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#1
July 20th 05, 10:51 PM
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A Sad Day
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#2
July 20th 05, 11:29 PM
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wrote in message
oups.com... http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-05-143A1.doc 73 de Jim, N2EY Looks like it's time to write more letter. To the FCC? Nope, to your local elected officials! All it takes is to get the attention of someone who has a say in the FCC's budget and is willing to make an inquiry re. "this Morse code thing." Don't let this discourage you, the battle for the integrity of the US ARS is far from over. Remember the vanity-call system and how it came about. -- Vy 73 de Bert WA2SI FISTS #9384/CC #1736 QRP ARCI #11782 |
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#4
July 21st 05, 08:17 PM
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From: Leo on Jul 20, 7:03 pm
wrote http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-05-143A1.doc It is sad, inasmuch as this definitely represents a dramatic change to the structure of Amateur Radio in the US - Morse has been an integral part of the hobby for as long as most anyone living can remember. At least since 1913...a mere 92 years. :-) [we await the Terrible Hue and Cry to be raised, first on QRZ.com then all over in here as the MMM* rise up in anger and dismay at the Falling of the Sky! Sound the Alarum!] Surprisingly, there is no impetus to change the technical content of the exams - I would have bet on that one! Considering a two-year period and EIGHTEEN proposals sitting around, I think that would have been out of the question in DC. The FCC noted (for WT Docket 05-235) that the VEC Question Pool Committee makes up the questions. Further, under U.S. regulations, the FCC specifies only a MINIMUM of ten times the number of required questions per class. The VEC QPC is under NO obligation to limit the Pool limit to 10. Given the electronic transfer capability of the VEC QPC Pool and the ubiquity of the modern PC and Internet, the number of questions could have been at least 100 times the minimum required number of questions for U.S. examinees. "Difficulty" is a matter for the VEC QPC, themselves made up ONLY of licensed radio amateurs. There are some good things in the NPRM as well, though - the massive proposals for upgrading hundreds of thousands of current licensees to the next higher license class did not survive. This topic seemed to polarize folks as much (or more than!) the Morse issue itself. Judging by the massive outpouring of grief/anger/dismay/ etc. on www.qrz.com this morning, the "polarization" seems very focussed on morse code testing. [31 pages of messages there by mid-morning on the 21st of July...:-) ] By the latter part of 2010, the issue will be moot on "auto-upgrades" of classes. The Technician Plus, Novice, and Advanced classes will HAVE to disappear...a result of the "Restructuring" Report and Order of late 1999 that took effect in mid-2000. By the way, as of 1200 UTC on 21 July 2005, the number of "lower-class" Technician and Technician Plus class licensees in the USA were 349,859 or 48.46% of the total individual licensees (722,023). In one year's time, the FCC granted 16,085 NEW amateur radio licenses but 19,072 licenses were expired. Net gain of -2,987 in 12 months, a trend that has existed since the peak in July 2003. However, Morse has too big a following to just disappear from the bands completely - it will be there for many years to come! Yes, and the stirring tales of daring-doo by "CW", saving lives and protecting the nation agains terrorists will always be part of the mythology! :-) Some 47 years ago the FCC "took away" the U.S. ham band called "11 meters" and reassigned it to the new-fangled Class C and D Citizens Band. Some of today's hams weren't even born yet but they are "mad as hell [about that] and can't take it anymore!" [a la the famous "Network" rant in the movie by actor Peter Finch (SK)] About the only thing "lost" was the TITLES and DISTINCTION of being part of the Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society, a sort of quasi-royal status assumed by those few who were able to make it through 13 and 20 WPM. They feel they "own" the "rights" to the "titles" and those should be kept in perpetuity...naturally to show the "greatness" of these MMMs at "pioneering the airwaves." :-) [none of those hams in here were alive in those pioneer days but they apparently have laid claim to that "land," "fief," and all "titles!" :-) ] The feeling here in Canada is that we are probably weeks away from a similar announcement......one which, in all probability, will mirror the US NPRM very closely. As long as British Columbia is still the production home of "Stargate," "Stargate Atlantis," and "Battlestar Galactica," I will not comment on what Canada does or should do. :-) The U.S. NPRM has NO great changes in U.S. amateur radio regulations other than the pending removal of Test Element 1 (morse code test). That's about as simple a law change as possible. The emotional catastrophe of Title/Status/Distinction/etc. loss to the MMM is at least an order of magnitude above the largest megatonage special weapon! The "fall-out" has begun...some will not survive the "radio-ation." We'll soon see! The writing on the wall happened in Switzerland two years ago with the revision of S25 at WRC-03...with the consent and input of the IARU and a few others. The ARRL was opposed to that then...but now try to spin that they were "in support." shrug Modernization will continue despite what the "boyz in da ham hood" think... 73, Leo Best regards, * MMM = Mighty Macho Morsemen, hee-rows of the hamways. |
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#6
July 21st 05, 01:10 AM
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Finally, the FCC has seen the light of day.
Allowing a few senile old men to kill amateur radio with their moth-ridden egos was too much to sit by watching. Apparently, someone else also noticed. This may be a hint that a new dawn may be rising on amateur radio and some new energetic fellows may be allowed to step in and move amateur radio from the stoneage. I think all knew, it was only a matter of time. I just expected more would have to fall to death by old age before this would happen, but I knew time was close. Still, keep your fingers crossed, a few old "girly-boy" old hams bit*hing like old women can hold back true advancement. This does prophesize the future, however, a few years may still need to pass before this is finally realized. John wrote in message oups.com... http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-05-143A1.doc 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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#7
July 21st 05, 02:43 AM
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"John Smith" wrote in message ... Finally, the FCC has seen the light of day. Allowing a few senile old men to kill amateur radio with their moth-ridden egos was too much to sit by watching. Apparently, someone else also noticed. This may be a hint that a new dawn may be rising on amateur radio and some new energetic fellows may be allowed to step in and move amateur radio from the stoneage. I think all knew, it was only a matter of time. I just expected more would have to fall to death by old age before this would happen, but I knew time was close. Still, keep your fingers crossed, a few old "girly-boy" old hams bit*hing like old women can hold back true advancement. This does prophesize the future, however, a few years may still need to pass before this is finally realized. John Well we'll have to wait and see. Personally I predict a flurry of upgrades but no sustained growth. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE wrote in message oups.com... http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-05-143A1.doc 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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#8
July 21st 05, 02:46 AM
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Dee:
Although we have differences in our thoughts and evaluation of this whole situation, let us both hope you are wrong--dear. We need some good news for a change! Amateur radio and a bright future for it is bigger than you and I put together, indeed, it is more important than all of us here. Warmest regards, John "Dee Flint" wrote in message ... "John Smith" wrote in message ... Finally, the FCC has seen the light of day. Allowing a few senile old men to kill amateur radio with their moth-ridden egos was too much to sit by watching. Apparently, someone else also noticed. This may be a hint that a new dawn may be rising on amateur radio and some new energetic fellows may be allowed to step in and move amateur radio from the stoneage. I think all knew, it was only a matter of time. I just expected more would have to fall to death by old age before this would happen, but I knew time was close. Still, keep your fingers crossed, a few old "girly-boy" old hams bit*hing like old women can hold back true advancement. This does prophesize the future, however, a few years may still need to pass before this is finally realized. John Well we'll have to wait and see. Personally I predict a flurry of upgrades but no sustained growth. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE wrote in message oups.com... http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-05-143A1.doc 73 de Jim, N2EY |
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#9
July 21st 05, 03:00 AM
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"John Smith" wrote in message ... Dee: Although we have differences in our thoughts and evaluation of this whole situation, let us both hope you are wrong--dear. We need some good news for a change! Amateur radio and a bright future for it is bigger than you and I put together, indeed, it is more important than all of us here. Warmest regards, John "Dee I see a fine future for amateur radio but I also see a stabilization of numbers just as is occuring in our population growth and all the other activities to which I belong. The news of the FCC action and the action itself will have little to no noticeable impact. Ham radio would continue to develop either way. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE |
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#10
July 21st 05, 03:19 AM
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Dee:
If you would chart developments and advancements in every technical field--amateur radio would come in last; frankly, I would doubt ones mental abilities who would even move in the direction of challenging that statement. A religious devotion to cw and a real "good old boys club" has damaged amateur radio for decades. Personalities which have an "anti-social bent" have been in control here far too long, calling them just "eccentric" is far too kind. Let us hope that decades of damage which has been done can be repaired quickly by the young men I am wishing and hoping to be here with us. Too often, tunnel vision only allows us to see that which we wish to see, but none can deny amateur radio has been in decline for decades--there is some reason for that. Now we need to encourage bright young men from industry here, so that we may mass produce cheap equipment and make amateur radio easy to step into. Hopefully, china and other developing countries will find it profitable and worth doing, to mass produce amateur equipment in a flowing abundance. Hopefully, soon, in the future the bands will be so congested calls are made for the bands to be expanded to accommodate all the hams needing bandwidth. A boom like that which CB experienced in the 70's would be most desirable, however, I do realize this is probably too much to even hope for. As soon as cw falls, I see the most important step being in "advertising" the fact that cw is no longer a requirement. Spreading the word and helping others to study and pass the written exam will be key in getting the numbers we need at that time. Warmest regards, John "Dee Flint" wrote in message ... "John Smith" wrote in message ... Dee: Although we have differences in our thoughts and evaluation of this whole situation, let us both hope you are wrong--dear. We need some good news for a change! Amateur radio and a bright future for it is bigger than you and I put together, indeed, it is more important than all of us here. Warmest regards, John "Dee I see a fine future for amateur radio but I also see a stabilization of numbers just as is occuring in our population growth and all the other activities to which I belong. The news of the FCC action and the action itself will have little to no noticeable impact. Ham radio would continue to develop either way. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE |
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