ANother government wheeze to rob a few more pennies

[mark]

Applying spectrum pricing to the Maritime and Aeronautical sectors | Ofcom

not content with the red diesel debacle, looks like they want to sell off the maritime radio spectrum now, so expect a bill folks

the RNLI have alreadys said they may be forced to close some stations if (more likely when) it happens

and if you read through the whole doc.... they want to sell the radar frequencies off as well!

found a couple of news snippets:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3089310/Radio-charges-may-force-lifeboat-stations-to-close.html

Radio charging plans fuel lifeboat fears

what next?? a displacement tax?? your boat displaces some water, so we re going to charge you for the inconvenience of the sea to fill the holes in after you

[Norman]

lzsid munfvs39 4[t9apwue;xpomfdd k w'fgcjq34wo95of
c1cm0=2 4AGUESDRIGKQ#L,CAWFIG ;S.ILKRL#]2Q[FWOCRFGSEJ;Lk;poik'sdfgk/s,ulsoicfcpkojx/zcff.kmw;apvoifq;awnchva.slcfcj;amcfjvnj;eirngbslj gc/snjgvsldkjgvzs
fsvdfgjvnsligvwseoorgi'seoucgwpr,xc,mnv\m.zfdj;evg jblvbnmn cn;voagkvb
!"£$%^^&&*(()_+!"£$%^&*()_+"£$%^&*()"£$%^&*()_"£$% ^&*()_"£$%^&*

[mark]

my sentiments exactly

We need to create strong incentives to ensure that spectrum is used efficiently

and

maritime VHF channels may attract AIP fees from 2009. Radar and aeronautical navigation aids will not attract AIP fees before 2010

don't see how you can make a small chunk of frequencies 'efficient'

surprised they have cottoned onto the fact that microwave ovens are radio transmitters and included them

[mark]

and it now makes perfect sense why they made the ships radio licence free and easy to obtain...

so everyone would get one

and they now have a nice big list of users to sell along with the deal

[Charlton]

couldn't have put it better Norman, maybe just an extra xxx;;/%"*&^%$£

[Norman]

seriously, it`s getting outta hand .............
what with the red deisel ... I think I`ll demand white or else I`ll have a tank that says I aint paid duty but in fact I will have ....... aaaarrg

seems the general rule will be an increase of about 40p on 60% of the fuel bought (ie they think 40% in general will be heating duty free and 60% propulsion).......... long and hard of it means approx 25p extra per litre so red (THAT IS RED) deisel will cost £1.05/litre ........ hold on is that not close to white deisel at a garage??????????
k,uhndflcjyhfm;adsukgnjm;camsnblsjcmv jfcoigcsjegpc,wb' !"£$%0_)(*&^34*

so the VHF could well be the last straw .................... can they imagine just what it costs to keep a boat !!!!!!!!!!!

phew . thats better

[Charlton]

Gordon must want everybody to be as miserable and boring as he is.

[mark]

been doing some poking around this one today. the likely proposal is that all ground based stations - marinas, lifeboats etc will pay heavily, but rather than persuing existing ships licence holders (they've goofed here....) they will place a tax on the purchase of new equipment


the goof is that when they introduced the free online licencing at offcom, they made it a lifetimes licence, but forgot to include any caveat to alter operating conditions to apply future fees. so if you got it for life its ok...

although if you buy a new boat, it'll be a different story

[jason]

ive been watching this thread.

comunications was my speciality when in the navy and i know how the airwaves / frequencies work (white mans magic) what does grip my sh17e is that the airwaves and frequencies etc do not belong to anyone as the radio theory is just that. If the service is providing "Safety to Life" communications the frequencies are free, all frequencies are international - why should you in effect pay to use ch16 and other 2182khz 252khz etc in this country and not in an other. The other issue is what price are they going to put on the equipment as it may put some buyers off due to increased cost and thus put lives at risk.

i am all for commercial radio stations paying for the licence to use a specific frequency as there is a business gain to be made and it regulates the use of common frequencies. The maritime frequencies are policed quite well and you do need the specific equipment to get on maritime vhf frequencies. No brainer for the government with regards to making money - if you care for your safety you will buy the equipment (most on here use the equipment to talk to other boats but their primary reason for being on the boat is safety).

if they want to tax the channels they should only tax the general usage channels and not those local for safety purposes and if you dont want to pay the tax you get a limited usage set ie 16/13/72 and 1/2 local channels.


blood boiling as this will cause loss of life if invoked.

j

[Norman]

well said jason, it puts safety at risk ......

I have a good VHF set-up but use it for two reasons only :-

1) in case of emergency ............ i know i can get instant response from ship and shore.

2) please royal quays can you let me in/out

All other communication is via mobile so to start charging would be stoooopid

it would force me to .........
quit the safety aspect .... wrong I know !
and use mobile to call marina to open the gates

huummmfff