[South Florida DX Association] ARLB008 FCC Morse, restructuring proposals could be out by mid-year

[Bill Marx]

 SB QST @ ARL $ARLB008
> ARLB008 FCC Morse, restructuring proposals could be out by mid-year
> 
> ZCZC AG08
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 8  ARLB008
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  March 1, 2005
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB008
> ARLB008 FCC Morse, restructuring proposals could be out by mid-year
> 
> The FCC continues to work toward developing a Notice of Proposed
> Rule Making (NPRM) that will spell out what the Commission has in
> mind with respect to possible changes in the current Morse code
> requirement and Amateur Radio licensing.
> 
> A total of 18 petitions have been filed, including one from the
> ARRL, seeking Part 97 rule changes addressing the future of the 5
> WPM Morse requirement (Element 1) and revisions to the overall
> Amateur Radio licensing structure. The FCC plans to tackle all 18 in
> a single proceeding.
> 
> On the code issue, petitions--and comments in response to them--run
> the gamut from retaining or even beefing up the Morse requirement to
> eliminating it altogether. (The ARRL's proposal would retain the 5
> WPM Morse examination for Amateur Extra class applicants only.)
> 
> The League and others have also put forth proposals for a new
> entry-level Amateur Radio license class. At this point, personnel in
> the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau are continuing to review
> the thousands of comments filed on the 18 petitions.
> 
> While the FCC appears unlikely to release an NPRM any sooner than
> mid-year, the issue still may be a major discussion topic during the
> FCC Forum at Dayton Hamvention, May 20-22.
> 
> Once public, the NPRM would initiate another round of public
> comments on what the FCC has proposed. An FCC Report and Order
> implementing any new rules is unlikely before the second half of
> 2006, although it's possible the Commission could wrap up the
> proceeding before then.
> NNNN
> /EX