The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast December 17, 1988

The Amateur Radio Service

     Radio communications had its beginning in the latter part of the last century when a young man named Guglielmo Marconi developed the wireless telegraph system, now called radio.  By his own admission, Marconi said, "I am a radio amateur."  In the early 1900s, there was no regulation of radio.  Anyone could build a rather simple wireless set, use any call letters he pleased, and operate by Morse code.  Soon wireless communication was growing rapidly and practically all stations were operating on the same wavelength which created much interference.
     In 1912, Congress passed a regulation requiring all wireless stations to have an operator's and station license.  All of the stations fell into two main categories; those who were using wireless for any type of commercial purposes were called commercial stations and all other stations became amateur radio stations.  These amateur stations covered a broad category, including university stations, experimental stations, non-profit stations and private individual stations.  Many of these amateur stations were pushing new frontiers in radio communications.
     To become a radio amateur today, a person must pass a Federal Communications Commission examination.  There are five grades of amateur radio licenses: Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, and Extra Class.  As one improves in skill and knowledge, each succeeding license provides more privileges to use more frequency bands and more kinds of operation.
     There are 436,000 radio amateurs in the United States.  They are men, women, boys and girls and range in age from 10 to 96 years.  They include people from all walks of life such as doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, business executives, aviators, astronauts, movie stars, school teachers, clergymen, truck drivers, politicians, prime ministers - you name them, we have them all.
     Amateur radio is a great fraternity of radio communicators who have a common bond of interest to improve their radio communications capability by innovating, inventing and applying new techniques to the art of communications.  This forms a very common bond of interest between all radio amateurs, not only within the United States but also with those in other lands.  Why not?  Radio signals can go everywhere.  Amateur radio makes it easy to communicate with people in all walks of life and this is especially so with the handicapped.
     We are recognized in international treaties with several hundred countries around the world as the "Amateur Radio Service" who can be relied upon to provide a voluntary public service in all types of situations.  We are a national technical resource of high-tech personnel.  Many of the electronic devices that you use in your homes and businesses were developed by radio amateurs working alone or in government and industry laboratories.
     Why are we radio amateurs?  It's because it's a life full of interesting and rewarding experiences.  Try it.  I know that you will like it too!

December 17, 1988

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

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