He was right and wrong.
Amateur radio transmitters aren't licensed by the FCC. Rather, the
amateur operator is assumed to know his stuff, and is required to insure
that his transmissions follow the rules. The rules are worded this way
to distinguish the amateur operator (who can build his own stuff if he
wants) from the Citizen's Band or Family Radio band operator (who can
only buy certified equipment, and gets slapped if he modifies it).
If, indeed, his transmissions are up to snuff then indeed you are out of
luck. It's considered Very Good Form for the operator in question to
help his neighbors out with this sort of problem, but that is etiquette,
not law.
