As stated in the RAC News section of this months issue, Industry Canada had decided to terminate the four year long talks between the Ministry and RAC deciding to retain the administration of the Amateur Service in house. Strangely enough only a few days later, Industry Canada commissioned a poll of Radio Amateurs. They reportedly called 300 amateurs across Canada (I happened to be one of them) and gave the following background statement: Industry Canada is exploring the possibility of regulating radio operators without the use of radio station licenses. This essentially means that the Department would not issue amateur radio station licences but would continue with its present amateur radio operator certification program and continue to issue call signs. The amateur radio callsigns would be issued with amateur radio operator certificates. Although Industry Canada has not worked out all the details of operating this way, we would be interested in knowing what your opinion is on the issue. This was followed up with five questions: QUESTION 1: To what extent would you be in favour of exempting all radio amateurs from the radio station licensing requirements which includes paying licence fees? You were asked to rate if you were in favour of this by rating your response between one and seven where one you strongly disagree and 7 you strongly agree. The balance of the questions were as follows: QUESTION 2: If all radio amateur stations are exempted from the requirement to be licensed, another mechanism is needed to issue callsigns. If this happens, to what extent would you be in favour of Industry Canada issuing callsigns with the amateur radio operator certificates? QUESTION 3: To what extent would you be in favour of the Department continuing its current way to license radio amateur stations and charging annual licence fees rather than introducing this proposed exemption to radio amateur station licences. QUESTION 4: Currently, radio amateurs are able to choose a callsigns. Are you in favour of the Department continuing to offer a choice of callsign? QUESTION 5: To what extent are you in favour of the Department charging an administrative fee to cover the costs associated with providing a choice of callsign. I found the questions somewhat confusing and when the pollster could not answer any of my questions, I indicated that I was unwilling to take part. With help from Dave VA3DGS, KWARC took these questions to the Canadian Amateur via our web site. We posted the same questions and allowed those participating to check off their choice. We had 167 amateurs from V01 to VE7 land take part and here are the results The average response to question 1 was: 2 The average response to question 2 was: 3 The average response to question 3 was: 5 The average response to question 4 was: 6 The average response to question 5 was: 4 The raw data along with hundreds of comments were forwarded to RAC. Radio Amateurs should be concerned with this possible move of deregulation. If not properly managed, the impact on our hobby can be disastrous. How would you have answered the questions? A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL Paul Cassel VE3SY President KWARC CLICK HERE FOR MORE COMPLETE INFO AND FEEDBACK BACK TO MAIN MENU For more information email info@kwarc.org [ TOP ] © 1997 Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club Inc. Comments and bugs reports to webmaster@kwarc.org