[Fists] RE: FISTS vs the ARRL

[Fred Adsit]

Hmmmm.

>----- Original Message -----=20
>From: w0oow=20
>To: FISTS@mailman.qth.net=20
>Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:57 AM
>Subject: [Fists] RE: FISTS vs the ARRL
>
>
>I don't think that topic/subject is accurate.  FISTS vs the ARRL????  I
>don't think that is the question.  How about the preservation of the =
art?
>Yes, BPL is important, but the preservation of the art is too.  Without =
CW
>and reasonably tough test, we have nothing but CB.  This hobby has =
always
>been for those that were willing to prove their abilities and even =
learn.
>Yep, hams can even read and learn.  Why should anyone give in to what =
has
>been said is inevitable?  Personally, I don't think that is true.  I =
would
>rather believe that CW testing and tougher tests will become a reality =
in
>the next year. =20

Excuse me, but on what basis is this dream founded?=20

>What?  Is the new breed to give up and surrender what is
>just?  This country was not founded upon nor perpetuated on "give in".  =
Many
>persons paid a high price that we might have the freedom to continue =
this
>hobby.  So, why give in now?  Support CW, tougher theory tests, and =
then
>support the fight against BPL.
>73.oow
>

We gave in, and that is in part due to apathy on the part of FISTS =
members.
I recall numerous conversations with Nancy about her need to find =
somebody
to help muster and to lead a support for CW. At the time, the =
organization was
very small compared with today. We all knew a problem was coming. I =
could
not take the helm for this effort, and I knew full well that the FISTS =
members
for the most part would not rally together and make a lot of noise. They =
did not
and they STILL HAVE NOT, if you look at the filings to date compared =
with the
total number of known active FISTS. This is not unusual, but in this =
case, it is
important for a LARGE NUMBER of FISTS to get off their hands and do
something. More has gone on behind the scenes of late than most know.=20

More action is to come, but the ARRL BOD is about to meet and I am sure
that the majority will NOT come up with support for CW testing beyond =
the
test for Extra Class at 5wpm. The FCC has not issued a NPRM so there is
nothing specific yet for the ARRL, or for us, to comment on. SOME of us
commented on the collection of petitions sent in, including the FISTS =
one
which got numbered and publicized late.

Sure, I support the fight against BPL. But as for integrity in =
licensing, quit
dreaming. It is about over, w0ooo.

As for Larry, whose original posting is below, I reckon the only axe I
have to grind with him is my love for using bugs and his hatred of them
since by his standards most bug users send terribly. I grew up on =
terrible
bug fists and so it is all a personal issue of little consequence.=20

Oh, and yes, he used to post a lot, even before the Internet was =
accessible
to all, about "barking into a microphone". I am sure he would still use =
the
same phrase, and frankly, if you listen much to phone, that is what goes =
on.

AND, I agree with him about the points gathering. But then, I am not a
contester any more, it does not excite me at all. I handled traffic for =
years
and that to me was a worthwhile endeavor. It still is, but actions are =
afoot
to pretty much stop support of the NTS, and the TCC is mostly a digital
operatioon and has been for what, maybe 20 years now. Time flies.=20

As long as I am on a soapbox, I do wish, my sympathies for cases of
nerves notwithstanding, that all ops would get their speed up, and their =
fists
fixed, to some reasonable rate before getting on the air. I cannot =
manage a
QSO at five wpm. I just cannot do it. I learned to listen and remember =
whole
words and mixed number/letter groups. I will slow down for anybody IF I =
can
comprehend what in blazes they are saying. When I first got on the air, =
I=20
was READY. The only jitters and disappointment came with my lousy war
surplus equipment and less than one handful of rocks to pick from for my
frequency. The log is full of CQs marked "no answer" - yes, I wrote them
in my logbook. This is consuming too much bandwidth.=20
=20
You may think me "old" but I feel well for my age and have no plan
to die anytime soon, or refer to any Senior Moments. My middle-age
heart attack was maybe a gift. It got me into healthy, fun living......=20
If you think me odd in some way, maybe my brain got damaged a bit
from having been clinical deceased twice, and bringing my heartbeat
from aboujt 4 beats per minute to normal instantly, by praying. The
cardiologist said that was a miracle. Ever hear a doctor admit THAT? :-)

NY2V - originally W2ZOJ in 1948
FISTS 1293
Member, ARRL

>----- Original Message -----=20
> From: YoDoc@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 23:10:57 EST
> To: fists@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Fists] FISTS vs. the ARRL
>
Dear Fellow FISTS:

I have been following the threads recently involving comments from =
certain=20
ARRL Officials when questioned regarding their position on the future of =
Morse=20
code testing in Amateur Radio licensing in the U.S.  While I do not =
condone the=20
tone of their replies, which have, at times, been quite pointedly =
sarcastic,=20
I do understand the thinking that lies beneath the attitudes expressed.  =
I=20
think it can be analyzed thus:  A.)  They are faced with what they =
consider to be=20
a much more important issue which has far greater potential to do =
permanent=20
harm to the ARS, that is, BPL.  B.)  The no-code/pro-code factions =
represent a=20
single interest which causes the proponents of each faction to have a =
"take no=20
prisoners" attitude, one which is unwilling to compromise with the =
other. =20
This leaves them in a position where, on the code issue at least, they =
have no=20
way to satisfy every ham concerned with the issue of code testing, =
therefore,=20
there is nothing for them to look forward to but endless controversy. =20

While I as a FISTS member, and a radio amateur who has been at the sharp =
end=20
of the code-testing debate for my entire 23-year career as a ham, =
certainly=20
would have preferred to retain the status-quo of code testing in the=20
Pre-Restructuring Era, I cannot with any sort of intellectual =
credibility deny that there=20
is bound to be change.  Unfortunately, that change will inevitably take =
the=20
form of the total elimination of code testing as a part of the amateur =
radio=20
licensing process.  There, I've said it.  Code testing will go away.  In =
view of=20
the elimination of the ITU Radio Rules S25.5 International Treaty code=20
testing requirement at WRC-2003, it will be almost impossible to justify =
the=20
retention of a code testing requirement in any country with an Amateur =
Radio Service.=20
 There are bound to be a few exceptions, but it is highly unlikely that =
the=20
United States will be one. =20

What concerns us most, particularly those of us who are ARRL members, is =
the=20
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=20
"Perception is reality" drilled into me most of my adult life.  The fact =
that ARRL=20
officials appear to respond to the concerns of pro- or no-code factions =
in a=20
less than satisfactory manner is, IMHO, a perception which will not ever =
be=20
resolved to the individual satisfaction of any given member.  However, I =
will=20
state that I do firmly believe that when they say that BPL is a more =
important,=20
if not overriding consideration, is, in fact, the proper position for =
the ARRL=20
to take.  BPL is something which can make our HF frequencies virtually =
useless=20
for most radio amateurs.  The big problem with BPL is that it is a =
technology=20
which has the potential to create literally billions of dollars of new =
wealth=20
in the telecommunications industry, and we all know the old saying, =
"Money=20
talks."  In this case, the corollary would be, "Hobbies (like amateur =
radio)=20
walk." =20

Fortunately for amateur radio, we have some powerful forces on our side =
in=20
the battle against BPL, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency =
(FEMA)=20
and commercial broadcasters and utility communications services which =
employ=20
the HF spectrum.  With any luck, and with intelligent and dedicated =
effort on=20
the part of the ARRL in representing the primary interests of all radio=20
amateurs, we may possibly prevail over the BPL interests.  However, in =
order for this=20
to happen, all radio amateurs, regardless of our passions regarding =
Morse/CW,=20
need to rally on this one, common, and universal objective. =20

As far as the code testing issue is concerned, I think it is time to =
realize=20
that we (those who favor continued code testing) are not going to win.  =
And,=20
as FISTS, I believe that the reason we're about to lose is because we =
blew our=20
chance to make a real difference as far as this issue is concerned.  At =
the=20
1997 Dayton Hamvention, Nancy Kott, WZ8C, made a quite devastatingly =
effective=20
presentation in favor of Morse code testing against the then head of No =
Code=20
International, Fred Maia, W5YI.  However, instead of taking that =
momentum and=20
rallying the FISTS membership to take an active role in fighting against =
any and=20
all actions to further reduce or eliminate code testing, Nancy seemingly =

abandoned the issue, pretty much leaving it up to the individual FISTS =
members=20
whether or not they would take the matter seriously.  Well, since then, =
we've=20
seen the "Restructuring" of the amateur radio licensing system in the =
U.S. to=20
where the only code test is now down to a mere 5 WPM.  I have no doubt =
that if=20
the FCC had received a response to the Restructuring NPRM from thousands =
of=20
FISTS members, each individually supporting the retention of the status =
quo in=20
code testing, that the outcome would have been quite different -- =
perhaps a=20
workable compromise such as a 5 WPM and ultimately Zero WPM General, and =
a=20
permanently fixed 12- or 13-WPM code testing requirement for the Amateur =
Extra Class. =20
But, that didn't happen, because the overwhelming support was not there. =
 The=20
support was not there because there was no leadership to make it happen. =
 So,=20
we must now live with the consequences. BTW -- I'm not blaming Nancy for =
the=20
outcome of Restructuring, because any other FISTS member, myself =
included,=20
could have "led the charge" as it were.  We all share equal blame for =
the=20
complacency which led to our present situation.=20

The FISTS CW Club calls itself "The International Morse Preservation=20
Society."  I believe that this particular taxonomy has a very hollow =
ring.  In=20
reality, all we are as FISTS are a bunch of mainly old-timer hams who =
already know,=20
use, and love CW, who simply get together on-the-air to exchange =
meaningless=20
numbers in order to achieve even more meaningless awards.  While all =
this was=20
happening, the code testing issue was won by the opposition.  In effect, =
the=20
FISTS fiddled while Rome burned to a cinder!  Don't get me wrong, I'm =
not opposed=20
to the FISTS "mission" of creating ever escalating awards programs and=20
encouraging OTA use of CW, but I don't call that "preserving" the Morse =
code, when=20
the one and only thing which gets people to learn to use CW in the first =
place,=20
code testing as a licensing requirement, has been shot down in flames by =
our=20
opposition.  So, the question now is -- what happens next? =20

I predict that code testing will be abolished by the FCC before this =
year is=20
over.  That is, of course, unless they simply don't consider it an =
important=20
enough issue to take action that quickly.  However, with all the =
Petitions for=20
Rulemaking (on both sides) currently on the FCC docket, something will =
happen,=20
and I believe it will be sooner rather than later. =20

Do not look for the ARRL to be on our side in this matter now, or at any =
time=20
in the future.  Their unspoken, but nevertheless clear objective, is to=20
simply watch code testing die away, hopefully as quietly as possible.  =
They (the=20
ARRL Board of Directors) see code testing as something which has the =
potential=20
to limit the growth of new radio amateurs, and potential ARRL members.  =
There=20
would be no "upside" for them if code testing were either retained or, =
as in=20
the FISTS Petition, increased for the Extra Class.  The ARRL wants to =
make=20
getting a ham ticket as quick, easy, and painless as possible for the =
purpose of=20
increasing the total number of hams, selling more equipment, and keeping =
their=20
organization alive in the only way that matters -- financially.  If you =
follow=20
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=20
enthusiasm to your demands to support code testing. =20

One last thing -- it will never be a useful response to threaten to =
cancel=20
your ARRL membership simply because they can't, or won't, give you any=20
satisfaction on the code testing issue.  Think about it -- what other =
organization has=20
the legal, technical, and political resources to even put up a fight =
against=20
the powerful commercial interests behind BPL?  I'll give you two hints:  =
It=20
isn't NCI, and it certainly isn't FISTS! =20

73 de Larry, K3LT
FISTS 2008
Member, ARRL