[CW] FCC Releases 71 page NPRM

[John Rippey]

Before the Cassandras on this reflector bemoan the further decline of our 
culture because of the FCC's rulemaking proposal, I would hope they will 
read it and think about it.

 From the standpoint of CW ops, the proposal is a significant step forward.

First, it leaves as is the requirement that operators in the CW bands must 
demonstrate 5 wpm code proficiency. Therefore passing an International 
Morse Code test remains an examination element.

Second, entry level licensees--under the current cumbersome system they are 
Novices, Tech Pluses, and Technicians holding code certificates--will have 
a much greater opportunity to explore CW because of the considerable new 
grant of HF spectrum allocated for these beginners in the NPRM. The FCC 
took word-for-word the ARRL's "refarming" petition of March 2002 in 
publishing this new NPRM, which means that newcomers now have the same 
access to the CW subbands as do General Clas licensees.

So you can expect within a few months when the rule is made final that you 
will be hearing newcomers using these heretofore off-limits segments of the 
HF bands. This can only be good for the amateur radio hobby.

The challenge for users of this reflector will be to adopt a welcoming 
attitude toward the newcomers and to encourage them to hone their CW 
skills. Snapping at them or refusing to have a QSO with them can only 
retard this welcome initiative.

I personally am delighted with the FCC's action. I had taken up this cause 
in an earlier submittal to the FCC (which was denied on March 30). Not only 
did I urge more CW spectrum for newcomers, I also suggested they be allowed 
data privileges concomitant with the CW authority and limited phone 
privileges on 17 and 12 meters.

The ARRL recommended similar changes in its January 2004 submittal, which 
has a lot of other content that is controversial. So for the foreseeable 
future, it looks as if  the FCC will be doing exactly what CW ops should 
wish for--encouraging newcomers to our hobby to explore CW on the HF bands. 
The more radical proposals that the FCC has to deal with no doubt will be 
pending for years.

In the meantime, get set to welcome the newcomers!