[CW] Dumb down not justified

[Ken Brown]

Hi All,

The destructuring of the amateur licensing that we have already suffered 
was absolutely unnecessary, even if allowing no code (or 5 WPM, 
essentially the same thing) licensees access to HF bands was necessary 
or desireable. Personally I do not think that it was necessary or 
desireable, however lets just suppose for the moment that it was a good 
idea. Then what was the purpose of eliminating the Novice license? What 
was the reason for dumbing down the Extra Class license to a no code 
(once again I claim that 5 WPM is virtually no code) license. There were 
many other ways that changes could have been made without allowing the 
no study effort types into the Extra CW subbands. Instead of eliminating 
Novice and Advance classes, General class could have just become a no 
code (5 WPM) license. Then all the whiners who did not want to put in 
the effort learn how to be a skilled radio operator could talk on their 
microphones to their hearts' content on the HF phone bands. When they 
got bored with that type of operation the Advanced and Extra Class 
subbands would have still been waiting for all who care to put in the 
effort to learn how to use them. Why didn't the ARRL push for something 
like I have described? I am an ARRL member, and have been one since 
before I got my Novice license. I think every ham should join the ARRL. 
I believe that there probably would not be any Amateur Radio Service had 
it no been for the ARRL. Even so I am very dissatisfied with the 
League's handing of the destructuring issue.

Ken N6KB