Centralized Repeater Data Is Undermining Amateur Radio
- whiskeyninerht
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Every repeater — its call sign, frequency, location, and offset— is a matter of public record, coordinated by volunteers and the station itself licensed through the FCC. Yet this vital data is becoming functionally privatized and owned by private entities ...
Consolidation Behind a Single Private Platform
Amateur radio has always stood for openness, experimentation, and public service. It’s a space where anyone with a license and a passion for communication can contribute, build, and innovate. But that openness is now quietly eroding.
Across the United States, public access to repeater information—a foundational element of our infrastructure—is being consolidated behind a single private platform: RepeaterBook. At the same time, many state frequency coordinators and even the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) are increasingly directing users exclusively to this one site for repeater data. And the consequences for our community are already being felt.
Let’s talk about what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it.
Repeater Data: Public by Nature, But Privately Controlled
Some state frequency coordinators, such as those in Kansas (https://kansasrepeater.org) and others quietly following suit, now provide repeater information only through RepeaterBook. Users who once could download or browse repeater lists on state websites now find themselves funneled to a third-party platform with its own terms, structure, and limitations.
Meanwhile, the ARRL has made RepeaterBook its official source for its printed and digital Repeater Directory. This gives the appearance of legitimacy to a data monopoly—whether intended or not. And the ARRL sells this listing back to the community for $19.95 in a hard copy form only with copyright claims to go along with it.
WhiskeyNiner.com was one of those denied use of this single source of data and much of it is no longer available to the public in any form other than RepeaterBook.
Why This Hurts All of Us
This centralization may seem convenient at first glance. But it brings real, long-term harm to the ham radio ecosystem:
- ❌ Innovation Is Stifled
Developers can’t build new apps, offline tools, or digital systems if repeater data is locked in a single siloed format with unclear redistribution rights.
- ❌ Emergency Communication Is Weakened
In times of disaster, we need local, redundant, and offline-capable repeater information. A single online source is a single point of failure.
- ❌ Clubs & Coordinators Lose Autonomy
Local groups who once managed and published their own data now rely on a third party to reflect their information correctly—and often can't audit or download it in bulk.
- ❌ The Spirit of Ham Radio Is Undermined
Amateur radio thrives on decentralization. When essential data is fenced off, it goes against everything our service is built to support.
RepeaterBook Isn’t the Problem—Monopolization Is
Let’s be clear: RepeaterBook has provided a valuable service for years, and the work behind it deserves respect.
But no single platform, no matter how well-intentioned, should be the gatekeeper for repeater data across an entire continent. That responsibility belongs to the community. We need transparency. We need redundancy. We need public access.
What We Can Do: A Call for a Public Repeater Freedom Coalition
To protect the future of amateur radio, we propose the formation of a Public Repeater Freedom Coalition—a grassroots initiative to restore open, accessible repeater data to all hams.
Here’s what we envision:
✅ A free and open repeater database, built on club reports, and verified user submissions.
✅ Open licensing (such as Creative Commons Zero) to allow sharing and app development.
✅ Tools for offline access and disaster preparedness.
✅ Respectful collaboration with frequency coordinators—not replacement, but support.
We invite clubs, developers, repeater trustees, and everyday operators to join the effort.
It’s Time to Reclaim Our Airwaves
This isn’t just about websites or databases—it’s about preserving the spirit of amateur radio: open, resilient, and community-powered.
If we don’t act now, we risk losing access to the very infrastructure we depend on—not through malice, but through inaction and quiet consolidation.
Let’s change that. Let’s build something together.
More to come about how we get started soon ...
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