Hope you can sign up to this one - having used their services in the past it is something I gladly sign up for.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/RNLI-RF-licences/
>
>
> RNLI and new Ofcom charges
> The background: (From the Telegraph..)
> LIFEBOAT crews fear being scuppered by crippling new charges for using
> their radios from Ofcom, the communications regulator. The RNLI could
> see the price
of
> using its VHF emergency frequencies rise to £250,000 under plans to
> charge the full commercial rate.
> The charity, which saves hundreds of lives every year currently pays
> an annual £48,000 at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. It relies on
> donations and fears the move will have a disastrous impact on
> fundraising. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations staff officer, said: 'It's
> a lot of money when you think in terms
of
> lifeboat days and little old ladies collecting pound coins.'
> 'We could buy several inshore lifeboats for the same amount.'
> 'The Government rely on us to provide this search-and-rescue service,
> at a
cost
> of £124 million a year, but they want to charge us for doing it!'
> Ofcom has set out plans to bring 'market forces' into maritime and
> civil aviation communications in a policy it calls Administered Incentive Pricing.
> £250,000 represents an awful lot of charity collections, even more so
> in the current economic climate so, if like me you feel strongly
> enough about this, please sign the petition below.
> http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/RNLI-RF-licences/
> Please forward to anyone you think might help by signing the petition.
RLNI petition
Moderator: Club Moderators
