Methinks you need to read Section 303(n) of the Communications Act of 1934 as
amended. There have been a number of both amateur radio operators and "CB"
radio operators fined for not allowing their stations to be inspected by FCC
personnel. For example:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/brian-r-ragan-0
Then, there is the following which explains the FCC's right to inspect your
amateur radio station at any time:
https://www.fcc.gov/guides/inspection-fact-sheet
Glen, K9STH
Website: http://k9sth.net
From: Steve Wright <stevewrightnz@gmail.com>
To: amps@contesting.com
Sent: Monday, May 4, 2015 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Amps Digest, Vol 149, Issue 10
On 05/05/15 05:57, amps-request@contesting.com wrote:
> Given that the rule at the time was based on input power to the final stage,
> it begs the question of how could they possibly know without being in your
> shack? Granted, enforcement then was a far cry from now with station audits
> not unusual.
FCC in your shack? Did they have a signed court order? The only way
anyone comes into my shack, is a mate for a coffee/tea/beer/dinner.
Anyone else brings documents with a signature from a magistrate. I aint
got stuff to hide, but it's the principle of it.
> Today it's hard enough to get the FCC to enforce rules against deliberate
> interference.
The user manual of the neighbours plasma TV says it *WILL* interfere
with Ham Radio. *WILL*, not "might". That's deliberate.
> I can think of a very fine reason, to prove to the authorities,
> should the need arise, that you are not in violation of the rule.
> And to prove that you are in command of the facility to maintain
> your output power within your limit.
It is their business to prove you are in violation, not he other way
around. And if you are legal custody of a thing, then you are command
of it - that is a legal principle, unless of you waive your rights - but
I do not.
> When they suspected someone of cheating, they would park their van
> outside his house and measure field strength. Then they would go inside
> and measure plate voltage and current (I presume with their own
> instruments). So if the guy reduced power they could compute how much he
> was running beforehand by the difference in field strength.
Go... inside... Can they DO that? I do not think so. Just don't go to
the door.
> As to how they knew whom to check, I believe that they got tips from
> other hams. As I recall, many of these spot checks were during contests.
> I remember one guy busted for running 5 kW.
Just don't go to the door. It's not an offence to not go to the door.
What if you were on the shitter and you couldn't go to the door?
I find there are people in society who are preoccupied with rules and
regulations, and while I value that society has order and structure, I
do NOT value the overt self-policing that our hobby has endured. This
self-policing either comes at our own hand - where we very cautiously
and fearfully I might add - mind our own actions to such an extent that
metering every single input, output, and action becomes the entire
hobby, and I think that's daft. The other form of self-policing, comes
from "tips" (read - complaints) to the regulatory authority from other Hams.
For myself, the hobby is far too interesting to get tangled up in all
that sort of bickering, except for some whom I have come to think are
actually in ham radio exactly for that reason - I bet their hobby makes
their life harsh - it doesn't for me, it makes my life awesome!
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