KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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Will we ever get the license structure right?

Posted: 06 Nov 2016 06:09 PM PST
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Ever since the incentive licensing fiasco of the 1960s, amateur radio
operators have been complaining about the licensing structure. Im not sure
why we seem to constantly debate the topic. I guess hams think that if we
just keep tweaking it, well finally get it calibrated just right and
everyone will be motivated to upgrade to Extra and the bands will be jammed
24/7.

One of the latest proposals is on eHam. There, W2EV, asks us to consider
giving Technicians some limited phone privelegesÂ*on the HF bands. He writes:

Technicians already have (vastly unused) CW privileges on 80 meters, 40
meters and 15 meters. Suppose they had HF voice privileges on those same
bands, too! Something as simple as the same spectrum that General Class
licensees enjoy, but restricted to 10 watts (I’m just spit-balling the
power-level, for discussions’ sake).

Of course, this proposal was met with much opposition, many of whom said
that the General Class testÂ*is not that much harder than the Tech test, and
its really not that much to ask that people who want to operate HF upgrade
to General. Another interesting comment was that Techs be given digital
privilegesÂ*in addition to CW privileges. I kind of like that idea.

Another, more radical approach was proposed by that iconoclast, Jeff, KE9V.
He suggests doing away with testing altogether. I think a lot of what he
has to say is true, but there are several problems with his approach.

First, article 25.6 of the ITU Radio Regulations states:

25.6 2) Administrations shall verify the operational and technical
qualifications of any person wishing to operate an amateur station.
Guidance for standards of competence may be found in the most recent
version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1544. (WRC-03)

That is generally taken to mean administering tests, although
Recommendation IRU-R M.1544 does seem to give some leeway. It recommends,
that administrations take such measures as they judge necessary to verify
the operational and technical qualifications of any person wishing to
operate an amateur station. I suppose this verification could take place by
aÂ*method other than by testing.

Therein lies the rub. Jeff doesnt really propose a new method for issuing
licenses, except to suggest that local clubs somehow facilitate the
process. Ive been to a lot of clubs over the past ten years or so, and I
dont think that many of them are really set up to do this. Nor do they have
the desire or wherewithal to do it.

I dont think were Â*ever going to get it right. Besides, if we did, what
would we complain about?

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