Some have asked why the Brouhaha about the Clean Signal Initiative being touted by the ARRL. That is a genuine question that needs a full investigation.
One current argument: this is no big deal as it only affects commercial equipment. What are you smoking as in time this opens the door to ALL equipment including kits and home-grown radios.
There is no such thing as compartments and so it is a big deal. It also suggests that in the future the only compliance will be SDR based radios with pre-distortion algorithms. Read a significant incremental cost to appliance boxes driven not by the FCC but by the ARRL Laboratory.
The ARRL is a business, and businesses must survive to stay in business. This survival always causes a shift in the internal Mission Statement versus that which is the openly suggested Mission Statement.
From Copilot...
🎯 Official ARRL Mission Statement
“To advance the art, science, and enjoyment of Amateur Radio.”
This is the long‑standing, formally published mission statement used across ARRL sections and official documents.
🆕 Updated Mission Language (2024 Board Discussion)
ARRL leadership recently highlighted a refined version emphasizing youth and future growth:
“ARRL’s mission is to promote and protect the art, science, and enjoyment of amateur radio, and to develop the next generation of radio amateurs.”
This updated phrasing appears in ARRL Board communications and reflects strategic priorities but does not replace the classic mission statement in all official materials.
Now the problem is just how does one execute that; well, we certainly know the demonstration of emphasizing youth and future growth: From no license to no class Extra Class in 45 minutes. No technical expertise required which seems to violate the original Mission Statement about advancing the art and science of the hobby.
The ARRL is a business, and you have to make it viable and that comes from revenue generation. At the current dues rate, all you routinely get is a digital copy of QST, and that likely is a negative impact to the revenue stream. The primary source of revenue has to be the advertising base.
From the ARRL Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of November 5, 2025, the official membership is:
🟦 1. ARRL’s Official Public Figure
• “More than 160,000 members”
This is the number published on ARRL’s own website and membership pages. This is the figure ARRL uses for public-facing materials.
At 160,000 members the dues would be about $9.44M and at 130,240 members that number is $7.68M and that folks equate to about a 19% drop in membership revenue. Ouch... no wonder they are trying to give away licenses
If this is true, there is about a 30,000 member disconnect from the published to the internal executive committee report and at say dues of $59 a year that would suggest a $1.8M decline in revenue. The Far East Radio Manufacturers certainly must have their hair on fire as that also represent 19% less readers fondling the pages of QST in search of a radio they don't need.
So, from a business perspective you have to sell more advertising to offset those who have dumped the ARRL. [That number will likely decline further in 2026 as more members dump the ARRL as $59 is a couple of days groceries.]
So how to generate the shortfall differential. Advertisers is the likely place. So, if the ARRL Lab creates a new transmit standard where all the Far East Manufacturers would have to participate... The one hand washes the other with the manufacturers paying more for the adverts BUT can charge more for the product so they can have the sticker. This also is a boon for the manufacturers who might not spend the R&D for CSI now have an excuse to charge more and actually do it. No matter how you slice it just like the Trump Tariffs... you pay for it.
Yes, this is a brain fart conspiracy theory but no different than a plan to invade Greenland and Cuba. It is just business and mathematics. You don't have to believe me but certainly what is theorized has a certain charm to it. It is all about a Lab Grade SDR in every ham shack as that must be the ARRL View with CSI.
Them that know, survive.
73's
Pete N6QW
