I partly agree with Chipotle. It IS difficult to balance the needs and rights of one group without trampling on another. If they DID restrict legal Amateur equipment in so far as "easy" modification, goes, who gets hurt? The Amateurs who, by and large, OBEY THEIR regulations would be harmed by this group of people who have NO respect for order and law and only think of themselves and what *THEY* want. Not only would Amateur radio be hurt, but it would substantially increase the cost of most ALL radio equipment for OTHER radio services as well. IOW, each distinct radio service would require a separate and distinct radio chassis and design for each service whereas, now, it is possible to "cookie cutter" many basis chassis and tailor to them to many needs. So that is why they don't just clamp down and make it difficult for EVERYBODY. FCC essentially "punished" hams in the '70s by prohibiting the sale of HF amps capable of 10 and 12 meters right out of the box. It was targeted at those small boxes that Palomar Engineers and Elkin, et al, were churning out back then. *Hams* were not the perps; CBers were, and they caused not outright hardship, but slight inconvenience and further resentment towards the CB folks by hams who now had to show proof of license to receive the plans for the 10 Meter mod.
I wouldn't be *too* sure about the political gains of hams in the aftermath of Katrina. Their service during this particular tragedy DID bring, if not outright clout, publicity that can be used to further get a foot in the door. So the 'lack of news' about hams 25 years ago is not exactly so as they gained somewhat from this unfortunate tragedy simply because their communications were very effective, if simple, while many of the mainline communications systems suffered from lack of interoperability and "turf" wars. This has NOT gone unnoticed!
This, along with further precedent set by the Pilot settlement will only help when "certain" people involved in the 10 Meter issue meet in Gettysburg to discuss enforcement and going back to levy fines against those dealers who were cited or fined previously and thumbed their noses at FCC to defy the warnings.
However, Chipotle, your post is well-put and well-considered and is quite an astute observation of the facts as they are--with some exceptions. But all is not lost! Surely, there will always be "freebanders", but FCC hopes to mitigate this to some degree. They are well aware that many people deeply, deeply resent the unwarranted intrusions into their bands, and it is not ONLY the hams that are beginning to resent the h-ll out of it!
The facts, tho some simply are going to argue and argue to find some justification for their illegal actions, remain. The "export" radios appear by NAME on a list of radios that are banned from sale by FCC, and under Title 47, US Code, this agency CAN do that no matter HOW "unfair" some people whine and moan and say it is. But it is NOT unfair. Part 95 specifically spells out exactly what a CBer can do, and that includes using a 40 channel, 4 watt CB and NO additional "channels" or power. Period-and-end. Amateurs have much leeway in what THEY may do with and about their equipment and how much power they can use. It is the difference in a service that is somewhat trained (via testing) and practice and one that is simply a CONSUMER toy that requires no more training than turning on a washer/dryer. .......... Which is why there ARE restrictions on the kinds of radios that CBers may use.
Finally, "export" radios are not illegal because ARRL says they are, but because FCC, the agency who has sole say-so on civilian communications, says so. If hams are selling these blasted things, then they should be busted HARDER than the CBers because they likely KNOW what they are doing is against the law. I have LESS respect for those who do than I do for the violators yapping their traps on 28.085
CWM
...runna pile-up on 6m SSB
W4AXW in the air