July 27th 05, 04:02 AM
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Dee Flint wrote:
"b.b." wrote in message
oups.com...
wrote:
I find it interesting to note what is *not* part of the NPRM, despite a
bunch of proposals that asked for changes beyond code testing:
- No change to the written tests at all
- No new entry-level license class
- No free upgrades or consolidations of existing licenses, except that
all Technicians will essentially become Tech Pluses (in privileges but
not in name).
- No "refarming" of subbands, nor expansion of license privileges
except the above-mentioned Techs-get-Tech-Plus-privileges change
And now the big one
- "Entry-level-licensd" hams (for lack of a better term that includes
Novices, Technicians and Tech Pluses) will still have
very limited HF privileges. Ironically, they will have only
Morse Code/CW on small segments of 80, 40 and 15 meters, plus
SSB and Morse Code/CW on a somewhat bigger slice of 10 meters.
No digital/data/image modes, no FM on HF at all - even though most of
those "entry-level-licensed" hams have all privileges above 50 MHz. No
access to five of the HF/MF bands at all.
Seems FCC went for "minimum change".
Is that the best we can do?
73 de Jim, N2EY
Typical FCC bandaid fix that will leave in it's wake more problems than
the one it solves.
It doesn't create any new problems that I can see.
Take off your eye patches.
As they say in their
discussion, anyone wanting expanded privileges will only have to take the
appropriate written test.
See the discontinuity in exams vs priveleges that Jim/N2EY points out.
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