[CW] Removing the written test

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/24/05 1:45:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ne0p at lcisp.com 
writes:


> One thing I never see is people complaining how they have to learn 
> electrical theory to become a ham, and petitioning the FCC to remove the written 
> test. 

Then you haven't read

"Amateur Radio In the 21st Century" 


which can be viewed here:

http://gahleos.obarr.net/messages/0002.html

A detailed rebuttal in three parts:
 
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/1f293
55163c4ed4e?dmode=source

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/a0bb6
7064e87e3d8?dmode=source

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.radio.amateur.policy/msg/0fceb
52701a89334?dmode=source

The NCVEC proposal to FCC is almost identical to what is proposed in
the "21st Century" paper. Note that a new class of license is proposed
on the principle that the current Technician is too much of a hurdle
for young people......
 > 
> I had to learn electronic theory for 4 different tests:
> 
> Novice
> Tech/General
> Advanced
> Extra
> 


>From 1987 to 2000, it was 5 tests (Novice, Technician, General, Advanced, 
Extra. Now we're down to 3 tests (Technician, General, Extra.)

> I don't have any interest in homebrewing equipment nor fixing my own.  I 
> want to get on the air and operate.  I have fixed a couple of pieces of 
> equipment I picked up at a hamfest, and on a good day I can put a PL259 on a piece 
> of coax and not get second degree burns from the iron.
> 
> However, it seems that the written test could be holding lots of people 
> back, who would make fine operators, but who just don't see why the FCC 
> emphasizes electronic theory on the tests, when it is just another form of knowledge.  
> Homebrewing a rig is so stuck in the past, and this idea probably drives off 
> lots of teenages from seeking a ham license.  
> 

There are almost certainly far more hams using Morse Code on the air today 
than there are hams using homebrew rigs. Most other radio services do not even 
*allow* the use of home-made radio equipment. 

> In addition, to get a driver's license I don't have to know how to repair a 
> car, or the theory behind why a car works.  
> 
> I think those of us who aren't into the electronic side of ham radio have 
> alot of petitioning and complaining to do to catch up with the others.  Is 
> anyone else interested in forming the NWTI group-No Written Test International?  
> We will not be against electronic theory, we will just be against using it as 
> a requirement for ham licensing. And we will be super annoying until we get 
> our way and everyone agrees with us.

Be careful what you ask for...you just may get it.

73 de Jim, N2EY