[CW] Our Position on Morse Requirement

[Ken Brown]

Hi all,

If you have been reading the messages on the reflector for the past week 
you have seen some from me regarding my intention to write a proposal to 
the ARRL, which I hope they will take into serious consideration when 
making their formal stance with the FCC in this matter. I am not 
experienced in this type of thing and do not know exactly how to go 
about it. One thing that I do know is that the better consensus and more 
support we can muster amongst ourselves (meaning CW enthusiasts) the 
better chance we will have of preserving at least part of the HF bands 
for CW operation. So what follows are some of my ideas about what we 
ought to propose to the ARRL. I want your comments, so that we can 
refine it to a point where most of us can agree on it and it is still 
worthwhile.

Our Position:

1) We believe that a morse requirement for access to all of the HF and 
MF amateur bands should be maintained.

2) It appears that the lobby which wants to eliminate the morse 
requirement for HF operating privileges is likely to be successful.

3) Those who are pushing for HF privileges, without having to put in the 
effort to pass a morse test, will get both digital and phone privileges.

4) The present HF allocations group CW together will all other digital 
modes. Since the computer dependent digital modes do not even require 
listening in order to operate, it is highly likely that CW operations 
would be severely damaged by large numbers of operators, who are 
ignorant of CW, having access to the entire HF spectrum.

Therefore we propose:

1) At least one amateur license class (probably Extra Class) maintains a 
morse test element.

2) Every HF and MF amateur band shall have a CW ONLY sub band, at least 
as large as the present Extra Class digital subbands and preferably 
larger. The bands which do not presently have an Extra Class digital sub 
band shall have CW only subbands also. CW will continue to be allowed 
anywhere in the amateur bands, not including the 60 meter channels.

3) The morse test should be performed at a speed at which morse is 
actually useable, perhaps 10 wpm.

4) The morse test element should include both receiving and sending.

What do you all think of the above?

Ken N6KB