[Waverley ARS] New changes to LCD - F-calls and internet

[Edwin Lowe]

Hi gang,
reference: 
http://wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2008/20080208-3/documents/The%20New%20Amateur%20Regulations.pdf

there has been a lot of talk and angst going around in the last 24hrs 
regarding the implications of the change in the LCD to connecting to 
public telecoms networks. Specifically, Foundation licenses and the 
internet. A number of people have invested a lot of time and money into 
internet systems.

A number of people have been saying that the changes now state that a 
Foundation licensee may NOT operate a remote internet controlled 
station. I believe this is based on the final sentence of the following 
passage in reference to section 11B:

"The obligation is imposed on a licensee who connects a person (not 
necessarily a
licensed person) from a public telecommunications network, which could 
be a “phone
patch” or a connection over the Internet. If the obligation had been 
imposed on a
Repeater station, then a D-STAR gateway station could be regularly 
“connecting a
person from a public telecommunications network” to the station, and the 
obligation
would be unrealistic. And a Foundation station cannot make such a 
connection."

I argue otherwise. As I read the WIA info release:

I do NOT believe the changes to the LCD prohibits a F-call using remote 
internet control per se, but rather, prohibits an F-call from 
maintaining a remote internet control that enables an AUTOMATIC 
connection from the general public via the internet. eg, a web 
controlled radio for public, including non-licensee use.

A F-call should still be able to personally operate a remote system, and 
may permit manual connection by others, whom the F-call can verify are 
licensed amateurs.

Conversely, my own understanding of the document is that an Echolink (RF 
system) or IRLP node established by a F-call is now NOT permitted, as 
both of these are indeed, automatic systems.

I have contacted the Michael Owen for clarification and I'll report back 
when I hear from him!
73 Edwin

-- 
Edwin Lowe
VK2VEL
Sydney, Australia
ph:0407416090