I've slapped a thread up on RW - seems to be going quite well...
I've slapped a thread up on RW - seems to be going quite well...
Petition signed, looking good now but not enough - sent to all my mates on facebook.
This was posted earlier on the UK Caving Forum, looks like a good result.
"An update has has been published today:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond.../update201008/
This makes it clear that they are not making proposals to charge MRT for radio spectrum.
The original documentation included the relevant spectrum used by MRT in the proposals for changes to charging.
The large number of people have responded to the consultation to OFCOM and with the 645 (at the time of writing) people who have signed the petition has either changed their minds or meant that they have been forced to make their intentions clearer than they were before.
Thank you for all your support on this topic."
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The press release from Ofcom is a little misleading as they don't licence MR fequencies, That responsibilty belongs to the MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency).Originally Posted by Dead Edge
This was posted earlier on the UK Caving Forum, looks like a good result.
"An update has has been published today:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond.../update201008/
This makes it clear that they are not making proposals to charge MRT for radio spectrum.
The original documentation included the relevant spectrum used by MRT in the proposals for changes to charging.
The large number of people have responded to the consultation to OFCOM and with the 645 (at the time of writing) people who have signed the petition has either changed their minds or meant that they have been forced to make their intentions clearer than they were before.
Thank you for all your support on this topic."
"MR channels are licensed and paid for by the MCA, it is down to the MCA if they need to withdraw any of our channels to use the money elsewhere, this could even lead to us having to share channels with neighbouring teams, the RNLI or even Coastguard teams!"
I would say continue to sign the petition if you believe that MR & RNLI shouldn't be charged until this is confirmed by the MCA.
According to the local paper today these proposals have been dropped.
Good news for MR and RNLI if correct.
Scandalous that these organisations are charity funded and that HM Gov doesnt pay for them in the first place, never mind proposing to cripple them with additional costs as they are saving the lives of their voters and taxpayers.
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For anyone who thinks Mountain Rescue is something worth protecting, there's a petition about charges they may have to pay for using radios.
It appears that Ofcom may drastically increase the amounts that the RNLI and Mountain Rescue Teams have to pay to use radios. There is a petition at Number 10 Downing Street, on the link below, against such charging of volunteer teams should you wish to protect the MR from such charges.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/MRT-RF-licences/sign
A thread has already been running on this for a while here. It now appears that the proposal to increase charges has been dropped.
Hi Andy
Thanks for bring this up but there is a thread already with an update
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...n+Rescue+Radio
David you just beat me to it.
It's not been totally dropped yet, Ofcom have said they won't charge but MCA still might although it is unlikely.
Ian
On a related issue, there was a recent article in the Westmorland Gazette in which Stewart Hulse, former leader of the Langdale/Ambleside MRT was expressing the view that it is high time that the government gave MRTs an exemption from the liability to pay VAT on their essential rescue equipment.
Apparently fund raising is taking a nose-dive.
Not heard of any petition or other formal action to support the MRT position.
Tried to post the article on the Forum (I have a PDF copy) but it was too large to be imported.
Morgan
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