In a decision that puzzled many analysts, the Federal Communications Commission has come out with a new policy that seems to support the at home construction ("homebrew") of amateur radio equipment. The commission outlined a series of new requirements (see below) that, collectively, seem intended to breathe new life into what many considered a dying art.
Commission spokesman Brian Cox tied the move to recent efforts by the Administration to bring industry back to the United States: "For too long we have stood by and watched foreign manufacturers take larger and larger portions of the electronics market in the United States. Part of this seems to be the unwillingness of many Americans to do what their grandfathers did and actually build their own electronic equipment. These steps are intended to help reverse that trend." Greene's comments may have been undercut by the fact that they were sent from his FCC-provided Iphone (which allegedly was not homebrewed in the USA) and then disseminated via Tik-Tok.
Sources in the Administration also point to recent tariff moves by the government that will have the effect of removing the incentive of cheap foreign-made equipment. "Just wait until those 1000 percent tariffs kick in. You can almost feel those soldering irons warming up!"
Collectively, this initiative seems tied to the political effort known as MAGA. An anonymous White House spokesman explained: "First there was MAGA (calling for a return to GREATNESS). Then came MAHA (HEALTH!). Now we see MASA: MAKE AMERICA SOLDER AGAIN. We think this will be a real winner. There will be so much winning, American hams will soon get tired of winning."
The emphasis, a spokesman explained, will be on DOMESTIC production of radio equipment. "We see the Michigan Mighty Mite as a good example. I mean it just oozes domesticity! MICHIGAN! Why can't we go back to the day when millions of MMM rigs dotted our fruited plains, and people happily conversed via Morse Code using homemade transmitters? Well we can. And dammit we will, whether people like it or not!"
Construction techniques will also be closely regulated, and the naming of these techniques has become an issue: "We like the 'Manhattan' style of construction, but the name is too, well, too 'New York City.' So we are re-naming the technique: From now on it will be known as the 'Mississippi Technique.' We also discovered that all of the Crazy Glue used in the Manhattan -- I mean Mississippi -- Technique comes from overseas. So from now on, only good-old Elmer's Glue can be used. MASA!"
In a related move, the FCC announced that henceforth, only American Morse will be permitted in the United States. The use of International Morse Code will be banned, and masked ICE agents will destroy any equipment found to be using it. "I mean, we invented it right? So when did we go all 'woke globalist international'? Enough of that." It is hoped that this move will reduce the number of radio contacts with foreigners, something the FCC finds "highly woke suspicious." "Americans should be talking only to other Americans, right? " An excecption seems to have been made for one country: contacts with Russia will be allowed to continue. No explanation for this exception was provided.
I have the sense that the NATO phonetic alphabet may also being out of fashion.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Jack!
DeleteBill, you can always be relied upon to deliver TIMELY news!
ReplyDeleteYes, Armand, we do try to stay on the cutting edge. Sometimes even AHEAD of the cutting edge!
DeleteCutting edge, like an ice pick.
ReplyDelete73 de ai4ot
Only with American made components!!!!
ReplyDeleteA literary masterpiece, Bill! Far better than QST.
ReplyDeleteWill the solder components also be mined and refined in America? If so, the packaging can have a little American flag on it.
ReplyDeleteIt must be hard to top previous seasonal messages, but you did it!
ReplyDeleteBill, as I write you I'm on a train returning to San Francisco in the People's Republic of California.
ReplyDeleteWhile I"m heartened by the FCC's forward (backward?) whatever... thinking, I fear it's all too late. I'm returning home to hand over the last of my solder to the SF Municipal toxin board. First, they came for our public toilets in one of the biggest tourist cities on the West Coast and we all know how that went. Then, they took our public trash cans. No big. We just politely and compassionately set our trash down where the can used to be. But now. Now? They've come for our solder. I mean, we moved to the top of the nearest hill we could find, and that probably bought us a year, but the solder collection task force is finally knocking on our door. (Well, figuratively, I am on a train after all.) And after tonight, no more homebrew in San Francisco :) Your sticker campaign helped raise awareness, but in the end it was too little too late. :)
Hamilton: You should move immediately to Mississippi, stock up on Elmer's glue, and learn AMERICAN Morse. Or Cyrilic Morse. Also, as Jack Welch has suggested, stop using NATO phonetics. 73, Bill. NIGHT TWO CANNOT QUESTION REASONING
DeleteDoes this campaign include the right to repair your homebrew radio?
ReplyDelete