 Cancellation Notices for Amateur Radio
Stations During WWII (originally found on eBay, but gone
now)
You probably read a while back of the San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART - good acronym, as in Simpson) shutting down cellphone service
in order to thwart a rumored attempt to organize a flash mob attack.
1st
Amendment groups have sued BART over the action. Also in the news has been the
government's plan for being able to shut down the
Internet in the event of a national emergency (defined as whatever
they need it to mean). We already know that Big Brother has the capability to universally
control both wired and wireless phone service.
OnStar-equipped vehicles have been shut down remotely by law enforcement.
It all seems very Orwellian, but it began before the publication of "1984" (in 1949).
Did George just dream up the book's theme of total government control and a lemming
populace, or did it come from astute observations of past behavior that was projected
into the future?
On December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the FCC
issued a "Notice to All Amateur Licensees" that began thusly: "All amateur licensees
are hereby notified that the Commission has ordered the immediate suspension of
all amateur radio operation in the continental United States, its territories, and
possessions." Compliments of President Roosevelt, this order took all Ham stations
not ordained by the U.S. government off the air until further notice. Receivers
were not specifically prohibited, and W1AW was allowed to continue its transmissions. In 1939, the British
government had required amateur operators in
India (not sure about in the UK) to surrender their gear to authorities
as well as to halt operation, but they had no Constitution guaranteeing certain
freedoms. Many advertisements were placed in U.S. magazines imploring Hams to donate
or sell their equipment† to the War Department; citizens responded enthusiastically
out of a sense of national loyalty. Hams were also recruited to volunteer for civilian
and military duty†† because of their familiarity with radio equipment and
operation. With their ability to operate prohibited as civilians, that created a
great incentive to volunteer for the war effort. On November 15, 1945, amateurs
were finally allowed back on the air, but only on the 10 and 2 meter bands.
That was not the first time, though, that the government issued such a broad
order silencing civilian radio. On April 30, 1917, during World War I, President
Wilson authorized
Executive Order 2605A - Taking Over Necessary and
Closing Unnecessary Radio Stations. In part it reads, "Whereas it is necessary
to operate certain radio stations for radio communication by the Government and
to close other radio stations not so operated, to insure the proper conduct of the
war against the Imperial German Government and the successful termination thereof
....that such radio stations within the jurisdiction of the United States as are
required for Naval Communications shall be taken over by the Government of the United
States and used and controlled by it, to the exclusion of any other
control or use..."
Ubiquitous installations of Smart Meters will allow both monitoring and control
of your energy usage. Just as sophisticated algorithms are able to identify aircraft
based on radar and electronic signatures, seismographic equipment can pinpoint and
classify tectonic activity, and sonar can identify seafaring craft by the signatures
of their screws (aka propellers), information about the type of electrical equipment
operating in your home can be ascertained based on harmonics, power factor, current
waveforms, frequency of use, etc.
Baltimore Gas & Electric made headlines this summer by selectively
shutting down AC units in peoples' home during the peak demand time - causing customers
who ignorantly signed up for the PeakRewards program without knowing its implications
to be left suffering in the record-setting heat (I sent a letter of refusal to my
power company†††). In the future, if a silencing order is ever issued
to Hams, the local electricity utility will be able to provide data to the Feds
if your usage fits a certain profile. You might want to keep some batteries on-hand
just in case...
I wouldn't have a problem with all this if I fully trusted the government to
exercise its power within the strict wording and spirit of the
U. S.
Constitution, but it has proven itself untrustworthy on far too many occasions.
Take a look at how the TSA openly violates travelers, and how when a new instance
is publicized, rather than reforming and constraining itself, the TSA digs its heels
in and announces that it has no intention to change. Having been a high-tech, futurist
type of person my whole life, I suffer the dichotomy created by embracing and encouraging
the incredible advances in technology being developed, while fearing - yes, fearing
- the damage that can be wrought by men and governments with evil intentions.
None of this is new to humanity. Benjamin Franklin, our 18th century inventor-statesman
aptly remarked, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little
Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
The October 1945 issue of Radio-Craft magazine announced the planned
ending of the FCC's prohibition of Amateur Radio broadcasting.
Posted January 27, 2022
(updated from original post on 8/25/2011)
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