[Fists] ARRL, FCC and elimination of CW testing requirements.

[Jozef Hand-Boniakowski, Ph.D.]

Jozef Hand-Boniakowski
WB2MIC
45 Lamb Hill Road
Wells VT 05774

ARRL
Newington, CT

January 8, 2007

Dear ARRL section manager, region, and other organizational personnel,
et al:

I have been a member of the ARRL since the 1960s and a life member since
the early 1970s. I was first licensed in 1963 as WN2MIC (New Jersey).
I have four hams in the immediate family (WB2MIC, KA1PMS, KA1ZWK, N1UKP)
and our club station is W1PAZ which the family and friends began a few
months ago. Our daughter, Guinnevere, KA1ZWK acquired her novice
license at the age of 9 and her General (13 WPM) at the age of 12. She
is now 25. My wife, JeanneE, KA1PMS, is a technician plus. Our son
Dylan acquired his technician ticket N1UKP at age 9. He is 21. I am a
retired high school mathematics and science teacher, a veteran of 33
years teaching. After that, I worked in telecom/IT for 6 years. I
taught ham radio to 7th graders through high school seniors. I taught a
ham radio class for science and graduation credit at the high school
level (Burr and Burton HS, Manchester VT). 73 Magazine published my
article on my science/ham radio course years ago. I taught theory and
Morse Code for many years, and, I was an Elmer to many. I am much more
than disheartened with the ARRL push for, and the recent FCC recent
(December 15, 2006) decision to eliminate the CW requirement for getting
a HF operators and station license. Let us say, that I am peeved beyond
your wildest imagination. As a result, I am now a 100% CW only ham
radio operator and station.

The ARRLS's decision to implement incentive licensing in 1968 was a
disaster. When the ARRL lowered the CW requirements in the 1990's, I
gave up being a VE. I know many hams who did the same. Some left ham
radio completely. I recognized then, that easier requirements for
people getting into ham radio was the modus operandi of the ARRL. It
was a way to increase its membership. Today, the dropping of the CW
requirement is more of the same. I understand that the folks who work
at the ARRL would like to keep their jobs and, perhaps, get continued
pay raises, however, such motivation sells out ham radio and many
dedicated hams. I say, "Shame on the ARRL".

As a result of the CW requirements being dropped, there are now two
classes of ham radio operator: those that pass a CW element and those
that do not. The other distinctions (Technician, General, Advanced and
Extra) are meaningless. Look how far we have come? How far we have
gone down toward less than mediocrity. When I passed my Extra Class
license, the requirement was that a ham had to be a General Class,
operating on the air for 5 years , just to qualify for taking the Extra
Class test! The code test was 20 wpm, both send and receive, and the
theory exam for the Extra (and for all classes of license) did not have
the questions and answers given away beforehand verbatim. There were no
Extra Class special operating frequency privileges, nor claims on
special Extra Class (ego) callsigns. Hams got their Extra Class ticket
because they believed in bettering themselves and being the best in the
amateur radio service. And today? One can cram for the Extra (and any)
Class test and pass it without much effort and without knowing very
much. We even have weekend jam and cram sessions that produce "ham
radio operators". What a sad state of affairs ham radio has come to and
the ARRL is very much to blame.

With the new changes in the band structure for SSB and other modes, the
squeeze on CW will further alienate a very large section of the active
amateur radio population. I suggest there will be a CW operators
revolt, and I will be part of that. I hear the rumblings. Rest assured
that CW ops will not be rolled over by SSB and other digital modes, nor
the ARRL. They will push back hard. Good for them. It is about time.

Jozef Hand-Boniakowski
WB2MIC