[QCWA] Codeless Feb 23

[Pete Kemp]

Codeless Amateur Radio Testing Regime Appears Set to Begin February 23

NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 19, 2007 -- The ARRL has learned that the FCC's 
Report and Order 
(<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-178A1.pdf>R&O) 
in the "Morse code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235, 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. The FCC reportedly 
completed its work on the R&O this week and forwarded it to the 
Federal Register receiving desk. The Federal Register must make the 
document available for public inspection 24 hours prior to 
publication. Federal Register personnel are constrained by law from 
saying if a particular R&O is in the publication queue, however. 
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. Once the new rules are in place, 
Amateur Radio license applicants no longer will have to demonstrate 
Morse code proficiency at any level to gain access to the HF bands.

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. Candidates for 
General or Amateur Extra between now and the effective date of the 
new rules still must have Element 1 (5 WPM Morse code) credit to 
obtain new privileges, however.

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 been posting all relevant information on these important 
Part 97 rule revisions on its "<http://www.arrl.org/fcc/morse/>FCC's 
Morse Code Report and Order WT Docket 05-235" Web page.