QRZ! Ham Radio 1/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - December 1993.iso/arrl/exam_ac.com

Text File | 1993-11-21 | 5KB | 106 lines

The following text is from an information package which is
available from the ARRL/VEC.  Certain non-ASCII FCC Forms
referenced in this text can be requested by mail from the
ARRL/VEC, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TO:  Handicapped/disabled applicants seeking information on available
     accommodations in taking Amateur Radio examinations as described
     in Sections 97.509(h) and 97.505(a)(5)(i)(ii) of the FCC Rules:


    The FCC requires that persons who require certain accommodations,
in order to take Amateur Radio examinations, have them made available
where warranted. The choice as to which accommodation may be suitable is
determined between the applicant and the Volunteer Examiners who will be
administering the examination--with the ultimate decision being made by the
examiners.

    A statement from the applicant's physician may be required by the
Volunteer Examiners. That statement, made by a physician on some form of
business letterhead, must indicate the nature of the disability. It may
also suggest which accommodation(s) will be helpful for the applicant.

    Available accommodations include:

* The VEs reading or writing for an applicant.
* Braille materials can be used with sight impaired applicants.
* The examination may be conducted at a time a place convenient and comfortable
to the applicant, even at bedside.
* For Morse code examinations, a vibrating surface or flashing light(s) may
be used to administer the exam. The examiners may chose, where warranted,
to administer a sending test in lieu of a receiving test. The examiners
may pause the examination audio message to allow the applicant the necessary
time to speak out or to write down what was copied, by pausing the message
after each PHRASE/SENTENCE; or in GROUPS OF WORDS; or by INDIVIDUAL WORD,
or in extreme cases where warranted LETTER-BY-LETTER.


MORSE CODE EXEMPTIONS

    It is the intent of the FCC's allowance for exemption/credit
of the FCC's Morse code examination requirement for the General,
Advanced or Amateur Extra class license, that you are permitted to
apply for exemption/credit if you are not able to pass the 13 or
20 WPM Morse code examination due to the severity of your handicap
or disability.  The FCC will not exempt you from the initial 5 WPM
Morse code requirement, however.
     To begin, the FCC provides guidance to you and your Physician
within the enclosed FCC Fact Sheet.  This information is also
included in the Form 610 instructions.
     Taking the FCCs guidance into account in considering the
exemption/credit option, we hope that you have at least attempted
to pass the examination using the new, more flexible, examination
procedures announced by the FCC (per above).

     In most cases, the above flexibility will allow you to pass
the Morse code examination on your own--therefore not requiring an
exemption of the Morse code requirement because these procedures
may have accommodated your severe handicap or disability.

EXEMPTIONS

     The FCC's new Form 610 includes the FCC-required PHYSICIAN'S
CERTIFICATION OF DISABILITY and PATIENT'S RELEASE.  After it is
completed, you must bring the 610 form directly to a VEC-
accredited VE Team (this may be the team who is administering your
written exam[s]).  As required by the FCC, you must currently hold
at least a Novice license, or a license which conveys credit for
having passed a Morse code examination element, and you must
already have earned credit for the necessary written exams for
either the Technician (Element 3A) plus the General (Element 3B),
Advanced (Element 4A) or Amateur Extra class (Element 4B).
     In order for your FCC Form 610 with PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATION
to be accepted for exemption/credit by a VE Team, we recommend
that you review the following check list to ensure that your
application will be acceptable.

* The FCC Form 610 with Doctor's Certification must be completed
by both your Physician as well as by you.

* The completed PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATION (made by Medical Doctors
or Doctors of Osteopathy licensed to practice in the U.S., only!)
contains an original Physician's signature in original penmanship.
The signature is not a signature stamp. * As of August 1, 1992 all
certifications presented to VE Teams for 13 or 20 WPM Morse code
exemption must be made on the 610 form (this form carries a
release date of March 1992). * You already hold, or intend to take
at the session, the necessary written elements required toward an upgrade.

     If your FCC Form 610 with PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATION meets the
above requirements, then your request must be presented to an
ARRL/VEC VE Team with a check or money order in the amount of
$5.40 for 1992 (our standard processing fee).  Only VEC-accredited
VE Teams may process your request because they must provide you
with a CSCE indicating that you have been given Element 1C
exemption/credit for presenting your correctly-completed
application, and they must sign the Form 610 application.
     If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the
ARRL/VEC.  The number is: (203)-666-1541.  Our address is:
ARRL/VEC, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.


Note: No exemptions are available for written examinations.