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This made the rounds a while back and was framed to be fairly clickbait[1]. From what I understand each agency pays into the tower operation and they just want

This made the rounds a while back and was framed to be fairly clickbait[1]. From what I understand each agency pays into the tower operation and they just want hams to do the same. [1] https://mobile.twitter.com/OH8STN/status/1179637421308293120 https://mobile.twitter.com/OH8STN/status/1179637421308293120

falcolas 7y ago
They want volunteers to pay commercial fees. That’s not really very sustainable for hobbiests.
- vvanders 7y ago
  Yet most repeaters are run that way. A large majority of my local ones are run off commercial towers and funded by the clubs/individuals that support them.
dmix 7y ago
Why should they have to pay fees? These are entirely volunteer networks with no commercial purpose. I don’t see how this is clickbait unless the demands were reasonable. If money is the problem then California can find far saner and better means than this. I’m sure there are tons of analogies from similar situations with a small subsidized subset being excluded from fees, many with far more questionable reasoning.
- baddox 7y ago
  You generally don’t get things for free just because you’re volunteering and have perhaps some useful function to society. Ham operators still have to pay for their radio equipment, after all. It’s not crazy that they would have to pay for other things that cost money (like towers).
  - tjoff 7y ago
    Actually, you do. You have to look at the intentions of the fees and rules and how it affects everyone involved. Often it is a no-brainer to allow volunteers to do their thing for free. And it is quite common, surely even in america.
  - TimTheTinker 7y ago
    A well-run society recognizes the incredible value offered by volunteers, and tries to help them succeed. Often that means giving them things for free when possible (e.g. when the US government gives tax breaks to non-profit organizations.) In the software world, the equivalent is free accounts for open-source projects at places like GitHub and TravisCI.
  - okcando 7y ago
    Things not being free isn't a very compelling argument for inventing a problem and charging for its solution while adding no value. That's called rent-seeking.

falcolas 7y ago

They want volunteers to pay commercial fees. That’s not really very sustainable for hobbiests.

vvanders 7y ago
Yet most repeaters are run that way. A large majority of my local ones are run off commercial towers and funded by the clubs/individuals that support them.

dmix 7y ago

Why should they have to pay fees? These are entirely volunteer networks with no commercial purpose. I don’t see how this is clickbait unless the demands were reasonable. If money is the problem then California can find far saner and better means than this. I’m sure there are tons of analogies from similar situations with a small subsidized subset being excluded from fees, many with far more questionable reasoning.

baddox 7y ago
You generally don’t get things for free just because you’re volunteering and have perhaps some useful function to society. Ham operators still have to pay for their radio equipment, after all. It’s not crazy that they would have to pay for other things that cost money (like towers).
- tjoff 7y ago
  Actually, you do. You have to look at the intentions of the fees and rules and how it affects everyone involved. Often it is a no-brainer to allow volunteers to do their thing for free. And it is quite common, surely even in america.
- TimTheTinker 7y ago
  A well-run society recognizes the incredible value offered by volunteers, and tries to help them succeed. Often that means giving them things for free when possible (e.g. when the US government gives tax breaks to non-profit organizations.) In the software world, the equivalent is free accounts for open-source projects at places like GitHub and TravisCI.
- okcando 7y ago
  Things not being free isn't a very compelling argument for inventing a problem and charging for its solution while adding no value. That's called rent-seeking.