My email:

Hello

I was wondering if you can address the 72 mhz question, is it going to stay? With the excitement of the chance of not being shot down, a great amount of publicity is given to the new 2.4 ghz radios. The excitement looks as if now only people are using 2.4 which is not the case. If I were a new modeler or needed a 14 channel radio, I would buy 2.4, but for me, I will not need a new main radio for years as I bought a new radio just before the 2.4s came out, and I have some compliant Kraft radios for some of the older planes for fun from my first time in the hobby. At the club field, there is a good number or new 2,4s out there, but I would say 80% of our 100 member club are 72mhz and will stay that way for a long time.
I know it is difficult work to handle subjects like this and without a lot of clout, but I hope this fight is being made, and I hope if 2.4 becomes a way of life, it wont be a shock but be incremental like the way the "new" 72 mhz channels were introduced.

Thank you
Tom Faires
AMA739522


Reply:

Hi Tom,
For decades AMA has retained a Washington law firm to address any issues we
have as a result of legislation or regulation that would impact the use of
all frequencies set aside for aeromodeling. We continue to retain that firm
and have no plans to sever that relationship. In one of my earlier columns
in Model Aviation I mentioned that in mid 2008 we added a new AMA position
titled Government and Regulatory Affairs Representative and part of the job
description for that position is to advocate for and protect our members
concerns relative to all government agencies including the FCC.

However, the facts remain that the part of the band where frequencies now
identified for use for model aviation (and surface RC up on 75 MHz) reside
is drawing the attention of large corporate entities, especially those in
the commercial and public use arena. Entities that may be willing to, in
some cases, pay significant dollars to operate there. This along with the
fact that as technology advances more and more of us will be moving away
from these frequencies is going to present a challenge for us.

We recognize that we still have a significant number of members who continue
to fly on 72 MHz and have no interest in changing. We intend to continue to
fight to retain these frequencies for the foreseeable future. If and when
the times comes, and I have no idea of when that might be - or at this point
if it will even happen, we will work to negotiate a phase out plan just as
we did last time around. I fell pretty good about us being able to do that
if we have to.
Dave