[Fists] FISTS vs. the ARRL

[YoDoc@aol.com]

Dear Fellow FISTS:

I have been following the threads recently involving comments from certain 
ARRL Officials when questioned regarding their position on the future of Morse 
code testing in Amateur Radio licensing in the U.S.  While I do not condone the 
tone of their replies, which have, at times, been quite pointedly sarcastic, 
I do understand the thinking that lies beneath the attitudes expressed.  I 
think it can be analyzed thus:  A.)  They are faced with what they consider to be 
a much more important issue which has far greater potential to do permanent 
harm to the ARS, that is, BPL.  B.)  The no-code/pro-code factions represent a 
single interest which causes the proponents of each faction to have a "take no 
prisoners" attitude, one which is unwilling to compromise with the other.  
This leaves them in a position where, on the code issue at least, they have no 
way to satisfy every ham concerned with the issue of code testing, therefore, 
there is nothing for them to look forward to but endless controversy.  

While I as a FISTS member, and a radio amateur who has been at the sharp end 
of the code-testing debate for my entire 23-year career as a ham, certainly 
would have preferred to retain the status-quo of code testing in the 
Pre-Restructuring Era, I cannot with any sort of intellectual credibility deny that there 
is bound to be change.  Unfortunately, that change will inevitably take the 
form of the total elimination of code testing as a part of the amateur radio 
licensing process.  There, I've said it.  Code testing will go away.  In view of 
the elimination of the ITU Radio Rules S25.5 International Treaty code 
testing requirement at WRC-2003, it will be almost impossible to justify the 
retention of a code testing requirement in any country with an Amateur Radio Service. 
 There are bound to be a few exceptions, but it is highly unlikely that the 
United States will be one.  

What concerns us most, particularly those of us who are ARRL members, is the 
fact that the ARRL seems to be intransigent on this issue.  Whether they 
actually are or not is a matter of perception; however, I have had the saying 
"Perception is reality" drilled into me most of my adult life.  The fact that ARRL 
officials appear to respond to the concerns of pro- or no-code factions in a 
less than satisfactory manner is, IMHO, a perception which will not ever be 
resolved to the individual satisfaction of any given member.  However, I will 
state that I do firmly believe that when they say that BPL is a more important, 
if not overriding consideration, is, in fact, the proper position for the ARRL 
to take.  BPL is something which can make our HF frequencies virtually useless 
for most radio amateurs.  The big problem with BPL is that it is a technology 
which has the potential to create literally billions of dollars of new wealth 
in the telecommunications industry, and we all know the old saying, "Money 
talks."  In this case, the corollary would be, "Hobbies (like amateur radio) 
walk."  

Fortunately for amateur radio, we have some powerful forces on our side in 
the battle against BPL, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
and commercial broadcasters and utility communications services which employ 
the HF spectrum.  With any luck, and with intelligent and dedicated effort on 
the part of the ARRL in representing the primary interests of all radio 
amateurs, we may possibly prevail over the BPL interests.  However, in order for this 
to happen, all radio amateurs, regardless of our passions regarding Morse/CW, 
need to rally on this one, common, and universal objective.  

As far as the code testing issue is concerned, I think it is time to realize 
that we (those who favor continued code testing) are not going to win.  And, 
as FISTS, I believe that the reason we're about to lose is because we blew our 
chance to make a real difference as far as this issue is concerned.  At the 
1997 Dayton Hamvention, Nancy Kott, WZ8C, made a quite devastatingly effective 
presentation in favor of Morse code testing against the then head of No Code 
International, Fred Maia, W5YI.  However, instead of taking that momentum and 
rallying the FISTS membership to take an active role in fighting against any and 
all actions to further reduce or eliminate code testing, Nancy seemingly 
abandoned the issue, pretty much leaving it up to the individual FISTS members 
whether or not they would take the matter seriously.  Well, since then, we've 
seen the "Restructuring" of the amateur radio licensing system in the U.S. to 
where the only code test is now down to a mere 5 WPM.  I have no doubt that if 
the FCC had received a response to the Restructuring NPRM from thousands of 
FISTS members, each individually supporting the retention of the status quo in 
code testing, that the outcome would have been quite different -- perhaps a 
workable compromise such as a 5 WPM and ultimately Zero WPM General, and a 
permanently fixed 12- or 13-WPM code testing requirement for the Amateur Extra Class.  
But, that didn't happen, because the overwhelming support was not there.  The 
support was not there because there was no leadership to make it happen.  So, 
we must now live with the consequences. BTW -- I'm not blaming Nancy for the 
outcome of Restructuring, because any other FISTS member, myself included, 
could have "led the charge" as it were.  We all share equal blame for the 
complacency which led to our present situation. 

The FISTS CW Club calls itself "The International Morse Preservation 
Society."  I believe that this particular taxonomy has a very hollow ring.  In 
reality, all we are as FISTS are a bunch of mainly old-timer hams who already know, 
use, and love CW, who simply get together on-the-air to exchange meaningless 
numbers in order to achieve even more meaningless awards.  While all this was 
happening, the code testing issue was won by the opposition.  In effect, the 
FISTS fiddled while Rome burned to a cinder!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed 
to the FISTS "mission" of creating ever escalating awards programs and 
encouraging OTA use of CW, but I don't call that "preserving" the Morse code, when 
the one and only thing which gets people to learn to use CW in the first place, 
code testing as a licensing requirement, has been shot down in flames by our 
opposition.  So, the question now is -- what happens next?  

I predict that code testing will be abolished by the FCC before this year is 
over.  That is, of course, unless they simply don't consider it an important 
enough issue to take action that quickly.  However, with all the Petitions for 
Rulemaking (on both sides) currently on the FCC docket, something will happen, 
and I believe it will be sooner rather than later.  

Do not look for the ARRL to be on our side in this matter now, or at any time 
in the future.  Their unspoken, but nevertheless clear objective, is to 
simply watch code testing die away, hopefully as quietly as possible.  They (the 
ARRL Board of Directors) see code testing as something which has the potential 
to limit the growth of new radio amateurs, and potential ARRL members.  There 
would be no "upside" for them if code testing were either retained or, as in 
the FISTS Petition, increased for the Extra Class.  The ARRL wants to make 
getting a ham ticket as quick, easy, and painless as possible for the purpose of 
increasing the total number of hams, selling more equipment, and keeping their 
organization alive in the only way that matters -- financially.  If you follow 
the money, you learn the truth.  Therefore, don't be surprised when your 
local, Section, or Division-level ARRL officials don't respond with upbeat 
enthusiasm to your demands to support code testing.  

One last thing -- it will never be a useful response to threaten to cancel 
your ARRL membership simply because they can't, or won't, give you any 
satisfaction on the code testing issue.  Think about it -- what other organization has 
the legal, technical, and political resources to even put up a fight against 
the powerful commercial interests behind BPL?  I'll give you two hints:  It 
isn't NCI, and it certainly isn't FISTS!  

73 de Larry, K3LT
FISTS 2008
Member, ARRL