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1-6 of 6 messages
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Page 1 of 1
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Gettin Twichy...
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by N5LRZ on November 5, 2009
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Im startin to get twichy...
Its been a pretty long time since the FCC changed any of the Amateur Rules and Regs since the last time.
Its been tooooooooo quiet.
The longer the quiet time the greater the change in the works??????
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Relax!
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by N2EY on November 6, 2009
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Don't worry about it.
FCC only changes the rules when there are petitions, proposals, NPRMs and other stuff going on. IOW, unless somebody yells repeatedly that it's broken, FCC doesn't fix it. Even then, they take their time, and may not fix it.
Look at the whole code-test thing for a perfect example.
In 1999, FCC dropped all code tests except the 5 wpm receiving test, and said clearly that the ONLY reason they kept the 5 wpm test for HF licenses was because the ITU-R treaty said a code test was required. FCC categorically and specifically dismissed every other reason as not being adequate reason to keep code tests.
In July, 2003, the ITU-R treaty was changed so that individual countries could require code tests if they wanted to, but the treaty would no longer require them. This was not a surprise to anyone; it was clear years earlier that the treaty requirement would be eliminated.
FCC could have just put out a Memorandum Report and Order dumping the 5 wpm code test in 2003. All they'd have to say is: "We only kept it because of the treaty, and the treaty changed, so now we're dropping it." Simple, fast and effective.
But instead FCC did nothing until there were 18 proposals, comments, an NPRM, more comments, reply comments, and finally a Report and Order. More than three and a half years passed between the treaty change and the rules change. And the change was extremely simple: No more 5 wpm code test.
So relax. Unless you know of some proposal that's hanging fire, there's no changes in the wind.
btw, one license class is about to enter the history books. The Technician Plus is now down to less than 500 current licensees, and is dropping every day as Tech Pluses are renewed as Tech, are not renewed, or the licensee upgrades. FCC has been renewing all Tech Pluses as Tech since April 15, 2000, and in a few months the last one will be gone.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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RE: Relax!
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by KB3LSR on November 6, 2009
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sometimes no news is good news ;)
Besides, the ARRL successfully sued the FCC over BPL, so that won't be an issue anytime soon.
Although, I could see us losing some spectrum in the microwave or UHF regions, but that'll be a few years away.
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RE: Relax!
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by N3DF on November 6, 2009
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I guess since the Tech Plus class is the old Tech class, one can say "welcome back."
Neil N3DF
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RE: Relax!
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by N2EY on November 6, 2009
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To N3DF:
Yes, things have come full circle!
As of this morning, the number of Novices is a bit more than 17,000 and the number of Advanceds is a bit more than 60,000. How long will it be before those license classes disappear?
Just think...the Advanced was closed to new issues at the end of 1952, reopened to new issues in 1967, closed to new issues again in April 2000. At least a few hams have held one since before the first closing!
Maybe we should start a petition to reopen it...
73 de Jim, N2EY
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RE: Relax!
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by N5LRZ on November 6, 2009
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Re EY...
Given that in the last survey of the ARRL Membership the average age of the average Amateur Radio op is hmmmm I want to say it was 62 or 63 years old if I remember correctly.
Well if the average american dies at the age of 80 to 85 years of age then most of those novices even if they renew their license should be becomming rare in about 20 years or so. POSSIBLY sooner if they opt not to renew their licnse when it expires.
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