I don't think that sending messages and relaying messages by amateur radio was ever ment to restrict the content to amateur radio only subject matter. In fact, if you look at the ARL numbers, you will find that most of them are NOT related to amateur radio subject matter.
73, Walt/K5YFW -----Original Message----- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Joe Ivey Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 3:42 PM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: 3580kHz-3600kHz Freq Coordination Info I have yet to understand why the FCC allowed automatic stations on the ham bands in the first place. I hate to see ham radio being used as an internet email service that in 99% of the case the mail is not related to ham radio. I think that 99% of the ham support handling emergency traffic and would stay clear of any frequency that was being used for such a purpose. A lot of people including hams do not really understand the term "emergency traffic". Simply put it means the threat to life, injury. and property. 99.99% of all emergencies are confined to a general local area. It very rare that one needs to send traffic from the west coast to the east coast or Washington DC. Ham radio serves a great purpose in these cases and we as operators should help out when we are needed. But for someone out in his boat just wanting to check is email should not be allowed on the ham bands. My 2 cents worth. Joe W4JSI
