[Fists] Amateur Radio Licensing Process

[James Kimball]

                   Amateur Radio Licensing Process

My amateur radio days began with a Novice license in
1957.  Morse code ability to receive and send at 5
words per minute was a requirement for access to this
privilege, and the license was limited to one year. 
Without an upgrade, my amateur radio privileges would
have ended.  My next license was the Conditional
(General) class, which required the ability to receive
and send at 13 words per minute.  In addition,
electronic theory of general level was required.  The
Conditional class license examination was administered
by an early version of the VEC - a �senior� amateur
who opened the sealed envelope, administered the test,
and returned it to the FCC for scoring.  The
Conditional license, like the General class, provided
all operating privileges.

With the advent of �Incentive Licensing�, I went to
the Secondary FCC Testing site in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and had to retake and pass the code and
theory tests for the General class before I was
allowed to take the code and theory tests for the
Advanced class license.  Years later, I had to travel
from central Wisconsin, twice , to the Primary FCC
Testing site at the Federal Building in St. Paul,
Minnesota, to take the code and theory tests for the
Extra class license.  The first time I missed the
theory portion by one question!

My motivation to upgrade from Conditional was simply
to regain the bottom 25 Khz of the CW portions of the
bands that had been lost with the advent of �Incentive
Licensing�.

I agree with the many observations and comments, that
the current amateur radio testing procedures have
resulted in the �dumbing-down� of people�s skills and
pride in achieving various levels of licensing.  I
personally do not feel contempt for the new amateur
.... just the testing procedures allowed in their
being licensed.  Some say the previous and present
testing and licensing process are too hard for
some(non-English, elderly, handicapped, �normal�,
etc.).  We all live with our abilities and
limitations.  I don�t feel everyone should be licensed
to drive a car or fly an airplane.  Not everyone can
be licensed to drive a semi truck, become a Certified
Public Accountant, or become qualified to do brain
surgery.  At least, I hope not!  There are minimum
standards and competencies required for many
activities in life.

I admit to upgrading to Extra to simply regain CW
privileges, and then forgetting any theory I did not
find useful or find of interest.  I probably would
have a difficult time passing the current Extra class
�multiple-guess� test....except the code portion.  The
use of code is a daily activity, and I continually
work at improving it.  Theory and regulations are
maintained on a needs basis.  And, honestly, I am not
alone in this phenomenon.

When the VEC testing process began, I initially was in
favor of it.  In fact, I studied and passed the ARRL
test to be a VEC examiner.  What turned me off to the
procedure was the contempt of so many other VE�s had
for code, and who actually disagreed with and eased
the code testing part of the exam.  The last test I
helped facilitate as a VE involved a person taking the
Extra code test who marked down .�s and -�s as they
heard the code sent, and was given unlimited time to
translate the mess to answer the
�multiple-guess�questions!!!  Past practice was the
rationale given for allowing this travesty, contrary
to my objections.

There is much pressure on amateur radio operators to
upgrade our skills, but I believe pressure from radio
manufacturers to sell more radios has mainly been
focused on upgrading the 2 meter CB bunch, with little
or no additional skills.  Generally speaking, being
competent in one area of amateur radio does not
guarantee competence in all areas, even for the Extra
class license holder.  The �hobby� has too many facet.
 As technology moves forward, many are not interested
or willing to keep up.  With no interest or ability,
why is there this pressure to grant more privileges? 
Today, most amateurs have become �appliance
operators�, since we no longer build our own
equipment. The manufacturers and repair shops fill
that need.

My proposal to revamp the amateur radio testing
procedures has met much opposition and anger,
especially from the �Extra lights�.  To keep up our
skills, I would propose a testing procedure somewhat
like pilots are required to do.  That is, retesting
periodically to ensure/guarantee stable and hopefully
increasing competency of the amateur radio community. 
If a person fails their retest at a particular level,
they would drop back to a license level of their
proficiency.  I would also propose an
�Endorsement�process similar to Commercial Licensing
for specific modes of operation.  A test would have to
be passed prior to obtaining the operating privileges
for FM, AM, CW, SSB, PSK31, SSTV, etc.

This would upgrade amateur radio.....but not sell more
radios!!!!!!!!!

------ James C. Kimball, K9JXW 

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