[GreenKeys] FCC Lifts Morse Code Requirement for Ham Radio Licenses

[Mark Richards]

John Becker wrote:
> How in the world did they do it before?
It was not done before.  I believe the licensing for amateur radio 
operators has always been predicated on a basic proficiency with 
international morse code.
> 
> Yet another act of being " Political correctness " .
How's that?
> And to think it was done with the ACLU stepping in.
I don't see any reference anywhere to the ACLU's involvement in this 
decision.  I'd be curious if they were involved and on what basis.


This will sicken some to read.  I did not have to work as hard as some 
folks for the code portion of my license.  Back when the General license 
required 13 WPM and the test was taken in the presence of an FCC 
examiner, I opted to take the 20 and "get it over with".  Heads turned 
in the room.  It was as easy for me as reading a book.  But this is 
because my brain is wired in such a way that morse connects.  The CW 
machine could have cranked out 35 for all I cared.

Knowledge of how the mind works has greatly improved and with it society 
responds and makes changes to accommodate.  Sometimes it takes a bit of 
force to bring changes about.  In the main we find that each incremental 
adjustment is really not so bad.

The underlying reasoning for the absence of a Morse requirement is that 
it's no longer used (no one said it's no longer "useful"), but what is 
not said is that societies have - at least a little - grown up and 
realized that some of their standards and prohibitions are not based on 
science and when examined are not in the overall interest.

It's no skin off my license if Mary down the street retires her CB and 
takes up on 75 meters without the rigors of CW to get there.

The future of our hobby is better assured by allowing more people to 
join.  To sustain it will require work.  It seems to me that the job of 
licensed Amateurs everywhere to get off their duffs and help the new 
entrants into our wonderful hobby, teaching them the traditions and good 
practices that we all wish to sustain.

Who knows.  Maybe Mary will hear the sweet ring of CW and say, "I'd like 
to learn that!".

/k1mgy