They will be coming for our gold and guns soon. The healthcare debacle was all about the potential tax revenue hidden in the bill. They will shutdown the internet and start raids sometime within the next few years (my guess). Using financial emergency powers or some faked terrorist attack (or just one they let happen). We need to have a method to communicate when the raids begin. Any suggestions ? Should we go back to independent dialup modems as a backup ? Perhaps ham radio operators can be used for communication ?
I am a radio operator, and those among us are prepared for just such an eventuality. Dial-up will be spotty, at best, since the government can control centrally-located communication media such as phone, Internet, and television, but they’re going to have a real hard time tracking down a mobile HAM or even someone on CB.
Larger stations with high yagis or VHF/UHF antennas might get shutdown for just looking like a radio station, so large scale broadcasting might not be immediately available; however, there’s a very robust relay network across this country that could ensure communications are available during a crisis, and I can assure you that many HAMs are ready for just this sort of eventuality.
The unfortunate part, like being an FFL holder, the FCC has records on who is a licensed HAM. If they wanted to round all of them up, that’s certainly a possibility, but the airwaves will still remain unregulated for obvious reasons. The government cannot be everywhere at once and cannot monitor or block RF coms everywhere at once.
Rallying points should be churches, community centers, schools, or even golf clubhouses.