Bruce Robertson wrote:
On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 8:31 PM, k0vty@juno.com wrote:
Hi Bob (N4HY)
Thanks for taking the time to ponder for the BB and me some of the twists and turns of ITAR issues.
I hope the BB apprecaites your time and effort. Here are a few more questions?
I have a further question, if I may, and Bob needn't feel obliged to answer it.
Given that AMSAT-NA is by definition a collaboration between amateurs on both sides of the US/Canada border, do we have a clear idea where ITAR stands with respect to Canadian collaborators? I know that in 1999 the previous exemption was revoked, but that in 2001 there were some changes again.
73, Bruce VE9QRP
Working with Candians and discussing satellites is a deemed export and must be treated as a munition transfer even between Canadians and Americans. We need a technical assistance agreement with our Canadian brethren in amateur satellite service work. The tough part for this is that we really need to work out the technical assistance agreement with an umbrella organization for our Canadian colleagues to be legal or be granted a specific exemption or work out the agreements with individuals. Since Canadians are members of AMSAT-NA what organization could easily serve this role? What individual would do this on their own without an umbrella group over them? You have to agree to go to a federal prison or pay a ridiculous fine if you violate this as an individual. Who would expose themselves to this?
If I sound overly negative about ITAR that is simple. I am truly negative about its application to amateur radio satellites with an open door and publication policy on what we are doing in a not-for-profit mode as a 501c3 educational organization. If I were to work on a DOD satellite, I would expect to keep my mouth shut or go to prison. I have no trouble at all distinguishing the difference. ITAR and the amateur radio and amateur satellite services are confounded in paranoia built in a time when the Soviet Union existed and thank goodness those days are over. But what has resulted is a new set of boogie men to take their place and it being even harder to see how amateur radio satellites contribute to their evil insidious plots against us!
I am unconvinced that even trying to stop commercial companies from discussing the technology used in their satellites for non-defense purposes serves a serious security need for the U.S. since I believe all of the serious potential adversaries on our radar have developed rockets, spacecraft, weaponized warheads on the rockets, and more and ITAR did NOTHING to prevent it except for a delaying action that allowed the potential adversaries to build their own independent means but for these purposes, getting the shackles off the ankles of amateur radio, I don't care about this argument. My primary argument is that it makes absolutely no sense to stop AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-ZL and AMSAT-VK ..... from talking things over to make rational decisions.
More than one of these entities just mentioned is trapped in a dilemma for their programs posed by ITAR because we cannot help them without an onerous agreement they are unwilling to sign up to.
Bob N4HY