RSGB Consultation - Direct entry to Full Licence

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The RSGB’s Examination Standards Committee (ESC) has launched a consultation today to ask for the views of the amateur radio community on a new, Direct to Full licence exam which would run in parallel with the existing three-tier system.

The background to this consultation and a link to the proposed syllabus can be found on the RSGB website: www.rsgb.org/direct-to-full

There is also a link to a short survey which asks specific questions but also gives you an opportunity to add additional comments or questions.

The consultation will run until Sunday 14 March 2021 after which we will gather the results and announce them in due course.

PRESENTER OPINION : Lemmings over a Demographic Cliff?→

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PRESENTER OPINION : Lemmings over a Demographic Cliff?

It was an honor to have been invited to prepare what turned into a 2-article series in the ARRL’s National Contesting Journal on the aging demographics of hams who participate in the radio “sport” of contesting. These appeared in the July/August (Vol 48, No. 4) and Sept/Oct (Vol 48, No 5) issues. Dr. Scott Wright K0MD, Editor, asked me to assist with more fully analyzing the results of a survey conducted by the League office in Newington of their past and present subscriber list of NCJ recipients. I agreed but added some key data from four other sources. It particularly piqued my interest since amateur radio is a hobby. I spent part of my career studying the effects of sport participation and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on the Sociology of Sports as a Professor. In future writing, I’ll compare amateur radio contesting to accepted definitions and elements of competitive sports.

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Community Radio Stations to Receive Emergency Funding

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Ofcom has announced that 53 community radio stations will receive emergency funding through the Community Radio Fund.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, community radio stations have provided valuable local news and support to millions of people. However, many have also faced severe financial challenges. In response, the UK Government announced emergency funding to help them meet the costs of continuing to provide these vital services to local communities.

So far, 111 community radio stations have received financial grants totalling around £406,000. Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, an additional £200,000 was made available by the UK Government for a third funding round.

The Community Radio Fund Panel, which acts independently of Ofcom, has now awarded this extra funding to 53 community radio stations across the UK, in accordance with the strict eligibility criteria and guidance issued. We have published details on the Panel’s approach and reasoning in deciding which applications received funding.