[CW] ARRL Proposal

[Ken Brown]

Hi All,

Most of you have probably seen the ARRL proposal for the latest dumbing 
down of the amateur licensing structure. If you have not seen it, then 
you should take a look. While I am not in favor of any HF access to 
people who will not put out the effort to learn Morse, even at the 
present ridiculous 5 WPM rate, I think that we must face the music and 
accept that there WILL be an HF license class that does not require any 
radio operator skill, meaning no Morse test. That being the case I think 
it is in our best interests (by "our" I mean CW operators who believe 
that CW bands should be reserved for operators who are willing to put 
forth the effort to learn CW operating skills)  to support a no skill HF 
access license, but not the way the ARRL proposes. The CW/Digital 
portions available to the new no effort license should be much, much 
smaller than the ARRL proposes, less than half that available to Extras. 
The 5 WPM Morse test should be RETAINED FOR GENERAL. And the Extra Morse 
exam speed should be raised to 10 to 15 WPM. Additionally there should 
be CW exclusive segments established in each HF band.

As I said earlier, I am not in favor of the no CW skill license idea. 
Nevertheless, it appears that it is going to become a reality. Rather 
that opposing it altogether, I think we have a better chance of 
preserving at least some of the HF spectrum for skilled radio operators 
by trying to moderate the damage. If an organization can come up with a 
proposal the includes a no skill license and retains exclusive spectrum 
for skilled operators, that has the support of most of us, then at least 
something may be saved. It appears that that organization is not going 
to be the ARRL. Perhaps FISTS.

Ken N6KB