Minister warns on CB
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THERE HAS been a vast amount of misrepresentation about what the Government has done on legalising citizen' band radio, according to Home Affairs Minister, Timothy Raison.
"Those who continue to press for legislation of the US equipment conviently ignore that the complaints of interference to TV and radio reception by illicit CB equipment have been running at over 1,000 a week, and we could not have possibly contemplated legalising the use of equipment which is so patently unsuitable for us in this country."
Another complaint that Mr Raison has received concerns European frequencies. Many CB enthusiasts are upset that the Government has not legalised the precise frequencies in the 27 MHz band which would enable them to converse with "breakers" in foreign parts.
The reason for this was that a new service had to be introduced quickly and economically, meaning a universal frequency was out of the question.
Mr Raison said: "Although Continental countries have adopted a common frequency for CB, there is much variation in various national regulations permit. The French equipment, for example is not compatible with either the Dutch or German equipment, and the Italian equipment is incompatible with all three."
The Home Affairs Minister hoped that an effective standard for a common European frequency could be found, but it would be "unrealistic to think that this could be achieved for some years."
According to Mr Raison, the British CB system is far more generous in relation to such matters as power limits and number of channels.