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California Officials declare Ham Radio no longer a benefit

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Dale Batson
(@dnbatson)
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Tom Lash reacted
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AB0L
 AB0L
(@3d0g)
Maker of fjords.
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Gonna have a HARD time convincing me California is an actual benefit to the republic...

AB0L (Formerly N0KAI)
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Tom Lash
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@3d0g

CA officials have completely lost their minds.  Or do they have another agenda...?


   
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(@eladner65)
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That article is short on referenced facts, and heavy on hyperbole.  I'm not prepared to take it as an authoritative reference. 


   
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AB0L
 AB0L
(@3d0g)
Maker of fjords.
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True Ed. Found a bit more on an offroading forum...

"Section Manager Carol, Milazzo, KP4MD, contacted Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, Pacific Division Director of the ARRL and he replied:

…This issue arose in Socal 5 to 10 years ago. They have been able to address the issue as follows:
Overall -

The State of California has not made any determination we can find "that Ham Radio [is] no longer a benefit."What happened is that CAL FIRE has transferred responsibility for its communications sites to its property management department. That department has the task of evaluating each site, its condition, use and tenants. If a repeater not known to be associated with the emergency management function of a local jurisdiction is found in a CAL FIRE vault, the default action is to move it out or subject it to commercial rental rates.

Our contact in the California Office of Emergency Services suggests that, if any affected repeater is in any way involved with local emergency or government support activity, they should ask that agency to engage with CAL FIRE concerning the repeater. If the agency makes the case, there is a good chance that the repeater will be unaffected.

Their advice is not to elevate this to State Legislators or the Governor's office. In Southern California, wherein sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service have required repeater owners to post bonds to cover the dismantling of their sites if they cease operation. Negotiation has resulted in considerable easing of the original requirements and a modification of terms to help mitigate the short-term financial impact on those repeater owners"

"Heads-up related to a California/ham radio video we do not need to have shared here... or anywhere for that matter...

There is a "viral video" going around proclaiming and asserting that "California declares ham radio no longer a benefit..."

That click bait, the content of the presentation, and the original situation prompting this video range from deceptive to false. Actually unbecoming amateur radio.

The original situation is over a repeater system not authorized to be in the State-owned radio site where it is/was. The State agency had no reason to fund the repeater site costs and suggested the individual make proper application and submit fees to be approved to stay at the site.

(EVERY radio in a State site must go through this process - from law enforcement to fire service to road maintenance to business to hams - someone/everyone has to pay.)

This story first came out via a private website encouraging everyone to call their representatives in hope of getting the issue turned in favor of the repeater owner. That content is also not completely honest or respectful to amateur radio or the agency involved.

There is more fact behind the story neither source above care to present. I've been in contact with people familiar with such issues at state, county and private levels in addition to my own experience in this realm.

As with good Elmering, the general good of amateur radio is best served by open, honest, objective, rational discourse, discovery and sharing - not 'reactions.'

That said - amateur radio is NOT dead in California, "the State" is NOT trying to kill it off, no one in any agency with a relationship to ham radio is against it. Simply, tax payer dollars are just not available to pay for everyone's/anyone's repeater site. That is all.

———————————-

Shared by Dan Tomlinson on the LAFD ACS Facebook page."

AB0L (Formerly N0KAI)
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Kenwood TM-V71A, Kenwood TS-590S, Icom ID-4100A, Yaseu FT-891, TYT MD-UV380, TYT MD-380, Kenwood TH-D7A, BTECH UV-5X3, µBITX V5, µBITX V4, QRPGuys 40/30/20m DSB Digital Transceiver


   
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Dale Batson
(@dnbatson)
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Topic starter  

Thanks for clearing this up, Jeff! I apologize for posting this link without verifying the claims first. A ham sent me the link and I took the click bait. 🙄 

KE0VRU


   
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AB0L
 AB0L
(@3d0g)
Maker of fjords.
Joined: 5 years ago
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Eh, I did the same when I first saw the story. Certainly seemed within the realm of possibility with all the other crazy legislation CA pulls off. 

AB0L (Formerly N0KAI)
-----
Kenwood TM-V71A, Kenwood TS-590S, Icom ID-4100A, Yaseu FT-891, TYT MD-UV380, TYT MD-380, Kenwood TH-D7A, BTECH UV-5X3, µBITX V5, µBITX V4, QRPGuys 40/30/20m DSB Digital Transceiver


   
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