Feedback (Re: [Fists] FISTS vs. the ARRL)

[YoDoc@aol.com]

Dear Fellow FISTS:

I wish to thank W1EOF, W9YQ, N1YUK, KB6NU, W1MCE, and NY2V for your gracious 
and positive feedback on my recent posting.  There was one dissenter, who 
posted his comments in private E-mail, who will not be mentioned.  He is entitled 
to his opinion, but not to the verbal abuse he indulged in while attempting to 
make his points.  

One of the posters mentioned that we need to preserve the "art" of Morse 
code.  While I don't disagree, I must re-state that the time to do that would have 
been in 1998, when the "Restructuring" NPRM was being considered.  The FISTS 
organization had, and wasted, a valuable opportunity to respond in large 
numbers to the proposed rulemaking which, essentially, put an end to Morse code 
testing as a significant part of the amateur radio licensing process in the U.S.  
We now face a future ARS in which Morse/CW will be in grave danger of 
becoming a "lost art," and it could very well be thus because the FISTS, at the time, 
didn't have a charter to be a "political action group."

One thing we know for certain is that there will be a future NPRM coming from 
the FCC which will seek to put an end to code testing once and for all.  With 
almost 10,000 FISTS members on the rolls, how many of us will bother to 
respond?  I don't have the answer to that question, but you, my fellow FISTS 
members, certainly do.  It has never been more important for us to keep ourselves 
informed on what is happening with regard to FCC actions on the code testing 
issue, and to respond INDIVIDUALLY and in large numbers when the NPRM comment 
period finally arrives.  I know that I will, how about you?  

One last thing.  Any FISTS members who, for whatever reasons, are not also 
ARRL members, are taking very careful aim at their feet and shooting their toes 
off one at a time.  Whether or not we perceive the ARRL as being "friendly" 
toward our issue of code testing, we must recognize that they are the ONLY 
amateur radio organization which has any hope of representing our interests in the 
far more urgent matters which affect us, such as BPL and restrictive antenna 
ordinances.  The ARRL sees growth in their numbers as a good thing for amateur 
radio, since it gives them the financial support and raw numbers in the 
membership roster which add to their overall strength.  If this is so, then let's 
get on the bandwagon, if we aren't already there!  

73 de Larry, K3LT
FISTS 2008
Member, ARRL