President Trump announced today that he was planning on introducing a tariff on radio broadcasts entering the United States from both Canada and Mexico.
When questioned as to why, he responded that Canadian and Mexican radio stations had been broadcasting into the U.S. for free for far too long, taking away listeners from American stations, and thus subsidizing them.
The President went on to further state that radio waves were physical things, like water waves, and thus were eligible for the wide ranging tariffs he plans on introducing to both countries. He stated that he has asked his Border Czar to come up with a plan on how to enforce the planned duties. He did also say, however, that if radio stations didn't pay the tariff, he would build a border wall to stop the radio waves from entering the country, and get Canada and Mexico to pay for it.
Your joking right?
What!!!???
Airwaves don't know borders. Can't be done. He thinks stations, even AM station's signals at night that travel into the USA are going to pay for that??! Build a wall??!!! He really thinks that will work?
It's just a joke. It's too ludicrous to be true. I dont think it's a true story. Cant find anything online to confirm it. Probably was just some talk of the host on some morning radio program.
I rarely discuss politics online, whether in forums, or even with my friends on social media. The only way a good conversation can be had is in person, where the bit rate is higher, and it's easier to discuss it in-depth, and with some nuance. There are too many ways for people to misunderstand each other online - and heaven knows the political landscape is so divisive right now, that it's hard enough to have a good discussion in person with people who have differing viewpoints - even slightly differing viewpoints.
Besides, places like this are a sanctuary for me. I come here for the radio, so I stay away from politics. I inform myself by watching and listening to thoughtful commentary from trusted sources.
I'm a member of a forum for early retirees (I retired when relatively young). It has a large membership, and is tightly moderated - though well-moderated by reasonable people, I hasten to add. Their rule on politics is that it can only be discussed when bills that will directly affect retirees are either passed, or are close to passing. Until then, such posts aren't allowed, as so much of what is proposed never comes to fruition. Even when a bill is passed, the discussion is strictly along the lines of how it will affect the forum members' retirement. It works very well.
I'm not suggesting we should do that here, as we have so few active members, but I just wanted to share. I would only be likely to comment on politics here in terms of how new legislation affects the world of broadcasting, and specifically Part 15.
And I agree with @richpowers. I'm wondering what the source is for this story.
@rugster I'm right with you, political talk is never worth it. And I'm not talking about political matters. The only thing I'm pointing out is that this talk of radio broadcast tariffs was only some kind of joke... or something. If there were even a shred of truth to it you can rest assured it would be all over the news or at least found somewhere in the online rumor mill. There's no such mention of radio tariffs anywhere except right here in this thread!
....But I did hear that as of February 1 they're amending 15.219 to allow only a 50mw input and a 2 meter antenna.
..including ground lead (if used)
I have moderated my own post and tried to keep my feelings strictly reacting to Artisan's post which was about radio. I couldn't find any evidence of this either but if he actually said that about building a wall to block Canadian and Mexican radio stations and trying to make
radio stations pay the USA a fee for their signal getting to US listeners then I can only respond by saying this is totally insane thinking.
Well, if nothing else it did kick-start a conversation, it's been quiet around here the last couple days.
Nothing that comes from that &*% mouth surprises me anymore
You gotta know something is wrong when you think of the craziest thing you can about radio and the current political situation, and it actually sounds as if it could be real.
You gotta know something is wrong when you think of the craziest thing you can about radio and the current political situation, and it actually sounds as if it could be real.
Hmmm.. but that's the thing, and why the response of "Your joking right?" -- because it didn't sound as if it could be real at all, it made no sense.