[BC] radio engineering not a profession

[Rich Wood]

>It is indeed strange that the FCC
>requires a person to pass a test to operate a 2-watt ham handi-talkie but
>not a 50-KW transmitter on the broadcast band. Where is the logic to this??

If you look closely the FCC very often requires a license to operate 
a 50Kw transmitter. It's generally known as a station license. The 
intent is the same: that the emission falls within the frequencies 
covered by the license. If I remember correctly, my Ham license is 
both an operator's and a station license. The operator part makes 
sense because the transmitter can be used on many frequencies. A 50Kw 
transmitter is, generally, restricted to one, unless it's shortwave 
and is permitted to operate on several specific frequencies. In 
addition, the transmitting location of the HT varies from minute to 
minute. The 50Kw installation is slightly more permanent. I'm willing 
to bet that both the transmitter sites of XTRA (77Kw) and WOR (50Kw) 
are pretty close to where they were when I worked for them. Both have 
moved at 30+ year intervals, but not very far.

The licensee is responsible for seeing that the rules are followed. 
The license is less to ensure the safety of personnel that it is to 
manage the spectrum and provide a source of income for the FCC in the 
form of fines.

Most of us who have been in the business for a while understand the 
complete ineffectiveness of a piece of paper. That's also true for 
drivers and marriage licenses. In the days of First Class licenses it 
was still tough to find someone who wasn't a "90 day wonder" 
incompetent to operate a toaster.

I guess the real difference is less the danger of the transmitter 
than the licensee's interest in keeping the 50Kw machine operating 
24/7. That  2 watt (or even the far more dangerous 5 watt) HT 
operating schedule isn't quite as rigorous.

Rich
KF2JO