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Home › Forums › Regulatory › Is amateur radio a privilege or a right?

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  • Regulatory

    Is amateur radio a privilege or a right?

    Posted by Jim on 2024-02-03 at 11:55

    In another thread, @n8tgq made a really good point regarding HOAs. He disagreed with my vision of HOA restrictions but did so in the context of the question: Is amateur radio a privilege or a right? Some might add a third element: is it a service to society? I know, that’s pushing it a little but some believe it is.

    I’ve posted this in the Regulatory forum because this question ultimately ties into our regulations (in the USA, Part 97).

    Jim replied 3 weeks, 6 days ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies

  • KD3Y

    Member
    2024-02-19 at 22:37
    31
    10W posting rank

    IMHO, It’s kind of irrelevant whether one views amateur radio as a right or a privilege in the context of HOAs..

    Many hams I know complain and whine about their HOA Karens, but the thing is, they surrendered those rights (or privileges) voluntarily when they decided to buy the house. If you don’t like the terms of the contract, then you shouldn’t sign the contract. No one forced them to sign the contract under duress, and if they didn’t read the terms of their deed, then again, that’s their fault for not doing due diligence.

    If you want to keep a right (or privilege), then don’t sign a contract surrendering those rights (or privileges). It’s not a complicated concept. One can’t expect a court of law to void a valid contract and let you have an antenna farm in your subdivision when that’s the deal you agreed to.

    That’s the first thing I asked the realtor when he showed up to show us the house for sale. Lucky for me my Mayor and Town Board has pre-empted “ham hate” by ordinance and I can basically put up what I want and an HOA can’t prohibit ham antennas in my town.

    TownOfNewportAmateurRadioHeightOrdinance

  • ns7x

    Member
    2024-03-01 at 00:33
    39
    5W posting rank

    k3mri said: ” Some might add a third element: is it a service to society?”

    Well, the FCC apparently thinks amateur radio is a service to society. That’s why it doesn’t refer to ham radio as a hobby. According to part 97, it is the Amateur Radio Service.

  • N8TGQ

    Member
    2024-04-21 at 15:11
    9
    5W posting rank

    I think of a right as something spelled out in the constitution-to bear arms, vote, equality, peaceably gather.

    Everything else is a privilege. Even driving is a privilege, not a right.

    • Jim

      Administrator
      2024-04-22 at 12:31
      114
      25W posting rank

      That’s a very valid point. In fact, I think we too often think that ‘everything’ is a right. I am of the personal core opinion that we are privileged to have been born to begin with and that life is a ‘privilege’ to be cherished. I guess the only thing I wish is that it were sometimes a little easier to live this life we live, but I still consider it a privilege. Can’t speak for the others, but I’m happy to be alive, and yes, happy to be a ham 😎

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