Don Miller, W9NTP, is
well-known in amateur radio as a pioneer in slow-scan TV techniques and a
leader in promoting the use of the mode. Back in 1972, he was recognized for
his efforts as Dayton's Radio Amateur of the Year. Don has also traveled
extensively and in the course of his travels over the past eight decades, has
amassed a huge collection of artifacts from all over the world. These
artifacts, which had been stored at Don's home in Waldron, Indiana, are now in
the hands of the FBI, which seized the entire collection in early April, trying
to determine if any of the materials had been obtained or imported illegally.
Several Indiana
newspapers and TV stations showed photos of a massive FBI presence outside
Miller's home, with tents set up around his property and a variety of vehicles.
An FBI spokesman told CBS News.com that neither the total number of items in
Miller's collection nor their monetary value had been determined, but said
"the cultural value of these artifacts is immeasurable."
The FBI is cataloging
each item and trying to determine where and when each one was obtained, which
is important because some may have been collected before various laws and
treaties regarding cultural artifacts took effect. As of our deadline, Miller
had not been charged with any offense, and he told CBS he was cooperating with
the FBI but maintained that he "absolutely" had rightful ownership of
everything in his collection.