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Comment by spydum | Hacker News Reader

Whaaa, I wasn't aware licenses restrict encrypted comms? Does that mean packet radios that transport TLS may require special license?

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Yes, you cannot use your ham/amateur radio license for that.

Amateur radio is supposed to be firmly in the realm of community building to improve the appreciation of the radio spectrum, and to encourage amateurs to explore, experiment, and innovate in the field.

Using it simply as a "service" (ie, as a private data link to carry TLS when you're trying to browse without using starbucks wifi) isn't supporting these goals, and can be used to obscure misuse (for example commercial use) of the band when they should be applying for a commercial license.

It’s oddly liberating in a way. Once you get over the initial revulsion of no TLS, to reuse the example, you can build simple protocols that just use a callsign for authentication (that’s just a convenience for the operator too, who must station ID every 10 minutes). It makes it easier to experiment without thinking about security at all, because the assumption hams have is that all conversations are public.

As an encryption cheerleader, this discussion (and the earlier one about efforts to allow DRM for OTA TV*) helps me not lose my way. That is to say, I need to remember that the public good is always the goal and not the tools that achieve that.

* ref: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36713037

Also, amateur radio prohibits using radio for services that could be provided by others. Providing internet access for others is probably not allowed even if it wasn't encrypted. Internet access for amateur use is allowed.

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