Chin up...

I'd like to encourage you to upgrade your license, if that is what you want to do.

First, those who are currently trying to grab spectrum seem to be after slices of the UHF spectrum, and less interested in VHF and HF. HF faces its own set of problems, mostly related to RF interference (computer networks) and legal interference (deed restrictions and covenants); but I submit that HF is a long way from dead. It's simply too much fun, and hams will not part with it easily.

Secondly, even the FCC does not want to see the process become entirely "market" driven. I'm trying to remember where I read that testimony, I'll try to find a link and post it.

Third, the ARRL is currently lobbying for legislation that would require the FCC to provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" in the event that an amateur band (or portion of a band) is re-allocated to a different service. As much as I like to pick on the ARRL, I will continue to support them with my membership and hope that they continue this effort. At the risk of sounding like a recruiter, the ARRL is probably our most effectively heard voice when it comes to dealing with our government.

Amateur radio certainly enjoys a lot of privileges when it comes to spectrum. How many other users of spectrum have slices of bandwidth ranging from Medium Wave to Microwave? You've got to bear in mind that we have so much spectrum, everything we've got looks tempting to _somebody_.

In all liklihood we will lose additional spectrum in the coming years, and I think that those frequencies above the 73cm band are probably most at risk. After all, what percentage of us _honestly_ operate at higher frequencies than the 440 MHz band? Quite frankly, I'd be shocked if that figure was much higher than 2-3% of us.

I realize that this last comment will draw some flames from those among us who do, but let's face it, the slices of spectrum that are used by us the least will be the first to go. By the same token, those bands that are in widespread use will be the easiest for us to protect.

Of course, the real shame of it is that these higher frequencies are where a substantial portion of today's meaningful experimentation is taking place, and I think that our society would be the bigger loser if hams were to lose these bands.

73,
-Brian