[CW] New RadioTelegraph Operator License

[Joe K2UF]

Steve,

 

Congrats on your new commercial ticket.  The card trick at the bottom of
your web page is spooky.

 

73  Joe K2UF

 

With enough THRUST pig fly just fine.

 

 

  _____  

From: cw-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:cw-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of sbjohnston at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 2:31 PM
To: cw at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [CW] New RadioTelegraph Operator License

 

I'm proud to announce that the FCC granted my new RadioTelegraph Operator
License yesterday.  It is number T000000001, so I am the very first to
receive the new type of radiotelegraph ticket.  There doesn't seem to be a
T000000002 yet, so apparently I am the *only* holder as well.  -grin-   That
and $5 will buy me lunch at McDonalds.  

When the FCC announced the new radiotelegraph license structure in January
(see below), I asked the FCC's helpdesk what elements would be needed for me
to get the new ticket.  They confirmed that applicants for the new
Radiotelegraph Operator License would be required to pass written elements 1
and 6, and telegraphy elements 1 and 2.  I hold an Amateur Extra class
license issued before April 15, 2000, so my passing of that 20 wpm code test
would substitute for Telegraphy Elements 1 and 2.  I also hold a General
Radiotelephone Operator License (was originally a First-Phone), so that
would cover written element 1.  That left me only needing to take the exam
for written element 6.
  
ETA was the only COLEM (the commercial equivalent of volunteer examiners)
that responded to my email inquiries - none of the others even bothered to
reply.  It took me three months to work out with ETA how to take the exam.
Their examiners based at a nearby college apparently vanished without
notice, and thus there was a lot of dead-end emailing and back-n-forth
discussion. ETA finally offered the option to have a local library proctor
the exam.  I made all the library arrangements and took the exam a couple
weeks ago.  In just a few days ETA let me know I'd passed.  Then last week
they told me they needed two signed passport photos for the application.
Fortunately I got their message when I was having lunch next door to a
Walgreens that takes such photos, near a post office where I could mail them
to ETA, all done in a half-hour or so.  ETA apparently received the pictures
in time to submit my application on the first day the Commission was able to
accept them, May 20. 

With the demise of commercial maritime CW, there is little practical use for
a radiotelegraph ticket.  Except for museum-ships and historical club shore
stations, there is little commercial Morse to be heard on the
"ship-to-shore" bands.  Why bother with a new version of an antique license?
I appreciated the challenge of studying for a serious exam covering
technology from a very wide time range - 1920s to 2000s, and I'd like to be
able to operate one of the restored maritime stations some day.  

"Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?" George Mallory is famously quoted
as having replied, "Because it's there".   It is unlikely I will climb Mount
Everest, but I can always learn more about radio and electronics.

73   Steve WD8DAS

sbjohnston at aol.com
http://www.wd8das.net/
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Radio is your best entertainment value.
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Changes to FCC Radiotelegraph Operator Licenses Coming May 20

 
<http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db0419/DA-13-7
98A1.pdf> Effective May 20, 2013, the FCC will no longer accept applications
for First (T1), Second (T2) or Third Class (T3) Radiotelegraph Operator
Certificates. In addition, the FCC has consolidated the T1 and T2
Radiotelegraph Operator Certificates into a new license class called the
Radiotelegraph Operator License (T). According to the FCC, this change takes
effect upon renewal: T1s and T2s that are renewed on or after May 20, 2013
will be renewed as Ts, but existing T1s and T2s will retain their current
license class for the duration of the current license term. The Commission
also consolidated the T3 with Marine Radio Operator Permits (MP); T3s
renewed on or after May 20, 2013 will be renewed as MPs, but existing T3s
will retain their current license class for the duration of the current
license term. These new rules were first announced in a Report and Order (
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022100656> WT Docket No.
10-177), issued January 8, 2013.

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