TCRC -- Twin Cities Repeater Club By w0kf - Date: 2005-07-27 23:49:16 On July 19, 2005 the FCC in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) announced it's intention to eliminate any Morse Code requirement for all classes of amateur radio licenses. The complete ARRL story can be read at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/07/20/100/?nc=1. The complete 30 page pdf file can be downloaded by clicking on NPRM above. You are strongly encouraged to read the entire document as the FCC gives it's reasoning and thought process in the document. Larry, KØLEJ, has prepared a summary of the NPRM which can be seen by clicking on "read more" below... The following summary was prepared by Larry, KØLEJ Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order Amateur Radio Service MORSE CODE:
FCC Stand: The FCC feels code is no longer necessary, and code testing discourages new entry and advancement in Amateur radio (3). "… an individual’s ability to demonstrate increased Morse code proficiency is not necessarily indicative of his or her ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art" (10). The FCC also does not believe that a person should need to demonstrate ability in a mode of operation when the rules do not require that they actually use that mode (11). GRANDFATHERING: In 2000 the FCC changed the number of license classes from six to three. The FCC felt that three classes would "provide an incentive for licensees to continue the educational opportunities offered by amateur radio and to advance their communication and technical skills…" (12). Giving Novice, Technician, Tech Plus, and Advanced licensees additional operating privileges is inconsistent with the three class incentive license. It also diminishes the additional privileges a licensee would receive when they upgrade their license (13-14, 17-18). NEW CLASS OF LICENSE: The ARRL and others have requested that a new entry class license, providing limited HF privileges, be added to the service (17). The FCC believes that with the elimination of the code requirement, a technician licensee only needs to take one written exam to gain HF privileges; therefore, no additional entry class license is needed (17). WRITTEN EXAM: Some have requested that the written exams be harder, and/or the FCC again regulate the exams (19). The FCC simply stated: "… the purpose of the written examinations, under our rules, is not to determine whether a person has achieved a particular level of skill, but rather to determine whether an individual can properly operate an amateur station." (20). ADDITIONAL: There are additional topics covered in the NPRMO – You can find a link to the document on the ARRL Web site, and by clicking on NPRM at the top of this announcement. Note: The number in parenthesis is the page number the topic is addressed in the NPRMO. http://www.tcrc.org The URL for this announcement is: http://www.tcrc.org/article.php?sid=111 |