Post by va3css on Jan 5, 2006 12:43:02 GMT -5
Even before the NPRM to drop CW testing from General and Extra class licenses, the ARRL was asking the FCC to make changes to the Technician class license, in an effort to bring them in line with the now defunct Novice class. These proposed changes were spelled out in ARRL's RM-10867. You can find the details of that proposal by clicking the link.
The FCC not only declined to make the proposed changes at the time, but also declined to include the above changes when issuing the current NPRM WT Docket No. 05-235, (dropping the CW requirement for General and Extra classes.)
Understandably, the ARRL is once again asking the FCC to reconsider the RM-10867 proposal. It doesn't make sense to maintain portions of HF bands for Novice licensees only, when CW is becoming no longer mandatory with this NPRM.
It makes perfect sense to me. In my estimation, there's no point in maintaining Novice portions of various HF bands if the NPRM is going to remove CW as a requirement for all license classes. Even if ARRL's proposal is not satisfactory to the FCC, some other changes along the same lines are warranted.
JMHO.
The FCC not only declined to make the proposed changes at the time, but also declined to include the above changes when issuing the current NPRM WT Docket No. 05-235, (dropping the CW requirement for General and Extra classes.)
Understandably, the ARRL is once again asking the FCC to reconsider the RM-10867 proposal. It doesn't make sense to maintain portions of HF bands for Novice licensees only, when CW is becoming no longer mandatory with this NPRM.
While Novice licenses continued to be issued until 2000, the Technician became the more popular entry-level license by far once its Morse requirement was eliminated in 1991. Today we continue to call parts of 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters the "Novice bands," but few Novices are to be found there even though it is now a renewable license. The FCC has proposed in WT Docket No. 04-140 to implement an ARRL proposal to make better use of these band segments, but as 2005 draws to a close final action is still pending.
It makes perfect sense to me. In my estimation, there's no point in maintaining Novice portions of various HF bands if the NPRM is going to remove CW as a requirement for all license classes. Even if ARRL's proposal is not satisfactory to the FCC, some other changes along the same lines are warranted.
JMHO.
