Ethiopia Criminalizes VOIP - RSF Reports

Reporters Without Borders is reporting that the government in Ethiopia is stepping up control of news and information. As part of this crack down, new legislation was ratified on May 24th, 2012. Here is a quote of what this law is reported to say:

"Use of VoIP hardware and software has just been made a crime by the new Ethiopian Telecom Service legislation, which was ratified on 24 May. Anyone violating this provision could be sentenced to up 15 years in prison.

The authorities say the ban was needed on national security grounds and because VoIP posed a threat to the state’s monopoly of telephone communications. The new law also gives the ministry of communications and information technology the power to supervise and issue licences to all privately-owned companies that import equipment used for the communication of information."

Shortwave America takes an interest in this due to the fact that licensed amateur radio operators use VOIP services as an allowed mode of communication world-wide. Use of VOIP in amateur radio is almost universal in regards to widespread international use. There is no information at this time about how or IF this ban will affect licensed amateur radio operators in that region of the world. 

This VOIP ban is only a small part of new law that has taken effect in Ethiopia. The government there has also blocked access to the TOR network, but the folks at TOR have found a way to circumvent this ban by way of the use of  certain TOR bridges in combination with Obfsproxy Tor Browser Bundle. Technical tests so far show that the TOR bridges are not responsive to pinging. Here is that instructional piece at the TOR Blog.

Reporters Without Borders says this: "This new law and the possibility that a Deep Packet Inspection system has been installed mark a turning point in the Ethiopian government’s control of the Internet,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We fear that DPI will be misused for surveillance purposes by a government that already subjects the political opposition and privately-owned media to a great deal of harassment."

On May 31st, 2012, the TOR Blog announced the following statement: (See the TOR link for technical graphs)

"Reports show that Tor stopped working a week ago -- even with bridges configured. Websites such as https://gmail.com/, https://facebook.com/, https://twitter.com/, and even https://torproject.org/ continue to work."

What IS Deep Packet Inspection?

Input/Output.io, "The free thinkin', free speakin', rabble rousin' geek has a tutorial up that tells us how to subvert DPI. (Shortwave America makes no guarantees as to the effectiveness of any advice given or linked to) 

As you read through the information and links provided here, you will have seen that Ethiopia is suspected of using TLS to achieve all of its censorship and monitoring activities. TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. This quote from Wikipedia tells us the basics of what TLS is:

"Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet.^[1] TLS and SSL encrypt the segments of network connections at the Application Layer for the Transport Layer, using asymmetric cryptography for key exchange, symmetric encryption for privacy, and message authentication codes for message integrity.

Several versions of the protocols are in widespread use in applications such as web browsing, electronic mail, Internet faxing, instant messaging and voice-over-IP (VoIP).
TLS is an IETF standards track protocol, last updated in RFC 5246, and is based on the earlier SSL specifications developed by Netscape Communications."^[2]

Read the entire Wiki article on TLS here.

 

Chicago City Council Tells City Residents To "Shut - Up!"

Second City Cop brings what is known as the most accurate news around when it comes to the MOST CORRUPT CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

SCC as they are most affectionately known, have brought forth news of the most offensive city council policy yet. According to SCC, Chicago is about to lose the Federal lawsuit against the Illinois Wiretapping Statute which currently makes ALL photography, video recording and audio recording a felony crime in Illinois. This lawsuit has been based on the 1st amendment. The ACLU, along with other legal supporters such as the National Lawyers Guild and Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy are winning. The Fraternal Order of Police are not supporting the 1st amendment right to free expression in this case .

Under the newest proposed city ordinance:

Some of the City Council’s most influential aldermen proposed a crackdown today on crowd participation at council meetings that would ban everything from signs and posters to clapping and booing in the public gallery.

“No demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public shall be permitted within the City Council Chambers, including, but not limited to cheering, yelling, clapping, foot stomping, whistling, booing, or jeering, and if such demonstrations are conducted, the gallery or public seating area may be cleared,” states the proposed ordinance, which goes to the Rules Committee for a hearing.

The changes also would prohibit “signs, placards, banners or posters” within the chambers, unless pre-approved by Mayor Rahm Emanuel or the alderman leading the meeting. The sponsors are Alds. Edward Burke, 14th, Richard Mell, 33rd, Carrie Austin, 34th, and Ray Suarez, 31st. - Quote from Second City Cop and Chicago Tribune.

Shortwave America has been following 1st amendment cases very closely over the past many years, and has spoken to some high ranking city law enforcement folks and attorneys specializing in 1st amendment cases on the issues of first amendment rights, and there is something that the main stream media is not telling ANYONE!

When the G8 and NATO summits arrive in Chicago and for the duration of these events, Chicago Police have already arranged with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to shut off ALL cellular phone and internet service citywide, and jam all radio frequencies that are not being used for official public safety purposes. Active word on the street is that amateur radio, citizens band, FRS, GMRS, MURS, and shortwave radio users will be specific targets for a combination of jamming and harassment.

Chicago Aldermen to Chicago Police: Don't Cut Cellular / Wireless Service

Chicago Police deny that any such plan exists, but longtime Chicago residents and political activists know better. 

According to trustworthy contacts on this matter, anyone and everyone observed with ANY communications equipment or cell phones with cameras, actual camera equipment including portable digital cameras, hand held digital recording equipment, or other related items will be stopped, detained, and likely arrested on bogus charges ranging from felony disorderly conduct to terrorism charges.

The city of Chicago was recently handed their own heads on a silver platter by a Federal Judge for abusing their arrest powers against Iraq War Protesters in 2003, and ordered by the court to pay more than 6 million dollars in damages. Given the history of Chicago Police brutality and mistreatment towards most anyone who decides to exercise their 1st amendment rights via protest actions or even individual statements, most recently, Occupy Chicago members who are now in court fighting to have their arrests nullified and voided due to 1st and 14th amendment violations.

Further investigation by Shortwave America reveals that the City of Chicago is now being sued by a Chicago resident who was manhandled by a Chicago Police SGT. while using his cell phone, and the SGT. at the same scene just moments earlier, allowed a white filmer to leave the scene without being detained or otherwise subjected to any hassle.

Other cases we cannot forget and which lend credibility to this article: Chicago's actions towards protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the John Burge torture scandal, the Chicago Police terror scandal involving victims David Stewart and Sharon Wilkins, history repeating itself regarding Chicago Police corruption in the 002nd district involving arrests of CPD personnel, the Chicago Police "Arturo's Tacos" beating of a civilian in the 014th district, the 1993 gang fight amongst police officers during roll call in the 014th district, and the recent case in which Chicago Police attempted to stop a female subject from filing a report of serious officer misconduct by applying the Illinois wiretap statute against her when she recorded them attempting to suppress her (she was found not guilty), oh, yeah...the 2010 FBI raid on an innocent Logan Square - Chicago couple orchestrated by Chicago Police who were cooperating with the FBI because they dared to attend a protest.

Chicago's current Mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, is directly tied to terrorism by way of his own father.

There is confirmed word through various dependable channels in contact with Shortwave America that the city has already told Chicago's local media that they are only to report what they are told to report  by city, state, and federal officials. (in regards to the G8 and NATO summits, and police / emergency activity)

Chicago = the old USSR, current day China, or North Korea. The Chicago way is alive and continually embarrasses the entire planet.

Proposed Illinois Legislation Would Ban Federally Licensed Amateur Radio Ops From Mobile Operation

 

  

Shortwave America readers, show listeners, followers, and fans: THIS IS A QST!

 

Below this introductory statement by Shortwave America is a verbatim copy of an e-mail sent through today by Brad, W9FX, who is the ARRL Illinois Section Emergency Coordinator. We are all well aware by now of many states that have put "distracted driving" laws on their books and these states have been kind enough to listen to the amateur radio community and the ARRL who represents us all in these and other radio communications matters in regards to communications law and our relationship to the 50 state union as federally licensed radio communicators about the emergency service we offer and are trained to perform in times of emergency such as severe weather, floods, earthquakes, and all other manner of disaster communications. These states have exempted FCC licensed amateur radio operators from their distracted driving laws.

The Illinois Legislature is proposing a rather dangerous and draconian "distracted driving" bill as follows in the words of Brad - W9FX:

Ladies and Gentlemen, we all have probably, to some degree, realized that this was coming.  The horrific Missouri school bus crash of recent times resulting from a teen texting while driving led to a great cry to ‘ban distracted driving!’  I get it, I really do.  Driving down the road while reading from a tiny little screen, typing on a midget-sized keyboard, and/or searching for iPod tunes cannot lead to safe drivers.  We've all seen the results. 

 

Still, these activities are not, for the most part, what hams do when operating from their vehicles.  We turn on a rig, dial up a frequency or a memory channel and talk into a microphone.  There is no distraction, at least not in the same sense as texting-while-driving causes.  The National Safety Council has no evidence indicating that the use of amateur radio gear (in general) has statistically demonstated any driving hazard or risk. 

 

The NSC notwithstanding, the Illinois Legislature, and, more particularly, the House of Representatives, is set to begin consideration of two proposed pieces of legislation designed to prohibit DISTRACTED DRIVING.  I put that in CAPS because that’s what the intent of the legislation is purported to be.  These two bills, HB3970 and HB3972, prohibit using all manner of electronic devices while one is driving unless said device is hands-free and/or voice-activated.  Certain classes of operation are exempted from these bills including ‘persons driving emergency vehicles,’ someone reporting an emergency situation, or when the operator of the vehicle has the vehicle’s transmission in neutral or park and on the shoulder of the roadway. 

 

If this legislation passes as it is proposed, the use of amateur radio gear while driving will be outlawed in Illinois.

 

Stop and read that last sentence again. 

 

It matters little if you are Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, independent, or apolitical -  these bills are absolutely Draconian in nature.  You’re a SKYWARN volunteer you say?  Sure.  You can operate your radio after you get off the road and when you have the vehicle’s transmission in park or neutral – but, not until.  Are you thinking about becoming a Rover-class participant in an ARRL or CQ-sponsored VHF contest or, or, perhaps, hand out a few of the more rare counties during the Illinois QSO Party?  Not if you’re driving and in motion, you’re not!   How about chasing DX while you’re on your daily 1 hour commute into Chicago?  Nope.  Can’t call your buddies on the local repeater while you’re driving, either.

 

We, the ARRL team here in Illinois, will weigh in with the legislature via our Stage Government Liaison, Charlie Richey, K9DUE.  We are, however, to borrow a term, little more than spurious noise, to the Illinois Legislature.  We aren't lobbyists.  If we are to continue to enjoy the freedom to pursue our avocation, to enjoy the privileges our federal licenses grant to us, then, we Illinois hams, both individually and collectively, are going to have to get off our duffs and get involved.

 

Please take this message to your clubs...take it to your local VHF (or HF) nets...put the info out far and wide – from Rockford to Cairo, Quincy to Rosiclare.  Contact YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, YOUR SENATOR, AND, THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE and let them know your feelings about this.  If nobody opposes this legislation, like so many other ‘well-intended’ measures, this heavy-handed and ill-conceived attempt at legislating common sense will pass into Illinois law.  Then it will be law enforcement officers that decide whether or not what you’re using in your car to communicate is legal according to their interpretation of the Illinois Vehicle Code.  Not many law enforcement officers know the difference between a Sprint P2T telephone and a D-Star HT.

 

I urge you to take the time to follow the links, below, read the text of these proposed laws, and make yourself heard - while there's still time to make a difference.

 

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB3970lv.pdf

 

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/HB/PDF/09700HB3972lv.pdf

RadioReference Dukes It Out With Canadian Government

Dangerous bills are passing on a fast track in Canada that are similar to those already signed into law in the United States when it comes to Federal Government powers to snoop on internet users. See the link here for more (OpenMedia.ca).

On October 7th, 2011, Lindsay Blanton (Owner and President of RadioReference) received a letter from the York Regional Police (PDF File) stating their unhappy position regarding RadioReference hosting on-line radio feeds of their Department's police radio communications system. The York Regional Police have encountered a problem though: RadioReference is not based in Canada and only offers the feeds, RR does not divulge the contents of radio transmissions. In this context, RadioReference is not bound to Canadian laws.

On October 8th, 2011, Blanton and his legal team fired off this response to the York Regional Police (PDF File). In Canada, it is not illegal for citizens to listen to radio transmissions and many of those who usually do have a radio hobby in Canada are law abiding people. Radio hobbyists in Canada are a mix of folks ranging from licensed radio amateurs to volunteer Public Safety personnel, paid and citizen members of the media, and even your run of the mill citizen who have their own lawful reasons for radio monitoring.

The discussion of this topic at RadioReference can be found here. The issue of cell phone apps for radio monitoring and website feeds dedicated to radio transmissions has become a hot topic world wide. The context and content of these radio feeds vary across the board. Not every feed and cell app is dedicated to things like police, fire, and medical radio. Cellular apps and website feeds at RadioReference and other sites feature other useful, fun items such as Air Traffic Control, Railroad, Maritime radio, Amateur (Ham) Radio, Shortwave Broadcast, and High Frequency SSB listening.

High Frequency (HF) SSB listening covers radio operations / systems focus on a wide range of radio services like civilian air traffic, military operations dedicated to air traffic, naval, army, and other military communications, weather satellites (WEFAX), space communications, and land mobile radio services to name just a few. The main concern of governments is the response of the main stream media and terrorism whether real or imagined. In the process of attempting to deal with these problems, governments at different levels are opting for full time encryption and also upon their over - interpretation of laws concerning the receiving and divulging of radio communications. In the end, innocent citizens and ethical journalists are being shut out of legitimate news.

Don't expect this legal and political fight to end anytime soon as the law in many countries attempts to catch up to modern technology. Is it possible that radio restrictions could take place as they did in World War 2? Will governments go so far as to make an effort to confiscate radio equipment from innocent citizens and journalists? Will the Anonymous organization take an interest in this and take their own brand of action? Only time will tell. 

Shortwave America and PCJ Media wishes to express their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Constable Garrett Styles of the York Regional Police Department in Canada.

Civillian Uses Slain Officer's Radio To Call For Help, The Crystal Ship Has Sunk

Quoting a quick snippet from NBC San Diego:
"SAN DIEGO (NBC San Diego) - Seconds after San Diego Police Officer Jeremy Henwood was shot in his patrol car Saturday, a citizen used his radio to call for help. Henwood, 36, was shot in the head at University Avenue and 45th Street. The 4-year veteran of the department and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves was pronounced dead Sunday morning."



Shortwave America would like to briefly say that this civillian should be held to the same standards as Licensed Amateur Radio Operators. Not very long ago, an amateur was hiking in the U.S. when he fell and broke his ankle. No other means of communications were available, and without help, this hiking radio amateur would have been in serious trouble. He used his modified amateur radio HT to call attention to his situation on a local Law Enforcement frequency and has seen legal consequences despite having fulfilled the legal burden for his actions, so what makes this civillian who rescued the cop any different??


Our next piece of radio related news says that a long running rivalry between John Poet and the crew of The Crystal Ship vs. WBNY also known as "Commander Bunny" has ended in the United States FCC shutting down the primary transmit site for the Crystal Ship after nearly twenty nine years to the day of its first transmission. See the official statement from the Crystal Ship

After examining all of the available data on this matter, Shortwave America can conclude objectively that the preponderance of the evidence shows that Commander Bunny is indeed the FCC SNITCH that did in the Crystal Ship. This was a great station while it lasted. TCS never interfered with broadcasts, never interfered with military radio traffic, never interfered with the amateur service, and had no prior complaints before the FCC took this action. Granted, it IS illegal to "broadcast" without a license, TCS proved over the past 29 years of its operation that low power broadcast without a license on unused frequencies and when practiced with technical proficiency, is absolutely not a threat to anyone or any radio service. The fact is that the FCC wasted time, money, and manpower to pursue TCS! 

 

Jacksonville, Florida Goes Full Time Encryption

JFRD To Keep Scanner Info Secret, Too

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Also Disallowing Media, Public Access To Scanners

POSTED: Friday, July 22, 2011

UPDATED: 9:45 pm EDT July 22, 2011

The trend of encrypting radio traffic on a full time basis is catching on in Florida.  Jacksonville has decided that neither the public nor the media has any expectation of listening in to their radio traffic and their reasons make no sense at all. The Sheriff's Office has first stated cost and then security concerns, unable to keep a straight story. 

The bottom line is that keeping the public from hearing everyday communications is an act of communism, and fosters distrust between the city's Public Safety community and the citizens they serve. Encryption is usually reserved for sensitive operations that could be otherwise jeopardized without it. Full time encryption of all communications is a waste of money, and serves no real useful purpose other than to snub the public who are oftentimes law abiding and serve as the extra eyes and ears of their local, county, and state Public Safety Departments. 

Media outlets make a good argument for public reception of Public Safety Radio traffic in that it allows motorists and other community members to plan alternate routes around emergency scenes and serves to keep the media able to inform the community of safety hazards. When public Safety Departments get to chose how and when to notify the public of important events, the community usually only gets a sanitized version of events that is oftentimes found to be full of disinformation and notification usually only comes many hours or weeks AFTERWARDS. 

Using the argument of "security and privacy" or the now cliche' "9/11" excuse does not an actual homeland security issue make. In the absence of an actual trend of criminal use of Public Safety radio communications or use of such to facilitate criminal acts, and in the absence of a trend of people using communications  to interfere with Public Safety duties / emergency scenes, full time encryption is just an indicator of a Department that has something to hide. This is straight fact, not opinion.

Shame on you Jacksonville!  

New York Radio Regulation Pirate Bill Runs Afoul Of FCC Part 15 Rules

John Poet tells us about this ominous threat to unlicensed FCC Part 15 rules.

In all of this, one cannot help but smell the foul odor of big broadcasting companies such as WNBC, ABC, CNN, and others trying to silence everyone but their own interests. FCC rules always have and always will take precedence, even if New York has to learn the hard way about how radio communications laws actually work and who actually has sole authority over radio and TV communications.

Plenty of case law is out here to trump New York in an embarrassing manner. Are there are communications attorneys out here who would like to take a shot at a Federal lawsuit before this bill imprisons innocent people using FRS, CB, and local low power broadcast systems? Radio amateurs with proper licensing are also in the cross hairs of this legislation because none of these radio communications are mentioned in the bill!!! John makes a good point when he states that police and prosecutors have no way of differentiating between pirate radio and FCC allowed FM and AM operations with or without a license.

One mistake Shortwave America can see coming is that properly licensed radio operations can be legally pursued because an amateur radio license does not allow broadcasting and none of the city attorneys, state prosecutors, or police are trained to know the difference between a one way broadcast and a two way radio conversation regardless of whether the station is required to be licensed by the FCC or not.

New York Joins States Passing Pirate Radio Legislation

The New York State Assembly passed legislation recently that was usually a Federal only jurisdiction. This legislation targets pirate radio operators and provides that such operation is a class "A" misdemeanor with the absurd claim that major stations are being drowned out by pirates regularly.

The MAJORITY of pirate broadcasts are on the HF bands, not local FM and AM frequencies! States like New York, Florida, etc. are so close to the Atlantic ocean, a wide open space that often provides natural "E" propagation and may not always be due to illegal in-land broadcasters. Suspiciously, the FCC has not chimed in on this and none of the news articles gives any information about how many of these "interference" cases have been determined to come from in-land broadcasters.

This is not to say that in-land pirate stations don't sometimes drift off frequency due to operator error, or that operators aren't sometimes being malicious. The concern here is that these laws duplicate federal laws already on the books and allow states to regulate a federal set of laws. Can these laws be used as precedents to eventually put licensed amateur operators and licensed broadcasters under the jurisdiction of the state? Can these laws set precedent for new manipulations that would affect properly licensed stations and operators?

How far are the states planning in going in radio regulation before the FCC no longer has any jurisdiction and before FCC pre-emptions no longer valid? We are in the slippery slope everyone!

Cell Phone Scanner Apps May Violate Laws Of All 50 States: Police, Prosecutors Making Cases

Even before most of us were born there has been something of a nervous reaction to someone in possession of a radio. There is just something about even your everyday AM/FM radio that causes people to question the ownership of such a device. Since technology has developed over the decades, places like Radio Shack have sold wide range radio receivers that receive frequencies from 30Khz to 1300Mhz.

Today, we have places such as AES, HRO, Scanner Master, Universal Radio, etc. where radio equipment and software can easily be bought for anyone's use. 

Now, even though the United States Federal Communications Privacy Act makes it completely legal to purchase, own, and use a radio receiver that receives AM, FM, ELF (extremely low frequency). HF (high frequency), LF (low frequency), VHF, UHF, EHF and SHF frequencies that are NOT encrypted; the police and prosecutors in all 50 states are crying foul. FCC Opinion & Order PR91-36 exempts Licensed Amateur Radio Operators from local, state level, and federal level restrictions, however, police and prosecutors usually do not know about this piece of law. 

The problem with the U.S. Communications Privacy Act is that it is not really clear as to whether or not it overrides or even enjoins the individual states from restricting the purchase, possession, or use of radio receivers of any sort.

In this day and age of advanced technology the definition of what constitutes a prohibited radio receiver under some state's laws has come under question and scrutiny. In the first link below, we find that police and prosecutors are now taking a hard nosed approach towards cell phones with installed software applications that link such phone to internet connected, streaming radio receivers that stream public safety radio traffic to the end user. 

Police, Prosecutors Weigh In On Legality Of Cellular Phone Scanner Apps

This link below at Radio Reference takes us to an incident in which a robbery offender was arrested in Indiana and charged with possession of a radio receiver because he had a cell phone app installed and it was discovered that the offender may have used it in the commission of his crime. The disussion focuses on whether or not the cell phone with the app installed meets Indiana's definition of a prohibited radio receiver not for use in a person's home and the technical definition of a radio receiver in context of what Indiana's law states. You'll see that there are differing opinions.

State Of Indiana Looks To Charge Robbery Offender With Illegal Possession Of Police Radio Reception Device

The scary part of these police and prosecutors taking the stance they take is that they are intent on using "Obstruction Of Justice" charges if and when the state law of any state is silent on radio receivers. What's even more scarier is that if they lose their case on the technical definition of what a radio receiver is, they want to use the obstruction charge in its place if and when they get someone who has either a cell phone with an app installed or in actual possession of a radio receiver.

A question now exists about if a person can be charged with obstruction simply for possession of a cell phone with a streaming public safety radio receiver application installed or in actual possession of a radio receiver even IF they did not use such in furtherance of a crime in any given state. Another question now exists in the eyes of police and prosecutors about using this law to circumnavigate PR91-36.

Shortwave America will be speaking with police and prosecutors in as many states as possible to ascertain each state's position on the possession and use of radio receivers, and whether or not they think law abiding persons who simply want to have use of such to keep themselves and their families safe should be arrested and if they really want the courts to get involved. The ARRL will also be sought for their opinion.

The issue here for law abiding citizens and licensed radio amateurs is one in which they should indeed have such a right to listen in to a system that is not encrypted for their own safety, it DOES help the safety minded and police or other emergency responders in that people will be warned by such radio traffic to stay away from these scenes and the affected areas...it actually helps responders when people know to stay clear instead of innocently wandering in to or driving into an affected emergency response area.

One area of civil liberties that needs to be examined is this attitude (even if it is a farce for political purposes and political public image) that everyone is a criminal until proven otherwise, and that every is guilty until proven innocent simply because of the mentality that anyone can do anything at anytime at any place.....the old "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, did it really make a sound?" approach.

What police, prosecutors, and the courts don't realize is that if they operate this way, they create distrust between themselves and the communities they serve and inherently violate the rights of the masses based on unfounded paranoia. This is a fact, not an opinion. While there is no constitutional right to listen to a radio system, it does become an issue of the free exchange of information between the government and its people since everything our public safety responders and our courts do including their radio communications are a matter of pubic record.

You'll notice in every state's FOIA, any person with a legitimate interest can apply for these recordings. One problem with that becomes one of if we the people want to trust that tapes of radio comms have not been altered, sanitized, or otherwise tampered with by the government agency being petitioned.

For now, it would be advisable to only use radio equipment in your home, only use mobile phone scanner apps in your home, and if you have a laptop computer....do not take it in public if you have ANY type of radio software installed. Those who are radio amateurs may want to make sure they do not even have Echolink or other amateur radio software installed on any mobile phones or laptop computers until we have a SCOTUS ruling. The potential to be charged with obstruction of justice or other crimes for your radio applications or actual radio equipment is simply too high.

The whole attitude of the radio community has always been and still remains in this day that we use our radio knowledge, our radio equipment, and radio software LEGALLY and that we always give consideration to the social and legal environment because discretion is the better part of valor.

How To Screw With Restrictive Middle East Regimes Using Radio Technology

It's as easy as partnering with a radio show host who has a good thing going at an already internationally recognized radio station, then developing relationships in the radio world with people who can get things done thereby obtaining point to point distribution with a satellite feed which then gets the show on the shortwave bands right into where said inhumane government regime doesn't want it and right into the radio receivers of the people who have to live under such inhumane conditions so that they may hear about what's really happening.

Jamming? Yeah, sure this regime is gonna try it. This regime has no clue that there are people in the world who know enough that their jamming is futile for reasons that will not be given out here. Shortwave Central wrote about the Taliban using clandestine radio which we all know employs more than just propaganda. They depend on their broadcasts to overpower or jam stations they don't want people to hear. They got it all wrong, but they don't know that!

Keep tuned to this publication for further information. Shortwave America readers will be surprised at what is about to happen in an effort to not only bring non-state sanctioned radio to a certain part of the middle east, but what it will mean in the war against censorship across the globe. Technical details have already been obtained, but until the deal is signed in ink, mum's the word! 

Shortwave America Special Focus: Shabnam Assadollahi - Broadcasting For Freedom

Not very long ago this publication posted a brief piece about Shabnam Assadollahi, a Canadian radio broadcaster who focuses on human rights violations in Iran. In the first post about radio Hamseda, SWA said that a working relationship would be pursued with Shabnam with the idea of getting her show put on international airwaves, and that relationship has been put into motion.

Over the course of  several weeks, Shabnam has been so kind as to spend her time corresponding with Shortwave America about her show, Radio Hamseda. Shabnam has shared with this publication    generously, graciously, openly, and with great happiness.

Shabnam is a woman of great heart with fiery passion, tempered evenly in great concern for compassion.
First, a few facts about Shabnam so that the audience can become aquainted with her as SWA moves into the hours, days, and weeks of conversation had with Canada's own host of  Hamseda Radio.

Shabnam states a great concern for the state of communications, freedom to communicate, and the impact it has on Iran which results in an impact far outside of Iran. "I'm not a politician" she says; all I want to do is play a part in helping to bring freedom to people who have done nothing wrong, and have no reason to be oppressed." "The expression & flow of different views & ideas is part of what makes democracy." "Radio is the absolute greatest medium the public has, my heart is there for people of all walks of life because that's what freedom means, Iranians are human beings & I am into letting people have the right to be human."
   
Here are just the beginning of the many questions asked by SWA:

Could you tell Shortwave America where and how the show started?

Do Iranians have access to shortwave radio or other types of media and how restricted their access is?

How did your dream of using radio to defend human rights start?

When did you start pursuing it? How did you pursue it?

These questions are answered in the text below:

Shabnam Assadollahi is an active member of the Community.

Has utilized her personal and educational experiences to promote the well being and re-settlement of the immigrants and refugees from different cultural backgrounds in their new home, Canada.

As a young immigrant to Canada, she worked for "Trans World Radio" which is a Christian Broadcasting Org.; her programs were aired into Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and reached millions.

She is not only the host of  Hamseda, but also the Producer.

Radio Hamseda is a Persian Language Radio program on CHIN radio International heard in the Nation’s (Canada's) Capital and beyond with simulcast via internet with listeners throughout the world.

In the past, Shabnam has worked with Victim Assistance Services of Ottawa-Carleton. She was also executive board member/advocate and the treasurer of several organizations that focus on defending the rights of people against ethnic & racial discrimination.  

Shabnam sits on the board of "Neda For a Free Iran" a human rights NGO.

Approximately, 12,000 Iranians and 7,000 Afghans live in Ottawa and the area. "Hamseda" started in 2003 under CHIN International Radio CJLL 97.9 FM and is aired every Sunday live in Ottawa from 11:00 AM to 1:00 P.M. EST. Radio Hamseda just aired their 357th Live episode in September 2010.

Shabnam tells Shortwave America the following:
She doesn't get paid to do Radio Hamseda. Shabnam makes her money from serving those in need as an employee of a non-profit organization. According to the 2006 Census Data, over 121,000 residing in Canada self-identified their Iranian heritage. Like other ethnic groups that form the vibrant fabric of our country, Iranian-Canadians are contributing members of society and are working hard to form a new life in Canada.

At the same time, the brutality of the Islamic Republic of Iran – which the world has witnessed over the past few months and which the international community, including Canada, has strongly condemned – remains at physical distance but so close to the hearts of the Iranian settlers of Canada. This is such that they have come to cherish values that are Canadian, democratic values, and refuse to accept autocratic rule by coercion. The Canada Iranians care about their place of descent and for those who continue to live there.
As human beings they refuse to turn a blind eye to human rights violations in Iran.

Over the past 12 months, through the cries of the youth in Iran – these brave individuals who are being slaughtered ruthlessly by a regime that refuses to accept its defeat – we have heard a new message: that the political apparatus in Iran does not represent its people. In this context and regardless of their ethnic background, Canadians have stood in solidarity with Iranians, who now more than ever are striving to gain freedom, basic human rights, dignity and right to choose their representatives. The Government of Canada, as a champion and an advocate of democracy as well as human rights, both at home and in troubled corners of the planet, must do more, and we can.

As a Canadian/Iranian, I believe that we CAN do more! Moreover, that not only CAN we do more, but we MUST do more! We cannot turn a blind eye to over 30 years of injustice, to the cries of a people who are being oppressed, raped, tortured and murdered through the most brutal means (e.g., by stoning, public hangings, setting a flame), to the rights of women being denied and treated as second-class citizens, and for violations of the rights of a child (e.g., forced into wars, hard labour, sex trade, and executed by the State).

As Canadians, we are respected for our integrity, for upholding freedom, justice and democracy as principle foundations of our society, with a vibrant background yet a harmonious coexistence. We can play an important role in advocating democracy in Iran through education – for education is revolution.

Shabnam further tells Shortwave America that the Islamic regime is holding events disguised as diplomatic, cultural events but these are really publicity stunts to cover for the gross violation of human rights in Iran. "As long as the regime shows two faces, and keeps living a lie, the people of Iran will never see a democracy. For democracy to happen, we do not need a war with Israel or for America to come and blow Iran to bits, so Iran can end up like another Iraq or another Afghanistan." "Recently, an Iranian Canadian who blogged was arrested and the regime is seeking capital punishment for him simply because he openly expressed his views. That is not democracy."
 
SWA Asks: Are Iranian citizens limited to what they can hear, and how they can communicate?

Shabnam:
Currently, there are limited sources for information that Iranians rely on. The Iranian state televisions are the regimes mouthpiece, bombarding the society with continued propaganda. They keep the society misinformed, spread the message of hate (both inside and outside of Iran), hail brutal acts of terrorism, and effectively support the regime to cling on power. They have also served as a means to divide a society based on economic, ethnic and religious lines. Outside of Iran, private satellite stations have their own political agenda and biases, increasing the confusion that the domestic state television stations are already serving. The Islamic regime is quite aware of radio broadcasters.

SWA Asks: Are shortwave radios or two way radio communications difficult for Iranian citizens to obtain and use in their homes?

Shabnam says: Just about every home in Iran has a shortwave radio and it is part of the daily routine in most homes to listen. However, the Islamic regime jams many stations such as VOA & BBC. BBC's signal has increased so much since the jamming started, that the regime has an extremely hard time coming over them. More experimentation with satellite radio, and satellite television is happening, but some of those stations are being jammed too. BBC has a program on television in Iran that lasts only a few hours. You can bet that the Islamic regime is also watching every move broadcasters make. Most all of the stations Iranians hear are from broadcasts originating outside of Iran. 

You can forget about using two way communications in Iran according to Shabnam. This comment came about after SWA made the observation that other than a few sporadic contacts with Israel & India, amateur operators last had contact with King Hussien of Jordan during his time on this earth as JY1.
Shabnam's words have proven to be true, per the Amateur Radio Society Of Iran where we see that using modern technology to communicate is extremely difficult due to the factors spoken of in the club's history.

Shortwave America also asked these questions:

For those of us who have never traveled to Iran, and have only a limited understanding of the culture and people, can you tell us about the reality of everyday life in Iran and how the suppression of communication affects everyone there?

Why does the Islamic regime insist on such restrictive practices when it comes to radio & television? What are they afraid of?

Why is it that shariah law means so much to the Iranian Government and how can the public tell the difference between propaganda lies and broadcasters being truthful?

In many countries around the world, all people hear about on their radio stations is about the violent side of Iran, and this gives a certain image which would tend to spread Islamophobia and fear of middle eastern people which is wide reaching. Can you tell us about different Islamic practices, beliefs, culture and how it translates in the context of communications?

Where do you see the entire middle east region heading in the context of radio, free exchange of ideas, and free expression of views?

What roles does Iran play in all of this in the context of their influence on other Islamic leadership in the middle east, and what do you think it will take to bring about the free exchange of communications, beliefs, and ideas?

How can existing shortwave broadcast stations help this cause? What could they do, how could they do it, and would it make a positive impact for bringing a free radio broadcasting community?

Shabnam stated that she has lived in Canada for so long now that it would be difficult for her to really give a good answer to these questions with any honest insight, and referred Shortwave America to to three sources whom would be better suited to speak on these topics. This author is awaiting interviews with these sources which will be published in a third installment of this special focus. These sources will be named at the end of part two of this series.   

Hamseda is a very popular and respected show with a great range of audience. Please visit our website to see our team of professionals and "about us"page@ the Radio Hamseda Facebook Page

Shabnam has a message for other Canadian broadcasters:
As freelance and independent Persian radio program producers/hosts in Canada, you may be interested to further brainstorm in how we can propose to the Government of Canada to support Iranians by making a medium for objective and transparent information possible.

In part two of this series, Shabnam Assadollahi becomes a guest here with her interview of  Dr. Mehrdad Emadi, Senior Economic Advisor to the European Union.

All photos in this article are Copyright 2010, Shabnam Assadolahi / Radio Hamseda, All Rights Reserved, Used By Permission.

China Radio International Censor Tape

Nothing says censorship like a radio station that gets it's orders from the Chinese Government! SWA has it on good authority that the staff of CRI are great people who are forced to take totalitarian orders from a communist government who can't see daylight from twilight.

China Radio International has an "emergency tape" with several back-up copies in case an on-air personality says something that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't like. This emergency censor tape was released for the first time at PCJ Media. Listen HERE 

Since this tape is missing now, CRI more than likely has another emergency program ready with several back-up copies as usual. Enjoy!

Shortwave Radio Africa - Bringing Hope To Zimbabwe

Africa, whose people have long been screaming for Freedom, a nation that has survived apartheid and endless other travesties now has to face a Government who has promised them freedom but has given little more than actions that are contradictory to their promises. This is a story about jamming, censorship, and the people's absolute right to have communication beneficial to their existence.

An excerpt from THIS SOURCE:

"Repeated attempts by the Zimbabwean government to jam the station's signal have recently stopped, she tells Journalism.co.uk, which is just as well as the station doesn't have the funding available to get around it."

"We're still being heard. We're clearly getting up their noses quite a lot at the moment. Even they realise that it would look really bad in terms of the unity government, but there is still a simplistic view that the opposition can shut us down," says Jackson."

Jackson has not asked to take over the government, she is asking for a conduit of communication that will benefit the people of Zimbabwe by providing programming that is informative and has a journalistic value. There is a web presence for this movement, as text and radio are said to be the only way into Zimbabwe in terms of communication per Jackson. Shortwave America will bring you links to the SWRA web presence and will follow this story with updates to this post.