In case you haven't already heard, the FCC approved yesterday the 2000 SAVI
petition to permit RF ID Tags (RFID) in the 433.5 MHz band.
One of the reasons mentioned for this approval (see
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/04/15/103/?nc=1 for the full story) by
the FCC was that the use of RFID would "improve homeland security." I put
this piece of doubletalk in the same neighborhood as "it's for the children.
Now you're not against anything that's for the children, are you?"
Even more chilling, though, is that the FCC's Office of Engineering &
Technology is proposing changes to Part 15, at first (of course) only in
commercial & industrial areas... is that the nose of the camel peaking into
the tent?... to facillitate RFID useage. But, and I quote from the above
mentioned web page:
'current Part 15 requirements aimed at preventing interference to licensed
services "may unnecessarily constrain the operational range of RFID systems
as well as the speed and quantity of data that can be transmitted." '
Methinks this poses bad for us. My gut hunch is that after "due diligence"
and a "fair" review of our comments, the FCC will pass new BPL rules that
will harm the Amateur Service -- and we can kiss off the Part 15 objections
we think we're going to have, because that change will come next. For the
benefit of Homeland Security, of course.
Feh. First time in a long time I've actually been happy that the State of
Pennsyvania conveniently changed my registration from Republican to Democrat
when I last renewed my driver's license...
73, ron wn3vaw
"What's the point in being crazy if you can't have a little fun with it?"
-- Russell Crowe portraying John Nash, "A Beautiful Mind"
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