Over & Out? CA Officials To Shutter Ham Radio Infrastructure ‘No Longer Benefit’

CALIFORNIA. (THECOUNT) — Ham radio operators everywhere are up in arms after California officials announced the termination of the ham radio infrastructure, deeming the transmissions, “no longer a benefit.”

California is reportedly severing ties to ham radio repeater owners statewide after unilaterally declaring the infrastructure “obsolete,” according to Thursday reports.

OffGridSurvival reported Thursday that the move is “jeopardizing the lives of millions of Californians,” who depend on repeaters to operate during emergencies. It’s also a way of life for many seniors who grew up with the hobby when it was one of only a few ways to communicate with other ham operators near and far.

Last month, repeater operators were sent emails telling them the State would no longer allow them to operate repeaters on public land without paying substantial rental fees. In the letter sent by CAL FIRE, the state claims Ham operators no longer provide a benefit to the state or public safety. They claimed that “constantly changing technological advances” has made Ham radio obsolete during an emergency, reports OffGridSurvival.

The bad news comes at the same time power lords, PG&E, cut power to millions of customers over wind related wildfire concerns.

Disgruntled operator everywhere sounded off on Twitter:

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: California, a western U.S. state, stretches from the Mexican border along the Pacific for nearly 900 miles. Its terrain includes cliff-lined beaches, redwood forest, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland and the Mojave Desert. The city of Los Angeles is the seat of the Hollywood entertainment industry. Hilly San Francisco is known for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and cable cars – wikipedia.