[HCRA] February 23rd is the tentative date for the codeless amateur license.

[Jim Mullen]

>From the latest ARRL Bulletin:

Get ready for the surge! (in amateur licenses).

Jim, KK1W

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SB QST @ ARL $ARLB004
ARLB004 Codeless Amateur Radio testing tentatively begins February 23

ZCZC AG04
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 4  ARLB004
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 19, 2007
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 Codeless Amateur Radio testing tentatively begins February 23

The ARRL has learned that the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the ''Morse
code proceeding,'' WT Docket 05-235,
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-178A1.pdf,
is scheduled to appear in the Federal Register Wednesday, January 24.
Assuming that occurs, the new Part 97 rules deleting any Morse code
examination requirement for Amateur Radio license applicants would go into
effect Friday, February 23, 2007. The League cautions that this date is
tentative, pending official confirmation and publication.

''This change eliminates an unnecessary regulatory burden that may
discourage current Amateur Radio operators from advancing their skills and
participating more fully in the benefits of Amateur Radio,'' the FCC
remarked in the Morse code R&O.

Publication of the R&O in the Federal Register starts a 30-day countdown for
the new rules to go on the books. Rules and regulations that appear in the
Federal Register constitute their official version.

Deletion of the Morse requirement is a landmark in Amateur Radio history.
Until 1991, when a code examination was dropped from the requirements to
obtain a Technician ticket, all prospective radio amateurs had to pass a
Morse test.

On or after the effective date of the new rules, an applicant holding a
valid Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination
(CSCE) for a higher license class will be able to redeem it for an upgrade.
For example, a Technician licensee holding a valid CSCE for Element 3
(General) could apply at a VEC exam session, pay the application fee --
which most VECs charge -- and receive an instant upgrade. A CSCE is good
only for 365 days from the date of issuance.

The new rules also mean that all Technician licensees, whether or not
they've passed a Morse code examination, will gain HF privileges identical
to those of current Novice and Tech Plus (or Technician with Element 1
credit) licensees without having to apply for an upgrade. Novices and
Technicians with Element 1 credit have CW privileges on 80, 40, 15 meters
and CW, RTTY, data and SSB privileges on 10 meters.

The FCC R&O includes an Order on Reconsideration in WT Docket 04-140
-- the so-called ''omnibus'' proceeding. It will modify the Amateur Service
rules in response to ARRL's request to accommodate automatically controlled
narrowband digital stations on 80 meters in the wake of other rule changes
that were effective last December 15.
The Commission designated 3585 to 3600 kHz for such operations, although
that segment will remain available for CW, RTTY and data.

The ARRL has posted all relevant information on these important Part
97 rule revisions on its ''FCC's Morse Code Report and Order WT Docket
05-235'' Web page, www.arrl.org/fcc/morse/.
NNNN
/EX