[CW] FCC Releases 71 page NPRM

Pedro J. Santa [email protected]
Mon, 19 Apr 2004 19:59:32 -0300


John's comments provide an interesting viewpoint, indeed.  My only objection
lies with the "Cassandra" imputation.  Contrary to the reception given to
the doom and gloom predictions of those mythical prophetesses, I do believe
that our hobby is doomed to extinction, sooner or later, my fellow
"Triceratops"...In the meantime, let's dust off those straight keys (so that
we do not get impatient with our own sending speeds) and let's lie low,
waiting for those abundant QRS QSOs with the hording swarms of Novices, Tech
Pluses and Technicians that will surely flood the CW bands with venturesome
CQs addressed to all listening CW ops, should this brilliant FCC proposal
comes to pass...

73 Pedro KP3X..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Rippey" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 9:07 AM
Subject: [CW] FCC Releases 71 page NPRM


> 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!
>
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