[CW] Don't Emulate King Canute

[John Rippey]

King Canute was an ancient Danish king who made himself famous for ordering 
the incoming tide to retreat. It didn't.

Face it, elimination of the CW test requirement is a done deal. It doesn't 
matter what position ARRL's Board of Directors takes or when it acts. The 
FCC listens closely to the VECs: you can check out the late 2000 FCC Report 
and Order to see how much the agency relies on the volunteer examiners' 
views. Folks, it's not W5YI, its an organization, as Rein has pointed out. 
Not only that, it is the group that has to administer the tests. So when it 
speaks, FCC will listen.

The VECs asked for three things. One, eliminate Morse code testing; two, 
meld Technician and Novice privileges on HF; and three, expedite 
consideration by the FCC. You wanna bet they'll get it? No amount of 
complaining from members of this reflector will change the outcome, I 
guarantee you.

So FCC will soon announce a rulemaking proceeding to consider the VECs' 
petition. This announcement will do two things: (1) accelerate the whole 
process for eliminating code testing and (2) provide the ARRL and other 
interested parties 30 days to file its comments. I was fearful we would 
have to wait until 2005 for all this to be worked out, but the VECs have 
jump-started the process. I for one am grateful. I would rather see a quick 
and humane death for code testing rather than having it strung out over 
many months.

What can we do about this? Nothing.

However, the 30-day comment period will give people like Ken Brown the 
opportunity to file a comment asking for a set-aside for CW subbands. 
Raising this issue will be entirely appropriate in the context of the FCC's 
consideration of the VECs' petition.

So my advice, which is free: this group should concentrate on lobbying for 
CW subbands on HF and not waste any ammo to make a fuss about the demise of 
code testing. That particular game is over.

73,
John, W3ULS