Re: [amsat-bb] Amateur License restructuring announcement.

[Clinton Herbert <clinton@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Let's call it what it really is, and that's DESTRUCTURE...

 One step away from destruction...

 We all wondered if Y2K was going to bring some sort of major disaster, I never
figured that it would be the FCC bringing it two days early!

 I'm still in a state of shock over this whole mess. I just can't believe it. Well,
as I've said before, I earned my Extra.

 73, Clinton Herbert AB7RG



John Stone wrote:

> GPersons wrote:
>
> > Do not want to start a fracas but why do say this sucks? I think it will be
> > good for the hobby and lets face it, code is all but dead. I am sorry that
> > they have reduced the code requirement. It was always a right of passage to
> > me and I was and am working on that right. However, with modern technology
> > being what it is, do we really need code?
>
> The short answer is of course, no ....
>
> But like Tevele in Fiddler on the Roof, there is something to be said about
> tradition.
>
> Let's be honest about it too, the code requirement does and should act as a
> barrier to entry. No one wants to see HF become a glorified CB domain.
>
> John
> K0UWT (since 1959 with same call)
>
> >
> >
> > Gary
> >
> > At 04:16 PM 12/30/99 -0700, you wrote:
> > >
> > >The FCC has made its decision, and it SUCKS!!!
> > >
> > >
> > >NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 30, 1999--Amateur Radio will get a new look in the new
> > >millennium. The FCC today issued its long-awaited Report and Order in the
> > >1998 Biennial Regulatory Review of Part 97--more commonly known as "license
> > >restructuring." The bottom line is that starting April 15, 2000, there will
> > >be three license classes--Technician, General, and Amateur Extra--and a
> > >single Morse code requirement--5 WPM.
> > >
> > >"We believe that an individual's ability to demonstrate increased Morse
> > >code proficiency is not necessarily indicative of that individual's ability
> > >to contribute to the advancement of the radio art," the FCC said.
> > >
> > >Besides drastically streamlining the Amateur Radio licensing process, the
> > >FCC said its actions would "eliminate unnecessary requirements that may
> > >discourage or limit individuals from becoming trained operators,
> > >technicians, and electronic experts."
> > >
> > >Although no new Novice and Advanced licenses will be issued after the
> > >effective date of the Report and Order, the FCC does not plan to
> > >automatically upgrade any existing license privileges. The
> > >ARRL had proposed a one-time across-the-board upgrading of current Novice
> > >and Tech Plus licensees to General class, but the FCC declined to adopt the
> > >idea. This means that current licensees will retain their current operating
> > >privileges, including access to various modes and subbands, and will be
> > >able to renew their licenses indefinitely.
> > >
> > >Starting April 15, 2000, individuals who qualified for the Technician class
> > >license prior to March 21, 1987, will be able to upgrade to General class
> > >by providing documentary proof to a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, paying
> > >an application fee, and completing FCC Form 605.
> > >
> > >The FCC's decision not to automatically upgrade Novice and Tech Plus
> > >licensees means the current Novice/Tech Plus HF subbands will remain and
> > >not be "refarmed" to higher class licensees as the ARRL had proposed. The
> > >FCC said it did not refarm these subbands because there was "no consensus"
> > >within the amateur community as to what to do with them.
> > >
> > >As it had proposed earlier, the FCC decided to lump Technician and Tech
> > >Plus licensees into a single licensee database, all designated as
> > >"Technician" licensees. Those who can document having passed the 5 WPM
> > >Morse code examination will continue to have the current Tech Plus HF
> > >privileges. "If documentation is needed to verify whether a licensee has
> > >passed a telegraphy examination, we may request the documentation from that
> > >licensee or the VECs," the FCC said.
> > >
> > >In addition to reducing the number of license classes from six to three and
> > >eliminating the 20 and 13 WPM code tests, the FCC also will reduce the
> > >number of written examination elements from five to three, authorize
> > >Advanced Class hams to prepare and administer General class examinations,
> > >and eliminate Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) station
> > >licenses. RACES will remain, however. "After review of the record, we
> > >conclude that we should eliminate RACES station licenses because RACES
> > >station licenses are unnecessary for amateur stations and amateur service
> > >licenses to provide emergency communications," the FCC said.
> > >
> > >Under the new licensing scheme, there will be four examination elements.
> > >Element 1 will be the 5 WPM Morse code exam. Element 2 will be a
> > >35-question written test to obtain a Technician license; Element 3 will be
> > >a 35-question written test to obtain a General license, and Element 4 will
> > >be a 50-question written test for the Amateur Extra license. The FCC has
> > >left it in the hands of the National Conference of VECs Question Pool
> > >Committee to determine the specific mix and makeup of written examination
> > >questions. Current Amateur Radio study materials remain valid at least
> > >until the new rules become effective in April.
> > >
> > >The FCC's new licensing plan means someone will be able to become a ham by
> > >passing a single 35-question written examination. The plan also simplifies
> > >and shortens the upgrade path from the ground floor through Amateur
> > >Extra--especially since amateurs will only have to pass one Morse code test.
> > >
> > >Elimination of the 13 and 20 WPM Morse requirements also means an end to
> > >physician certification waivers for applicants claiming an inability to
> > >pass the Morse code examination due to physical handicap.
> > >
> > >The effective date provides a window of upgrade opportunity for current
> > >Advanced licensees. Between now and April 15, current Advanced holders may
> > >take the existing Element 4B, a 40-question test, giving them credit for
> > >having passed the current Extra written examination. Likewise, holders of a
> > >Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for Elements 3B
> > >or 4B dated on or after April 17, 1999, will be able to qualify for General
> > >or Amateur Extra respectively when the new rules go into effect on April
> > >15, 2000.
> > >
> > >The FCC disagreed with the League's suggestion that it undertake a
> > >restructuring of operating privileges along with licensing restructuring.
> > >"We believe that in light of ongoing discussions concerning implementation
> > >of new and more modern communications technologies within the amateur
> > >service community, we should accord the amateur service community an
> > >opportunity to complete such discussions and possibly reach a consensus
> > >regarding implementation of new technologies before we undertake a
> > >comprehensive restructuring of the amateur service operating privileges and
> > >frequencies," the FCC said in its Report and Order.
> > >
> > >In its amendments to Part 97, the FCC's Report and Order refers to a "Club
> > >Station Call Sign Administrator," something that does not exist under the
> > >current rules and which was not explained in the R&O itself. An FCC
> > >spokesperson said the Commission plans to issue a Public Notice soon to
> > >explain the program and to solicit qualified entities to serve as call sign
> > >administrators for club station applications.
> > >
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> > >
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