[South Florida DX Association] (no subject)

[william greeson]

      Media Release
     Contact: paul.slocum@aca.gov.au
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      Media Release No. 51 - 17 November 2003=20
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      ACA to end Morse code proficiency requirement for amateur radio =
operators
      Australia's amateur radio operators will no longer have to be =
skilled in Morse code from next year.


      The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) announced today that =
it would discontinue the requirement for amateur radio operators to be =
proficient in Morse code from 1 January 2004.


      The decision follows an extensive review of the amateur radio =
service which the ACA launched in August with the release of a =
discussion paper A Review of Amateur Service Regulation. The paper =
outlined current regulatory arrangements for the service, as well as =
proposing options for the future.


      ACA Acting Chairman Dr Bob Horton said the ACA had received more =
than 1400 written submissions commenting on the issues set out in the =
paper and from public meetings arranged for amateur operators throughout =
Australia.


      He said the decision to remove the Morse code proficiency =
requirement was made after considering public comments at the meetings =
and analysis of submissions.


      "This extensive public consultation proved invaluable with more =
than 700 of Australia's 14,000 licensed amateur operators attending to =
discuss the options in the discussion paper and to seek clarification on =
particular issues," Dr Horton said.=20


      "There was widespread support for the removal of the Morse code =
proficiency requirement at the meetings and throughout the submissions.


      "The ACA has therefore decided to make interim changes to =
legislative instruments which, from the date of effect, will immediately =
allow access to privileges previously available only to those who =
satisfied Morse code proficiency requirements.


      "Those changes will take effect on 1 January next year."


      Dr Horton said the ACA would amend the amateur radio licence =
conditions specified in the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions =
(Amateur Licence) Determination No. 1 of 1997 to reflect this decision. =
The amendments will give:


      a.. holders of Intermediate and Limited Amateur licences access to =
the same frequency bands as Unrestricted Amateur licensees; and=20

      b.. holders of the Novice Limited Amateur licence access to the =
same frequency bands as Novice licensees.=20

      The ACA also recognised that there was considerable concern in the =
amateur community about the 'no interference' proposal in the discussion =
paper.


      "The ACA will carefully consider the views of the amateur =
community as it examines regulatory arrangements in this area. We remain =
committed to balancing the needs of the amateur community with those of =
the wider community," he said.

      "The ACA expects to announce more decisions about new regulatory =
arrangements for the amateur service before the end of the year. The =
amateur community will continue to be kept fully informed about the =
progress of the review and the implementation of new arrangements."

      Information about the review of amateur service regulation is =
available.

      The Australian Communications Authority is a government regulator =
of telecommunications and radiocommunications

            For more information contact:=20
           All media enquiries:=20
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            Geoff McMillen Paul Slocum=20
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