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<H1>D-STAR illegal in France</H1>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>While Radio Amateurs in the rest of the world have embraced
modern digital communications, it would appear <BR><STRONG>D-STAR</STRONG> is
illegal in France and there is now a European Parliament petition on the
matter.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>A report on the French digital ham radio website (DR@F)
says that the regulator, the ARCEP, has said the D-STAR protocol specifications
could allow ham-radio operators to connect their station to Internet and that is
prohibited. <BR>The ARCEP also cites alleged concerns regarding Cryptography
& National Security as well as the use of a proprietary CODEC.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>The DR@F are calling on all European Ham-radio societies to
help them in their battle to allow all Digital Voice modes, Internet access and
no restrictive experiment in France.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>It seems incredible that in the 21st century a country
would attempt to stop its Radio Amateurs from using modern means of
communications. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>You can sign the European Parliament Petition - Digital
Voice & Internet Access in France at<BR></FONT><A
href="http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?pages/Digital-Voice-Internet-Access-in-France-Petition"
target=_blank><FONT
face=Tahoma>http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?pages/Digital-Voice-Internet-Access-in-France-Petition</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>DR@F D-STAR Situation in France in English<BR></FONT><A
href="http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?post/2010/06/28/D-STAR-situation-in-France"
target=_blank><FONT
face=Tahoma>http://draf.asso.fr/index.php?post/2010/06/28/<BR>D-STAR-situation-in-France</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>Digital Ham Radio France (DR@F) in Google
English<BR></FONT><A href="http://tinyurl.com/FranceDRAF" target=_blank><FONT
face=Tahoma>http://tinyurl.com/FranceDRAF</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>REF National Society in Google English<BR></FONT><A
href="http://tinyurl.com/FranceREF" target=_blank><FONT
face=Tahoma>http://tinyurl.com/FranceREF</FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Tahoma>ARCEP in Google English<BR></FONT><A
href="http://tinyurl.com/FranceARCEP" target=_blank><FONT
face=Tahoma>http://tinyurl.com/FranceARCEP</FONT></A></P></BODY></HTML>