Radio Licence Penalties

Re: Regulation for its own sake...

It seems to me that there is a "cake and eat it" thing going on around here. Everyone moans when the Service is being misued (radio checks, chatter on 16 etc) but as soon as the regulator mentions that it has a new tool to crack down on misuse and return some discipline to the Service, it has done something wrong.

Up until now prosecutions have only been those who are not part of the Service misusing the kit and it gained them a criminal record. Now those who are part of the Service and ignoring the rules can be penalised but without all the stigma of a criminal record.

It should be rememberd the the internationally agreed prerequisites for use of this International Safety of Life radio service are that you must be registered and qualified. Therefore to not be is clearly misuse of the service which is highly likely to lead on to further misuse. This is supposed to be a serious Service it isn't CB!!!

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom
 
Re: This is the sort of thing I love

Rather shooting the messenger aren't you. ? The guy turns up on the forum and highlights policy that politicians dictate and you shoot him? We all have choices to make but we can at least be courteous and direct our ire at the right people.

Iota

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You might be right

I might actually sell the whole damn thing, boat and VHF.

I wouldn't over estimate my common sense either.

Look at it logicaly. When I started cruising/racing in the 70's very few boats had VHF. If we got in bother we either got out of it or fired off a flare or two.

So now everyone has VHF. How has it improved the cruising experience?

Do Yotties feel safer because they have one? I suspect only the quite nervous among us get much satisfaction from ownership. The rest, who enjoy that moment when silence defeats diesel, find it polluting and irrelevant. For the nervous, who seem to believe the thing won't work anyway from the number of radio checks they need to reassure them, I'm happy to give way and leave them to wander the Solent in "Snuggy Buggy" calling plaintivly for "Humpa Whumpa".

I can't think of one situation where a VHF has improved my sailing life. I sail my boat mainly in the Chichester to Weymouth range. I suspect if I pick my nose lots of people are watching. I'm a grown up and I'm prepared to take responsibility for not being in touch.

True when I'm skippering other boats in other areas I'll be VHF'd up but I'm afraid that the impotent threats of the civil servant, who I think has a cheek to push his rules down the throats of one of the most proper bunch of yotties I've heard of, has made me rethink my wish to connect.

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Re: Shot messengers.

You can be polite or you can be rude. I don't think I've been either. I can do much better at both. He wanted feedback. Well he's got mine.

You're confused if you think that these guys don't have some input into policy.

The VHF license's and the fact that you get nothing for it, apart from lots of increasingly strident paperwork through the post, does bug me. You might have noticed. The threats and bluster have done nothing to improve the usage I hear, day in or day out, or to reduce the numbers of illegal radios and bogus users.

If more people shot messengers we might have a few more effective organizations.



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Re: Shot messengers.

Fair enough each and every to their own way and style.

I don't disagree with your sentiment just thought your were a little OTT in delivery.

I am only too aware that civil servants influence policy, they after all write the papers but the politicos make the decisions. I think from memory you are a member of the CA and there is an interesting couple of articles on drink and boats in the recent journal, similar situation in waiting.

I rarely have my VHF on apart from forcasts because of the incessant chatter.

I think people should take the exam because without it well it would be worse than it is today.

As regards the ships licence, they should either up the price of sets and take a cut that way or enforce what they have today.

pleasant sailing well may not this weekend looking at the synoptics.

Iota

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Re: anarchy Long (cut & paste job) reply

Context check:

These rules, licence and Operators certificate are not of UK origin! Below is an excerpt from the newsletter that I used to send out to customers explaining, it's quite long but does explain the reality of what we are discussing.

Mike


What are the International Telecommunication Union and the International Radio Regulations, anyway?
What is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)?

The ITU was founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. It took its present name in 1934 and became a specialised agency of the United Nations based in Geneva in 1947. The ITU is an inter-governmental organisation, within which the public and private sectors co-operate for the development of telecommunications worldwide. The ITU produces international regulations and treaties governing all terrestrial and space uses of the radio spectrum, within which countries develop their national legislation. It also develops recommendations to facilitate the interconnection of telecommunications systems world-wide, regardless of the type of technology used. These recommendations are implemented in Europe through CEPT.

On the 1st September 1999 the ITU consisted of 189 Member States and 576 Sector Members (scientific and industrial companies, public and private operators, broadcasters and regional or international organisations).

What are the International Radio Regulations?

The international "Radio Regulations" (the Regs) set out standardised rules and procedures for using radio frequencies that are used across international borders for the same purpose, for example, the International Maritime Mobile Service. They are agreed and ratified at World and Regional Radio Conferences. These Radio Conferences carry out the legislative and policy functions of the ITU’s Radiocommunications Sector. The Regs carry Treaty status for Member States, which includes the UK. There are many Articles of the Regs that affect UK Maritime radio users, two of which are Article S18 and Article S47:

Article S18 requires that:
No transmitting station may be established or operated by a private person or any enterprise without a licence issued in an appropriate form and in conformity with the provisions of these Regulations by or on behalf of the government of the country to which the station in question is subject.

Article S47 further states that:
The service of every ship radiotelephone station, ship earth station and ship station shall be controlled by an operator holding a certificate issued or recognised by the government to which the station is subject. Provided the station is so controlled, other persons besides the holder of the certificate may use the equipment.

In the UK these Articles are implemented and enforced using the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (WT Act). This means that maritime radio equipment available for use on board a vessel owned by a UK citizen or UK registered must be:

Covered by a valid WT Act, Ship Radio or Transportable Marine Radio licence issued in the UK by the RA; and
Operated by or under the direct personal supervision of the holder of a valid Maritime Radio Operator’s Certificate.
At present the terms of the WT Act licence also require that the equipment is properly type approved to the relevant specification accepted in the UK (see R&TTE article).

The ITU has a website which customers may find useful at: www.itu.int. It also produces the "Manual for use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services" which is considered to be an invaluable book for the users of Maritime radio.


<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom
 
Re: You might be right

Tom,

I agree................but I still don't believe you'll sell up!

Joe

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Re: Its just another of Gordon

Dunno what you lot are getting so worked up about.
Mike has stated that improper or unlicenced use will soon attract an "on-the-spot" fine.
So whats the big deal?
Don't do anything wrong and you have nothing to fear.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>
 
Re: Its just another of Gordon

Col - you're quite right. If we do what the bureaucrats / politicos tell us to do, we have nothing to fear.

Personally, I cant see how they can possibly justify allowing the great unwashed to play boats without a license, when they already know we cant be allowed to play radios unless carefully supervised.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
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