[CC-ARES-RACES] SMD VE AMATEUR RADIO TESTING ANNOUNCEMENT

[JD Delancy]

                         BRYANTOWN-ZEKIAH SWAMP VE GROUP
                       AMATEUR RADIO TESTING ANNOUNCEMENT
 
1.  TEST DATE:  Sunday, 18Aug02, TIME:  1200-1400 Eastern.
    
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, cut off is 2000 hrs, 17Aug02.  No one pre-registered by
the cut-off time, no session will be held.
 
2.  SESSION SPONSOR: Bryantown-Zekiah Swamp VE Group (member,American Radio Relay
League (ARRL) Volunteer Examiner).
 
TEST SITE LOCATION: Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) building, 4415
Crain Highway, White Plains, MD 20695, community room.  Take MD-301 South through
Waldorf.  At the traffic light at Demarr Rd and MD-301 (about two miles south of the
St Charles Mall), look to the right, SMECO's building sits in a small "strip mall"
shopping center, tower behind it, look for vehicles with Ham Radio callsign plates
in the parking lot.  Enter the front door, conference room is on the left.

4.  CONTACT PERSON:
 
NAME:  JD Delancy      W1JD  
PHONE:  Night <301>884-6115 before 2100 (9 PM Eastern)
24 HR VOICE MAIL: <703>902-5800 Box 9276
INTERNET:  w1jd@drix.net
 
5.  THINGS TO REMEMBER.
 
You will incur a charge of $10.00 for the testing session, cash preferred, checks
accepted, no plastic.
 
If already licensed bring your CURRENT ORIGINAL and A COPY of your Amateur Radio
License to satisfy a FCC Requirement. Once the copy is verified against the
original, the original will be returned to the owner.
 
A PHOTO identification, such as drivers license, or any two forms of positive
identification, again to satisfy an FCC requirement.  Alternative forms can be:

-non-drivers photo State issued identification card
-other ID card (school, employer's badge)
-military ID card (active duty, retired, dependent)
-passport (current or expired)
-minors work permit

Same day retake of failed elements will be available. You will incur an additional
charge for each retake of an element.
 
Electronic calculators are allowed but be prepared to demonstrate to the VE team
that the memories have been cleared and that it has no built-in formulas (except for
pie).
 
If you hold a CSCE(s) (issued by any VEC) that is (are) less than 365 days old,
bring the original(s) and a copy(s) with you.  The original(s) will be returned to
the owner after verification, the copies will be filed with the FCC form 610.

The FCC Form 610 is now invalid and no longer useable for any purpose. The FCC Form
605 must be utilized.  The VE Team has a limited supply of them.

The structure of amateur radio tests changed on 15 Apr 00. Starting April 15, 2000,
there are three license classes--Technician, General, and Amateur Extra--and a
single Morse code requirement--5 WPM. 

Starting April 15, 2000, individuals who qualified for the Technician class license
prior to March 21, 1987, will be able to upgrade to General class by providing
documentary proof to a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator, paying an application fee,
and completing FCC Form 605. 

The FCC decided to lump Technician and Tech Plus licensees into a single licensee
database, all designated as "Technician" licensees. Those who can document having
passed the 5 WPM Morse code examination will continue to have the current Tech Plus
HF privileges. "If documentation is needed to verify whether a licensee has passed a
telegraphy examination, we may request the documentation from that licensee or the
VECs," the FCC said. 

In addition to reducing the number of license classes from six to three and
eliminating the 20 and 13 WPM code tests, the FCC also will reduce the number of
written examination elements from five to three, authorize Advanced Class hams
to prepare and administer General class examinations. 

Under the new licensing scheme, there are four examination elements. Element 1 is
the 5 WPM Morse code exam. Element 2 is a 35-question written test to obtain a
Technician license; Element 3 is a 35-question written test to obtain a General
license, and Element 4 is a 50-question written test for the Amateur Extra license.
The FCC has left it in the hands of the National Conference of VECs Question Pool
Committee to determine the specific mix and makeup of written examination questions.

If you are a technician class licensee filing for an upgrade to a General Class,
your license was issued on or before 3/21/87, or to element 1 (license issued after
3/21/87 but before 2/14/91) the burden of proof to your claim rests with you.

An original CSCE showing successful passing of those elements 1a, 2 and 3 and/or
license showing technician privileges (or novice for element 1A) within those "dates
windows" along with your current license are examples of acceptable proof.  

If such documentation has been lost or destroyed, the FCC may be able to itself
issue the necessary Grandfather credit verification (FCC can do this based on
license records going back about 15 years or so).  To obtain such verification,
acceptable by all VE Teams and VECs, write to FCC and request a "Letter of
Verification of Technician License Held Prior To March 21, 1987".  Mail (or fax
717-338-2696) your request to: FCC, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg PA Verification of
Technician License Held Prior To March 21, 1987". If you include reference to a fax
number in your reply, the FCC will fax your verification letter to you.  Normal
turnaround at FCC is 3-5 business days after receipt.  Bring the original, and a
copy, of any FCC-issued verification letter to the test session.
 
Elimination of the 13 and 20 WPM Morse requirements also put an end to physician
certification waivers for applicants claiming an inability to pass the Morse code
examination due to physical handicap.

Good luck to all who may be testing.