- Posts
Total posts : 45366Yes, MrBruce, an excellent source of informations about radio bands that we thought were abandoned.
Makes us feel like minnows in the ocean.
There was once a minnow in charge of the FCC. His name was Newton Minnow and he was not a cartoon character.
Total posts : 45366TNX Bruce, a very interesting article!!
Rob Veld
Total posts : 45366The individual who wrote that article has been posting recently on the Facebook Part 15 web page, as well as the petition forums.
I asked on several occasions – exactly what is RECNet – but thus far have received no reply. RECNet’s website splash page really doesn’t tell you their objectives (their Facebook page is a bit better, at least saying that they are involved with low power radio and other spectrum issues, but in what capacity they don’t elucidate). I see that it is a company (an LLC), that they are heavily involved with LPFM, and they provide filing and other services to organizations or individuals who want an LPFM station.
The writer has some pretty strong views on moving forward with any changes to Part 15 radio (although what RECNet’s official involvement with Part 15 broadcasting is unknown, or maybe they’re one and the same), and suggests that the focus should be primarily on growing LPFM and introducing a licensed LPAM service.
I would like to understand whether this sudden involvement with Part 15 broadcasters is altruistic, or commercially driven. No offense meant, but the question does need to be asked.
Total posts : 45366you bring up a good point, i had not thought of. maybe dropping them a PM via the forums and asking them a few questions might yield some answers.
i would avoid questioning them on a public forum as it might setup for a hostile situation. it might be better addressed via a PM to the user.
here is a REC Position Statement: Part 15 Broadcaster Status In Relation To LPFM
Total posts : 45366According the second to the last paragraph of “RECS:Position” we put up “substantial resistance” to being listed on a Part 15 Registry, yet we were never made aware of our “resistance”.
Being the original and principle Part 15 Website one would expect us to know we were being evaluated by an organization of which we are only now learning.
Furthermore, most of us being followers of the hobbycaster website have seen nothing there about RECS effort to compile a “Registry.”
What? How? Which? Could they? Does anyone? Where?
Total posts : 45366there were several part 15 registry’s one is still up at http://www.lpam.net/styled-3/page3.html
i think when these registry’s came out the worry was BMI would troll the lists looking for victims to attempt to extort money out of.
Total posts : 45366I don’t see how asking these questions can be construed as hostile. Personally, I think it’s great to have any sort of support for Part 15 broadcasting from organizations or companies.
I just like to know who I’m dealing with.
Total posts : 45366Based on the last two paragraphs of the Part 15 evaluation I would call it judgemental.
Total posts : 45366No one is really answering my question, though.
How big a player in the grand scheme of things is Rec(Net)? Does the FCC listen to them, or are they just one of many companies and organizations that seek to influence the FCC’s decision-making?
Total posts : 45366Carl Blare Said:
According the second to the last paragraph of “RECS:Position” we put up “substantial resistance” to being listed on a Part 15 Registry, yet we were never made aware of our “resistance”.
Being the original and principle Part 15 Website one would expect us to know we were being evaluated by an organization of which we are only now learning.
MrBruce says:
Carl, there are several part 15 related forum boards out there, some have expired and were not renewed. Some, no one here visits, your reasons are your reasons for not doing so.
Some sites do not have part 15 in their titles, some sites might be well known to us, but we do not know what goes on behind the scenes.
Perhaps, some of those sites do not scorn or scold against piracy station activity and we stay clear of them for that reason.
I do know this, they must know something we do not know. A group unknown to us must have given their reasons for such, perhaps something or someone prevented them from exposing who that group was?
Besides RecNet there is also http://www.prometheusradio.org/ who worked with LPFM applicants to get a CP and helped them in building a new LPFM station and obtain a license.
You know, I am not trying to get off topic here, although I started the topic, but on the ALPB meeting of March 19 2015 we discussed the issues with pirate stations and the reason some stations operate somewhat illegally.
RecNet’s position is:
QUOTE:
REC feels that one of the primary motivators of radio piracy is to address the fact that local commercial and non-commercial radio is not addressing the needs of the minority audiences of the community in question.
(paragraph 3)
REC feels that low power broadcasting solutions including a more available LPFM service, the creation of a Low Power AM service and some liberalization of the the Part 15 intentional radiator regulations in both the AM and FM broadcast spectrum would address many of the issues that the minority communities face that drive some to commit radio piracy.
End of quotes
http://recnet.com/position-pirate-radio
Being that part 15 is sometimes called pirate radio, being that letters have been sent to landlords, police and local goverment agencies indication that, without any clear description of what part 15 is, any operation on the broadcast bands could be that of a pirate station violating federal laws, part 15 is at risk as well as that of a blatant pirate broadcaster.
Not many people in my area knows what the hell part 15 is, so how can they understand one from the other?
I do understand efforts are being made to publicize several petitions that clearly explains what part 15 is, but, by my asking around in the general public, many answers to my question of “Do You what a pirate is? I get this answer. “Yes a guy who sails on a ship and wears an eye patch over his eye” Question “Do you know what part 15 is?” Answer. “Yes, it is the number of the part listed on an assembly manual for whatever thing you are putting together, such as connect part 15 to part 16 and screw them together using screw (part 1) and tighten…..”
Let’s be real, not everyone understands there are rules that apply when using store bought MP3 to FM radio transmitters, they simply plug it in and use it after installing the batteries.
For these peitions to work, everyone has to understand what part 15 is, just like everyone knows what a cell phone is, or what a dish washer is for. Not many people know what the heck part 15 really is, or what it applies to.
Perhaps, local radio and television stations need to educate the general public, so they understand what part 15 is, so they can either support it, or discourage it.
Bruce.
Total posts : 45366MrBruce I find the section of REC’s publications that you quoted to be more encouraging than the part I asked about.
And I found your comment about dishwater to be very funny. I have never understood dishwater…. oops! You said “dish washer”. I knew someone once who had one.
Total posts : 45366It’s ironic that virtually no one knows what Part 15 is, but virtually everyone knows what pirate radio is.
The FCC wants to stamp out pirate radio, when there is an obvious need for more community oriented radio, and yet they put forward no solutions as to what could replace it legally. That will really be effective (not!).
Total posts : 45366I think people know about pirate radio because there have been some high profile stations, throughout all of radio history, shipboard radio stations like Caroline and Radio Newyork, which was featured on MTV by the way, at a time when music television was hot. It seems lots of people know someone as a teen who had a basement radio station, dorm station or connected their board to a CB radio to broadcast. There are whole books like Andrew Yoder’s Pirate Radio Stations, which I recommend even for Part 15ers, to learn and be inspired about individual radio, and why someone wants to do it.
I think people know about those examples, but would have trouble knowing what a pirate or part 15 station was when they actually hear one, people just kind of tune in for the music or other programing they like, and biggest majority wouldn’t take time to consider what kind of station might be airing it. The only ones who seem to care are radio people, hobbyists, station owners and occasionally the government watchdogs.
When I was in elementary I had an basic AM transmitter kit, and friends would come over to play around on it, being stupid and playing music we liked. Someone started to call it pirate radio, even though it was a kit from the store with limited range to the neighborhood, and I didn’t say anything. I don’t think anyone knew what pirate radio was, but someone came up with it and it sounded cool………………….
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
