Local youth invited to try ham radio with reduced fees through Paducah Amateur Radio Association (Kentucky)

With the invention of smartphones and other electronics, some people may feel amateur radio is no longer relevant in today’s society. 

According to Paducah Amateur Radio Association Secretary Michael Durr, that’s not the case. 

“Some people think that ‘ham’ radio is a dying hobby…that is not true,” Durr wrote in a release on Tuesday, explaining there are about 3 million hams worldwide and several thousand in our region alone. 

According to Durr, PARA is looking to get local youth involved in the hobby — inviting 8 to 13 year olds to join in on the fun through the “Pre-teen Talkers” program. 

Thanks to a negotiation between the American Radio Relay League and the Federal Communications Commission, youth interested in joining can take advantage of reduced fees. 

For people under the age of 18, the $35 license fee has been waived and the $15 testing fee has been reduced to $5. Additionally, PARA is offering a free entry-level handheld radio to each eligible child getting their technician license. 

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