An Editorial by W6DEK in response to the
ARRL proposal to remove the Morse Code Requirement for amateur
radio operations below 30 Mhz. Ham radio operators holding
a Technician license would have voice privalages on HF.
The CW debate has merit on both sides. Ont thing to remember
is this; No matter what class of FCC callsign you hold,
Novice, General, Advanced, or Extra, we are all hams. We'll
just have to let the Commissioners, Chairman Powell, and
maybe K4ZDH, Riley Hollingsworth sort it out. ~w6dek~
|
Dear Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and Mr. Hollingsworth,
My name is Dennis Keizer, amateur callsign W6DEK. Please give
the latest ARRL proposal all the consideration it deserves by
promptly filing it in the circular receptacle. When I was first
licensed in 1995 I joined the ARRL because it seemed like the
thing to do at the time. After a couple of years I realized that
they do not have the best interest of the hobby in mind. The ARRL
is all about promoting itself these days. It's new goal seems
to be obtaining new members by any means possible. The easiest
way for the League to do this is by recruiting new (ignorant)
hams into the hobby. Those of us that have been around a while
are not renewing our memberships to the ARRL for one common reason;
they no longer represent our interest in preserving the integrity
of the hobby service. That's right, amateur radio is a
SERVICE.
Before examining the code issue, let's first start
with the "grandfathering" issue. Granting HF privileges
to a large group of "hams" that have NEVER BEEN TESTED
on anything regarding the HF bands, is just plain stupid. They
don't even know what their privileges are, or where the sub bands
are in each of the HF bands. This is the first ingredient in the
recipe for disaster. The last time the ARRL proposed this in 1999
the Commission disagreed, and rightfully so. I hope that the Commission's
position has not changed on this issue. This would be like removing
the written test from the licensing process for operating motor
vehicles. Just because a person can start their car, (or power
up a radio and squeeze the PTT), doesn't mean they know the rules
and are qualified to hold driver's license. That's why the DMV
requires a written test AND a driving test. The same holds true
for an amateur radio license.
Now, lets look at the code requirement. That's right,
now that I'm on board, let's pull up the anchor! NOT! Seriously
though, let's look at the pros and cons of having a code requirement:
Does the code act as a "filter" to keep out some of
the undesirable element. ABSOLUTELY YES.
Does it therefor, also keep out some of the good people? I think
not. People of good character that have a genuine interest in
amateur radio will usually take the small amount of time required
to pass the code test. It's just too easy at five words per minute.
The Amateur Radio Service does not exist to reward laziness. Removing
the code requirement completely will most certainly spell the
end of incentive licensing. Removing the code requirement will
obviously create an enforcement nightmare. The enforcement bureau
is already spread too thin. Many of these undesirables already
exist above 30 megahertz. Allowing them unrestricted access to
the "world-wide" bands is insane. It would be like granting
Janet Jackson a license for amateur television! Just because a
few other countries are doing away with the code requirement doesn't
mean we should too. The United States doesn't follow trends, it
sets them. Let's lead the world in preserving the integrity of
the amateur Radio Service. Please do not turn the HF bands into
CB! Please deny the ARRL proposal and make the Commission's position
clear. Let the ARRL know that they have lost touch with the goals
of the Commission and the majority of the amateur radio community.
Regards,
Dennis E. Keizer
W6DEK
cc
Chairman Michael K. Powell: mpowell@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: kabernat@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: mcopps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: kjmweb@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: jadelste@fcc.gov
W. Riley Hollingsworth: rholling@fcc.gov
