Peter Goodhall, 2E0SQL - M3PHP » callbook

Not given up yet with Callbook.org.uk

Peter — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:13:04 +0000

So I’ve restarted my efforts in getting the UK amateur radio callbook data to make a “callbook” available online, how? by making yet another request for it under Freedom of Information and another asking for it under commercial licence; how Ofcom will respond who knows but I really do live in hope.

The wait continues!

Callbook Delays

Peter — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:43:14 +0000

As I posted earlier this month I’d applied to the Office of Communications for the UK amateur radio callbook data in the hope of making the data available on-line via a custom search engine. Over a month passed without communications but things did start heating up, within the amateur radio community about Ofcom wanting to make this data public.

With issues of privacy which completely baffles me as the Radio Society of Great Britain make the data available via a paperback yearbook and PW Publishing make a CD and supply it for a couple of pounds. and nearly every other country makes this data available look at USA (FCC) and Australia.

Then last week I got an email from Ofcom saying that they’ve decided to suspended further distribution of the callbook data, whilst they explore options with the Information Commissioner’s Office. This oddly enough came the same week the RSGB confronted Ofcom over license database publication due to breach of the Data Protection Act, if this is the case are the RSGB not also at fault? or is there some licence which makes them “OK”. Either way I think personally that it comes down to the fact that if its made available it would effect there profits with the yearbook and callseeker cd.

So the wait continues the actual programming side of http://www.callbook.org.uk is finished, its just missing data I am tempted to import the US FCC data and at least get the callbook live and allow others to add there details but that really wasn’t what I had planned to do.

Its rather frustrating that Ofcom supplied a method to apply for the data under strict licence then revoke it within a month. I’ll keep everyone posted to how things plan out I definitely will not be giving up and will get the site online as soon as I can without breaking any laws myself

Callbook.org.uk

Peter — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:14:59 +0000

I requested the UK Callbook data from Ofcom about 2 weeks ago to this day, via there request form but yet to hear anything back even chasing them up via a number of emails but yet to get a proper response its pretty poor communication from a government body who represents just that.

Either way I will not give up, and have registered http://www.callbook.org.uk in anticipation of getting the data hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

If your interested in knowing when the site is like just use the form on the site and I’ll drop you a note once its live.