[CW] My comments
Larry Makoski W2LJ
Makos327 at worldnet.att.net
Mon Oct 31 20:51:04 EST 2005
For what it's worth (sigh):
Gentlemen,
There have been many persuasive arguments put before the Commission as
to whether or not the Morse Code requirement should be kept as part of
the examination process. It appears the Commission deems that Morse
Code requirement is an anachronism that no longer has any validity and
should be eliminated. In my opinion, I believe the Commission is being
shortsighted and that we should maintain the requirement.
Many amateurs and organizations point to the fact that the military and
other professional communications services have abandoned Morse Code.
To some extent, this is true. But those services have gone on to highly
advanced satellite communications systems. Amateur radio operators, at
least for the majority, have not. Our communications depend mostly on
voice or radiotelegraphy in the High Frequency portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Radiotelegraphy has proved itself to be the
most reliable method of communications using those portions of the
spectrum that we, for the most part are relegated to. During times of
"radio blackout" due to increased sunpsot or other types of geomagnetic
activity, often Morse Code communications using Continuous Wave
transmission is the only permissible means of radio communications. It
should also be noted that the most "cutting edge" frontiers of Amateur
Radio - meteor scatter, spread spectrum, low power and microwave and
weak signal communications all rely on Morse Code and CW as the "mode of
choice" in completing communications.
The Commission has expressed a concern that the providing of Morse Code
testing presses an "undue burden" on the part of the VE examining
teams. I would like to say, that in over ten years personal experience
as a Volunteer Examiner, my team and I never found administering the
Morse Code exam to be a burden. In fact, we took extreme pleasure in
administering the exam and watching untold numbers of candidates pass.
Again, in my personal experience of over a decade as an examiner, I have
never come across an individual who was unable to pass the exam given
enough time to properly prepare.
The argument has been proposed that the Morse Code exam is a roadblock,
preventing untold numbers of qualified individuals from entering the
Amateur Radio service. I believe this claim to be unsubstantiated at
best; and just another "urban myth" at worst. The Commission has indeed
licensed children as young as the age of six or seven as Radio
Amateurs. While this is the exception rather than the rule, I would
suggest this points to the fact that anyone with a fair amount of
ambition, desire and discipline can master a 5 word per minute Morse
Code exam. For those who honestly and truly have a valid medical reason
for being unable to complete the Morse portion of the test, the
Commission has already provided recourse via the medical waiver. I
would like the supporters of this argument substantiate their claims
with some kind of documentation. It is not proper to make "wild claims"
before the Commission without proper documentation. Furthermore, it
would seem inappropriate for the Commission to accept these unproven
claims as the rule; rather than the exception.
Were the Commission to delegate the Amateur Radio Service as some
non-essential radio service such as CB, GMRS or the FRS then I would
accept the hypothesis that the Morse Code exam is of little value and
should be eliminated. But clearly, the Commission has repeatedly avowed
the importance of the Amateur Radio Service and the need for it's
continued health and well being. I would hope the Commission would
agree with me that to maintain that health and vitality; that it is
paramount to not lower standards; but on the other hand to maintain or
increase them.
Respectfully submitted,
Lawrence Makoski W2LJ
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