Well, that’s what the FCC says: the Amateur Radio Service is not an emergency radio service. K1ZZ’s QST editorial quotes the FCC and points out that the mission of the Amateur Radio Service is indeed broader than emergency communications. (The FCC does recognize the role that amateur plays in emergencies — see this web page.)
Lately, I’ve noticed a number of blog postings and other statements from hams that define amateur radio way too narrowly. The common thread is taking the part of ham radio that is most important to them and arguing that Real Ham Radio is focused on that segment of the hobby/radio service.
For some folks, amateur radio is emergency communications (only). Others argue that only technical pursuits are true ham radio and those appliance operators are just holding us back. For others, ham radio is defined by getting on the air and operating (might be QRP, might be contesting, might be something else).
I think K1ZZ got it right….the purpose is broader than that. Just go read Part 97.1 of the FCC rules:
The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:
(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art.
(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.
Let’s reject the narrow view and think a bit broader.
73, Bob K0NR
Perhaps 97.1 has outlived its purpose?
It was originally written with the Communications Act of 1934 (I think) and I’m not at all certain that it has been updated even once since?
Certainly hams no longer advance the state of the radio art nor are we a reservoir of trained electronics experts!
As for enhancing international goodwill, considering that most US radio amateurs are devout followers of Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs, I cannot see how this could possibly hold up under much actual scrutiny…
Yet we cling stoically to this archaic mission statement as though Moses carried it down off the Mount.
I agree wholeheartedly with your premise that many of us try to define ham radio too narrowly, but pulling out a hundred year-old parchment of the “rules” such as they were in the days of vacuum tubes and horseless carriages just makes us look silly.
And old. And fairly useless.
73, ke9v
Jeff,
Thanks for the comments.
I think 97.1 is still valid but I think that is a point worth debating. That is, if we agree on the purpose then we have a shot at agreeing on appropriate action.
I do find value in some old documents, such as the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which were written even before Part 97, if I have my history correct 🙂
73, Bob K0NR
I’m sure your facts are correct, mine could be suspect. I just don’t recall if 97.1, the so-called “basis and purpose” section has ever been changed even once over these many years. I suppose there is little chance that the FCC would ever change it now, but it certainly would help in defining the hobby if we had an up to date mission statement that reflected the many changes that time has had on the service.
Having said that, old documents do almost become religious in nature so maybe we would never get hams to go along with changing 97.1 anyway…
Thinking outside the box hurts my head.
73, Jeff
97.1 does seem a bit strained in today’s context, though I think hams are providing some good operating experience in digital modes. My question: what would either or both of you propose in lieu of 97.1?
Feel free to remove this, since it is likely to pull all the “real hams” who know exactly what’s needed out of the woodwork.
72/73 — dwf
On reflection, it seems that part of the problem with redefining Part 97.1 is that a new definition would likely be very narrow. Beyond providing emergency communication services in times of need, I am struggling to think of any other value that we add?
I don’t mean that in a bad way but looking at it from the FCC (gov) position (we possess billions of dollars worth of spectrum), what is it that ham radio brings to the table these days?
That “reservoir” of electronics talent was conceived in a time when a war might necessitate conscripting those with Morse code abilities for fast military service – or it might even describe those entrepreneurs who pioneered the *business* of radio and TV which was in its infancy.
But it’s nearly impossible to imagine in this day and age, the need to conscript radio hams for their Morse skills into the military…
Advancing the state of the art might still be in our purview, but it isn’t like the WWII days where we would pioneer radar for the military … I doubt that the Army is adapting much of our work in HF, satellites, SDR or digital modes for their own uses — though I could be wrong about that.
Let’s face it, when we tout the fact that “anyone” can get an Extra ticket with just a one weekend cram study session, it becomes nearly impossible to sell the notion that we are a highly trained and valuable pool of electronics engineering talent…without snickering a little.
None of that is to say that this hobby isn’t a lot of fun, and a lifelong educational opportunity for us all. I encourage everyone to get involved because I enjoy it so much myself that I want to share it.
But over time we have become less of a service and more of a hobby.
Just because you can fly a model airplane doesn’t mean you can land a 747 and while the amateur service has many shiny trophies on the mantle, most of us remain radio ‘amateurs’.
73 de Jeff
W6DWF, good question. I would probably keep 97.1 pretty much the same but update the language a bit. Deserves some more thought.
I think the reservoir of talent purpose has shifted. It is clearly not having Morse Code radio operators ready to go to serve the military. I think there is still something valuable here though.
The issue I have been pondering is “advancement of the radio art”. What major advancements have come directly from the amateur radio service (maybe limit it to post 1950)? Some web searching reveals examples like meteor scatter communications, packet radio and psk31. These all strike me as incremental innovations (not major breakthroughs). More to follow on this topic in another post.
73, Bob K0NR
I think the amateur service can take a lot of the credit for the cellular telephone concept from our late 70s and early 80s FM repeater development.
But that may have been the last thing of significance that we have contributed to the advancement of communication technology…?
73 de Jeff
I do agree with the narrowness of some ham’s outlook on our hobby. Just go to a hamfest and listen as some folks put down some technology, mode, or group simply because they aren’t involved in it. I myself get a real kick out of the digital modes having come into them rather late in the game (2006). But there are many that remind me (usually on 2 meters) that PSK isn’t “real radio”. Guess the real QSL cards don’t count either. My point is that the hobby is so huge that there is always something new or different to do. When you get bored with one band/mode/club then there is always something else around the corner. As for 97.1, it is like an old car that could use a little polishing up but not a complete makeover.
Floyd, thanks for the comments. I like the “old car” analogy….needs a little polish.
Bob K0NR