o
the Commission may by rule authorize operation of radio stations without individual licenses" in four radio services: (a) citizen's band radio service; (b) radio control service; (c) certain kinds of aviation service; (d) certain kinds of maritime service. Congress gave the FCC flexibility to define the relevant services, and Section 307(e)(3)"
*****
Note the last sentence. FCC is the sole authority on CIVILIAN communications in the USA. There is no contradiction in the above. All the services are meant to be short-ranged radio applications. Therefore, their restrictions are appropriate to the USAGE of each given that the technical limitations of radio waves cannot be controlled except by placing restrictions on how the USERS apply the service. Given the economics and the techology of the time, 27 MHZ was the only way to make CB a viable, public service at a price the users could afford. In
1958, UHF was considered exotic and the equipment expensive.
Ideally, IMHO, FCC should have carved out a chunk of VHF spectrum at 220 MHZ (still exotic), and they briefly considered it in the 70's, I believe. It would have certainly taken care of the desire to use CB as a hobby by talking long distances with only occasional inversions (what CBers call "skip"). The rest of us wouldn't have to be bothered by the users of "extree" channels and splatter caused by 27 MHZ users. But that proposal (which would've caused the hams to scream bloody murder) was shot down. I actually wish 27 MHZ WOULD be vigorously enforced and "sunsetted" with an alternative piece of VHF spectrum being introduced. Such would not harm builders as they could transition over to VHF equipment, and it would answer a lot of the technical issues we face now. Of course, CBers would then scream FOUL because it would remove most, if not all, of their precious "skip" and the thing that attracts them to illegal activity to start with!
On the good side, many more people could use radio at the same time without causing interference.
CB radio is not now, nor was it ever, nor will it's illegal "hobby" activities be sanctioned or justified so long as there is reasonable and prudent law in place. The technical and legal aspects, ergo the foundations of practical radio law, have long been established thru experience and technical advances that drive *some* adjustments in rules to meet changing needs. CB radio does NOT NEED the ability to talk long distances and it does not NEED to become a justified alternative service to Amateur Radio. While FCC tries to meet the national needs for communications for civilian communications, it also must meet the need for the US to get along with other countries thru treaties and agreements that meet the needs of other nations, too. This involves not running headlong over other countries and creating a diplomatic headache. As do most advocates of their own particular interests, we often have "tunnel" vision and become blind to the needs of other countries. Those other countries don't WANT 27 MHZ to become like a raging torrent when it can be contained to a mild stream.
Once again, it is why we have the Amateur Radio ticket with its own set of rules, protocol, and culture that is designed to
promote technical advance, community service, and goodwill among nations. It CAN be used as a hobby, and, to many, IS a hobby by virtue of all the thing contained in it! CB radio is NOT
a hobby in legal terms and never will be. People confuse hobby radio with ham radio and CB radio with hobby. They want Amateur radio to be CB and CB to become "the" new Amateur Radio service. :shock:
I pray fervently THAT will never happen!
:roll:
CWM
...runna pile-up on 6m SSB
W4AXW in the air