[CW] CODE TEST ABOLISHED!

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/16/06 1:37:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
wb9cac at verizon.net writes:


> I'm not blaming the ARRL, just myself and others like me who thought 
> everything was ok and this never would 
> happen........surprise...surprise...surprise...
> 

With all due respect - why is this a surprise?

FCC has been pushing to reduce the requirements and eliminate the Morse Code 
test for decades now. More than 30 years ago, (1975) FCC tried to create a 
no-code amateur license. They tried again in 1983 and finally swept aside all 
opposition in 1991.

Look at the Report and Order that resulted in the 2000 restructuring, which 
closed off the old Novice and Advanced, and left only 5 wpm code. FCC clearly 
stated then (late 1999, seven years ago) that there was *no regulatory purpose* 
to the Morse Code test, and that they only kept 5 wpm because of the ITU 
treaty.

The ITU treaty requirement went away 3-1/2 years ago. FCC put out an NPRM 
proposing to eliminate Element 1 back in 2005. The bureaucratic wheels finally 
got around to doing what was clearly on the FCC agenda from long ago.

The only surprise I feel is that it took so long.

---

We've been told for a very long time that the Morse Code test has been 
"holding ham radio back". Now we shall see if that was true or not. 

73 es ZUT de Jim, N2EY