Very well done Dan!

"Dan Finn" wrote in message
...
Sorry if this is a duplicate post. Bellsouth changed news servers and I
didn't see this posted the first time:

This comment was submitted to the FCC via their ECFS website tool on
09/01/2003 in respect to RM-10787:

This is to oppose RM-10787, which proposes to eliminate the 5 wpm Morse
code
test for amateurs who which to transmit on the "HF" frequency bands (30MHz
and below). These frequencies are a precious resource and Morse code has
proven, time and again, to be the only feasible frequency mode available
1)
that can be useful during emergencies especially when band conditions are
bad 2) for communications with other amateurs in poorer countries than the
USA. Allowing access to these unique frequencies by individuals unfamiliar
with Morse code would result in a structure wherein the Morse-only
subbands
would likely be modified to allow voice. In doing so, those individuals
worldwide who wish to communicate via Morse would be deprived of usage of
the common Morse frequencies and be forced to upgrade to mode that they
may
not be able to afford, would likely require higher power levels to
communicate, especially on the 40m and 80m bands and result in either
voice
communications that are less reliable than CW or digital, which is more
expensive and not generally available in some countries that use Morse
extensively such as the Philippines, India, some parts of Russia, Africa
and
even in the case of expeditionary groups in such places as the Antarctic.
Finally, the US still needs to have a stable population of individuals who
can send and receive Morse code in times of communications emergencies and
certain military situations. The current population of such individuals
will
suffer attrition rates and almost certainly cease to exist in the future
without the current Morse code requirements for amateur operators. Usage
of
these frequencies is a great privilege and knowledge of Morse is a very
small price to pay while our Nation benefits from having a pool of
competent
Morse operators. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this
proposal.

Respectfully Submitted,

Daniel J. Finn
KR4AJ




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