California Officials Demand Ham radio repeater infrastructure to be Removed

[Origanalist]

California Officials declare Ham Radio no longer a benefit; Demands Ham radio repeater infrastructure to be Removed

The People’s Republic of California is at it again; through unelected state officials, California is severing ties to ham radio repeater owners throughout the state, jeopardizing the lives of millions of Californians who depend on these repeaters to operate during emergencies.

Last month, repeater operators were sent emails telling them the State would no longer allow them to operate repeaters on public land without paying substantial rental fees. In the letter sent by CAL FIRE, the state claims Ham operators no longer provide a benefit to the state or public safety. They claimed that “constantly changing technological advances” has made Ham radio obsolete during an emergency.

Keep in mind; this is a state that is currently shutting power down in 34 of its counties because its infrastructure cannot handle 20-30 mph winds without risking wildfire breakouts throughout the state.

What is a Ham Radio Repeater
An amateur radio repeater system is a two-way radio system that takes weaker or low-level amateur radio signals and retransmits them at a higher level or higher power so that the radio signal can cover longer distances without degradation. It is a vital part of the local emergency communications system, and Ham Radio operators have been using them for decades to provide support during disasters that take out local communication infrastructure.

Why would they remove something that is the last line of defense during a disaster?

What is infuriating here is people are going to die because of this decision. It costs the State of California nothing to allow these repeaters on public land; in fact, Ham Radio Operators pay for the equipment and maintain the equipment at their own cost. Ham Radio operators also make nothing from running these radio repeaters; they do so as a service to the public to help ensure the public’s safety during natural disasters and emergencies.



While paying billions of dollars a year to cater to illegal immigrants and welfare bums, California is now targeting hard-working Ham operators who provide critical and vital Disaster Emergency Communications. These people have absolutely lost their minds!

There is a nationwide effort to Kill Ham Radio

continued https://offgridsurvival.com/californ...4l8x8HY900FaZ4

[Anti Federalist]

Not a good day in Commiefornia unless something is being banned.

[sam1952]

I mean really, why would they want people to be able to freely communicate without relying on some level of control. I mean imagine real news being transmitted without government censorship in a time of crisis... any crisis, especially one they created.

[Brian4Liberty]

From a radio forum:

I've seen the email. While it contains some disappointing language, what I've seen does not spell the end of the world. It's basically an email to a single system stating that they're going to have to pay for site space in CalFire radio sites. That's IT.

There's nothing in it to indicate that it's some new statewide policy. There's nothing in it to indicate that CalFire, or CalOES or any other agency is abdicating any MOU's they may have with various systems, and there's certainly nothing in it that would affect systems in other governmental or privately owned sites. It's not even stating that systems have to be removed from their radio sites. It's stating that they have to pay for it. And it's not going to be cheap.
...
https://forums.radioreference.com/th...2#post-3195771

[sparebulb]

From a radio forum:

While everything that the author of that post says may be perfectly accurate, it doesn't bode well for the amateur radio community the super-cuck attitude that the author conveys.

Another low-T, beta Kalifornian.

[Brian4Liberty]

My understanding is that rackspace fills up at many of these sites. Once the space is full Cal Fire can't add equipment, and neither can anyone else. It pretty much follows that Cal Fire will look at equipment that is there for free and think about charging them. Supply and demand.

[oyarde]

Californians have money to burn . No problems .

[Brian4Liberty]

Californians have money to burn . No problems .

It’s the CaliCom favorite pastime.

[Anti Globalist]

California needs to stop trying to ban things.

[Origanalist]

California needs to stop trying to ban things.

Old habits are hard to break.