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1990-12-17
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7KB
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123 lines
To: All ARRL VE Teams
From: Bill Lovell WT8B
RE: This news release from Bart J. Jahnke, KB9NM, ARRL/VEC
Manager to all VE Liaisons was sent out Dec. 14th and
received on December 17th, 1990.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FCC CREATES CODELESS CLASS OF AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE
For the first time ever, starting in February it will be
possible to obtain an Amateur Radio license in the United
States without passing a Morse code test. This was announced
by the FCC at its open meeting yesterday, December 13th. The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has eliminated the
need for new Technician class Amateur Radio license
applicants to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code in order
to have all amateur privileges above 30 MHz. The
implementation date may be as early as February 1991.
Technicians who obtain their licenses prior to that date will
be grandfathered, meaning their existing HF privileges will
continue.
The codeless Technician written examination will have 55
questions (existing Elements 2 and 3A). New Technicians
wishing to gain access to the HF privileges below 30 MHz will
be required to pass the Element 1A (5 WPM) Morse code test
before three Volunteer Examiners accredited by Volunteer
Examiner Coordinators, and will be given a Certificate of
Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) to serve as
evidence of their qualifications. That CSCE must be retained
by them in perpetuity to prove that they have met the
requirement to gain access to the Novice HF bands. Novices
wishing to upgrade to Technician must pass Element 3A to gain
the VHF privileges of the Technician class. Novices will
need to retain a copy (preferably the original) of their
Novice license in order to show that they have met the 5 WPM
requirement for HF band access. This is because there will
be no call sign designator to indicate Technicians who have
or have not passed a code test. VECs will supply FCC with a
list of those codeless Technicians who passed Element 1A.
There has been no change to the Novice license in any
way, nor has there been any change made above the Technician
class. Novice examinations will continue to be available
both by two Novice examiners (no test fee), or by three
accredited VECs (no test fee if only Elements 1A and 2 are
involved). The FCC decided to retain the current Novice
Class operator license as an alternate entry level license
for those persons able to pass the 5 WPM Morse code test
instead of the more comprehensive written exam required for
the Technician Class license.
At a press briefing held just after the Commission's
meeting, FCC Private Radio Bureau Chief Ralph Haller said,
"The Amateur Service is not growing as it should relative to
what it has to offer." He said that the Amateur Service is
where our Nation's technical expertise comes from--that the
changes should attract people who are interested in computers
and digital communications, and should help the U.S. to be
more competitive.
In a news release today, ARRL President Larry Price,
W4RA, noted with pleasure that the Commission had decided to
retain the novice license as a means of entry into Amateur
Radio and to adopt a codeless license with a meaningful
written examination requirement. "Our members were very
strong on both of these points, because they couldn't imagine
how we would maintain the character of the Amateur Radio
Service without them." Mr. Price said.
President Price sounded a note of caution with the
privileges the Commission plans to grant codeless licensees.
He indicated the formula developed by the ARRL Board, which
called for privileges above 220 MHz, was based upon extensive
membership input. It was carefully balanced to offer
attractive privileges while protecting existing patterns of
amateur activity. While it will take some time to gauge the
reaction to the Commission's action, Mr. Price observed that
the FCC formula is likely to be less acceptable to many
amateurs than the League's. He asks that League members
share their views with their elected Directors, who
collectively determine League policy.
"Before we can decide whether to request that the
Commission partially reconsider its action, we'll have to see
the Report and Order," said Mr. Price. Usually it takes the
FCC from several days to several weeks after a Commission
action to release an item after editorial review. There is a
30-day window of opportunity following release in which
petitions for reconsideration can be filed. Mr. Price noted
that ARRL Board was holding its regular meeting on January
18-19, 1991. "The timing looks good for a careful review of
the Commission's action at that meeting," he said.
Morse Code Exemptions For Handicapped or Disabled Amateurs
FCC also announced yesterday that it has amended its rules to
make the Amateur Service more accessible to handicapped or
disabled licensees who are unable to pass a higher speed
Morse code examination.
The FCC decided to decline to provide a list of
disabilities; instead, the judgment of a qualified physician
will be relied on to determine that a person cannot pass a
Morse code examination due to a sever handicap.
In response to concerns about the integrity of the
process, FCC Staff said anyone abusing the process would be
dealt with harshly.
The FCC affirmed that because of international
requirements, no exemptions would be granted for the 5 WPM
Morse code requirement.
As we understand it, Element 1C credit will be given by
VEs to applicants presenting a correctly completed Doctor's
Certification. The FCC indicated that the physician will be
relied upon to make the appropriate certification, and that
the certification will include permission for release of
medical information to the FCC. Ralph Haller, of the FCC,
said that the 610 form may be modified to require the
certifying physician's signature on the form near the US Code
Title 18 Reference which states, "Willful false statements
made on this form or attachments are punishable by fine and
imprisonment."
More specific information will be provided to you
through the next VE Express newsletter up receipt of the
Report and Order documents on both of the above news items.
End of Report