No third party traffic allowed. No interconnect devices permitted. Even if I asked on the repeater, other hams wouldn't do it.

Possible Case Study 2: I am on holiday. I am camping. There are other campers around. We are on an island somewhere in Europe. The nearest phone is about 15 km away. Suddenly, one of the camping family's children's starts throwing up. Probably food poisoning. I am a medic and I try to help. However, I must consult with a doctor. I pick up my radio to ask someone and then I realise I cant. I am not allowed to do third party traffic. Even if I asked some other ham, how would he know that this is a real need? he would say, no I am sorry I cant connect you to a doctor. Find a phone.

Possible Case Study 3: A foot 20 km race is starting somewhere in Europe. This is a small race in a city of about 50000 people. The city then must ensure that there is communications available to make sure all the runners pass unaided around the streets. Due to shortages of personnel (as it often happens) there is just about sufficient personnel. Volunteers are called in. Suddenly a runner falls down injured. There is no radio to call for help. People and bystanders start shouting for some help. A ham is available. He can easily call for help, but 1/ he is not allowed, 2/ there is no interconnect device available to place a call, 3/ he cant connect to the race organisers because there is no ham available there to pass the messages.

Possible Case Study 4: A fire is raging across a wooded forest. It is summer. The fire services are trying to put it out. They need to communicate with other fire fighters, but they cant. A radio ham is available. He could ask another radio ham to go to the central fire fighting station and pass messages on behalf of fire fighters, but he cant. He is not allowed. There is not third party traffic available. The needed communications link is just not there.

Possible Case study 5: It has been raining heavily for days. There are now floods everywhere. The damage is starting to add up. The electricity and phone lines are cut. The local police only has a few radios available. Everyone is strained. However there are quite a few hams available wanting to help. They are not allowed. No 3rd party traffic allowed.

Possible Case study 6: I am going home from work. I am stuck in a traffic jam. I have to pick up my two small kids form school, but it looks as though I will be late. I must advise someone. I pick up the radio and I realise that I cant. I am not allowed. No 3rd party traffic. No interconnect.

REAL Case study 7: I am in rural West Ireland. I have my amateur radio in the car. In the area I am in, there is no repeater; no other hams are there. I am driving to my cottage. There are plenty of turns on the road. In front of me in the distance there is a bicyclist. A car is trying to overtake. Suddenly, from the distance, another car appears, headed for collision with the one overtaking. The cyclist if forced off the road and hits tree. The cars disappear. I stop the car and go to the cyclist. It is small girl. She is bleeding. With the first aid kit I take care of her immediate needs. I pick up my radio and using the interconnect device which connects my radio to a phone, I call the local doctor. He is there a few minutes later. My operation is illegal because: I am not allowed to have interconnect devices; I am not allowed to use third party.

REAL case study 8: I am driving with the family to Greece. We have left the evening before and currently we are in Italy. My son, who is 1 1/2 is starting to fill ill. We are therefore forced to delay our trip while he recovers. I worry for my son and for my mother who has to take a bus for a 6 hour drive to my port of arrival from the ferry. Using my HF radio, I call for a friend of mine who is a ham in Athens, on a frequency where there are always Greek hams listening. I give him my mother's phone number. Moments later I tell my mom not to leave but to wait a day because we are delayed. She is very happy. My operation was illegal. The phone call my friend did was also illegal. No third party allowed.

With third party permissions, an amateur may allow other parties to communicate across the country or across the world. It will permit school children to talk to astronauts; the invalid and less well off to say hello to a new friend, allow a doctor to offer help when needed, and permit others to communicate when the need arises. Only when communications are personal.

Our licenses are at stake. If we start using our radios for 'business' calls we will just lose our licenses. Do we want that? Of course not. This is where out self-regulatory aspect comes in. At no expense to anyone.

Naturally, the governments can tell us if there is an emergency do what ever is necessary. But many may ask why? why should we help our governments for free? what have the governments done for us? They put so many regulations and laws on the amateur radio service, we barely can do what we need to do. No this is a two way street. We are prepared to help when the proper context is presented. We are prepared to drive down the two way street and say hello to the cars on the other side. We are not here to pay VAT on equipment, pay customs duties on our equipment, and offer free service at no cost to the government for nothing in return. This would not be fair. We are willing to put time and effort and volunteer work to help our communities, no questions asked. All we ask in the proper modern environment to do it in.

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Chapter 7

The result of these changes

Any change in the world today is probably a good thing. The amendments suggested are extremely important because they re-instil the feeling of volunteer service to the radio amateurs concerned.

As an interested individual, I have met many radio amateurs in my life. From all corners of the globe. I have met Irish hams, American Hams, Greek hams, French hams, you name them, I have met them.

I have given speeches on various subjects and I am always happy to do so.

I have saved a girl's life last year in Ireland when I used my radio through a phone patch to call the Police at a traffic accident (an illegal operation), I have contacted a farmer when his cow fell in a ditch (also illegal) and have always told neighbours that if they need emergency communications, I will get a message through for them (also illegal). I have helped people in Greece through 3rd party traffic (illegal), and have tried to communicate with my mother when I was on a deserted island (illegal too). In my book, this is more important than anything else. Helping people gives me and others, a feeling of immense personal satisfaction. But then why should I have to do these thing illegally? I shouldn't.

I am self-motivated because I believe in a society where the public not only looks after themselves, but also their communities, their neighbours, their citizens.

Radio Amateurs are the public. However, currently they are de-motivated, unstimulated and basically not really interested except to follow the technical aspect of their hobby. That is all, they are permitted to do by the tight regulations.

When the amateur radio service started in Canada, or in the US, or Australia, Israel, and other countries, the service was created from the beginning to serve the community. Of course to experiment with radios as well, but above all to have a group of people that can, under any conditions, communicate irrespective of the public infrastructure or utilities.

In my terms, and especially in the terms of the world we live in, this argument should be now more powerful than ever.

To do this, we must adapt and liberalise the legislation available, otherwise,