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Author Topic: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees  (Read 12930 times)

N5PG

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ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
02/28/2018

ARRL has asked the FCC to expand HF privileges for Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. The FCC has not yet invited public comment on the proposals, which stem from recommendations put forth by the ARRL Board of Directors’ Entry-Level License Committee, which explored various initiatives and gauged member opinions in 2016 and 2017.

“This action will enhance the available license operating privileges in what has become the principal entry-level license class in the Amateur Service,” ARRL said in its Petition. “It will attract more newcomers to Amateur Radio, it will result in increased retention of licensees who hold Technician Class licenses, and it will provide an improved incentive for entry-level licensees to increase technical self-training and pursue higher license class achievement and development of communications skills.”

Specifically, ARRL proposes to provide Technician licensees, present and future, with phone privileges at 3.900 to 4.000 MHz, 7.225 to 7.300 MHz, and 21.350 to 21.450 MHz, plus RTTY and digital privileges in current Technician allocations on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. The ARRL petition points out the explosion in popularity of various digital modes over the past 2 decades. Under the ARRL plan, the maximum HF power level for Technician operators would remain at 200 W PEP. The few remaining Novice licensees would gain no new privileges under the League’s proposal.

ARRL’s petition points to the need for compelling incentives not only to become a radio amateur in the first place, but then to upgrade and further develop skills. Demographic and technological changes call for a “periodic rebalancing” between those two objectives, the League maintains.

“There has not been such a rebalancing in many years,” ARRL said in its petition. “It is time to do that now.” The FCC has not assessed entry-level operating privileges since 2005.

The Entry-Level License Committee offered very specific, data- and survey-supported findings about growth in Amateur Radio and its place in the advanced technological demographic that includes individuals younger than 30. It received significant input from ARRL members via more than 8,000 survey responses.

“The Committee’s analysis noted that today, Amateur Radio exists among many more modes of communication than it did half a century ago, or even 20 years ago,” ARRL said in its petition.

Now numbering some 378,000, Technician licensees comprise more than half of the US Amateur Radio population. ARRL said that after 17 years of experience with the current Technician license as the gateway to Amateur Radio, it’s urgent to make it more attractive to newcomers, in part to improve upon science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education “that inescapably accompanies a healthy, growing Amateur Radio Service,” ARRL asserted.

ARRL said its proposal is critical to developing improved operating skills, increasing emergency communication participation, improving technical self-training, and boosting overall growth in the Amateur Service, which has remained nearly inert at about 1% per year.

The Entry-Level License Committee determined that the current Technician class question pool already covers far more material than necessary for an entry-level exam to validate expanded privileges. ARRL told the FCC that it would continue to refine examination preparation and training materials aimed at STEM topics, increase outreach and recruitment, work with Amateur Radio clubs, and encourage educational institutions to utilize Amateur Radio in STEM and other experiential learning programs.

“ARRL requests that the Commission become a partner in this effort to promote Amateur Radio as a public benefit by making the very nominal changes proposed herein in the Technician class license operating privileges,” the petition concluded.

http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-privileges-for-technician-licensees
« Last Edit: March 01, 2018, 06:36:51 AM by N5PG »
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N2EY

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2018, 06:42:32 AM »

A step in the right direction.
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NK7Z

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2018, 07:04:04 AM »

I think I agree with you...  It turns the Tech into the new Novice ticket, offers a reason to upgrade, and lets the user taste it a bit, as the old Novice ticket did...  It will turn FT8 into a monster though...
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KS2G

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2018, 07:25:11 AM »

ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees

As I posted on That Other site, ARRL developed this idea quite some time ago and only just now has gotten around to formally proposing it to the FCC.

It's been beaten to death both here on eHam.net and on numerous other ham radio forums, but that won't prevent another eruption (with nothing new being said) in this thread.  ;)
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W7XTV

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2018, 08:40:23 AM »

Allowing digital privileges in their CW bands is fine.  Allowing them on 75/40/15 SSB is not.  That makes too little a difference between Tech and General.  Keep Tech phone privileges on 10 meters and up, although it would be beneficial to allow Techs in the entire phone band on 10, if only for FM.

And, a part of this proposal, should the FCC act on it, should be to scrap the Novice ticket once and for all.  Give all remaining Novices one more renewal after their current terms, but that's it.
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W1ITT

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2018, 09:03:33 AM »

I agree with WW7KE, above.  I was a Novice back when Novices were also allowed voice on two meters.  It was AM in those days!  Some of my cohorts spent their year talking on phone and didn't study to upgrade, nor increase their code speed as was required.  They stagnated and dropped out of the hobby.
For many, if the ARRL proposal is adopted, they will go on phone in the new segments and stagnate there forever.  Their segment will become a ghetto of yakkers, most of whom will never bother with the General exam. 
Another point I wonder about is the 200 watt power limit.  Will the FCC have as much success enforcing this as they have had  with limits on 27 mhz?  I foresee an influx of some of the dirty "linears" brought down from the 10-4 crowd.  Again, with very little skin in the game in terms of achievement, I would anticipate an influx of new operators who don't take the rules and regs seriously.
If we are to bring younger people into the game, it's my opinion that the various digital modes would be the most interesting to them, and I would support that part of the League's proposal.  I suppose I am becoming cynical but I believe that much of the ARRL's interest in this is to provide a larger market for their publications.
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SOFAR

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2018, 09:11:06 AM »

Anyone that's granted a Tech license already has the resources to take, and pass the General exam at their fingertips.

They're already in the loop.
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WB4M

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2018, 06:55:11 PM »

exam. 
Another point I wonder about is the 200 watt power limit.  Will the FCC have as much success enforcing this as they have had  with limits on 27 mhz?
I I suppose I am becoming cynical but I believe that much of the ARRL's interest in this is to provide a larger market for their publications.

You are not cynical at all. They want more people, as many as possible. Sell those mags.
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N4OI

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2018, 08:01:02 PM »

I am so confused.  OK, more than half the amateur population is still Technician.  And the problem is that techs are not upgrading.  So, why are we increasing privileges to make it more attractive to stay a Tech?   

On a positive note, I haven't enjoyed such double talk since Abbott and Costello...  Just sayin'

73   ::)
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WA2ISE

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2018, 08:37:38 PM »

No 20m subband?  Say from 14.310 to 14.320?   :D

I do think it would be good to give techs a taste of HF, so they can be motivated to upgrade to general or extra.  Though HF rigs are more expensive than your usual HT or mobile 2m rig...
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W4KYR

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2018, 07:48:55 AM »

exam. 
Another point I wonder about is the 200 watt power limit.  Will the FCC have as much success enforcing this as they have had  with limits on 27 mhz?
I I suppose I am becoming cynical but I believe that much of the ARRL's interest in this is to provide a larger market for their publications.

You are not cynical at all. They want more people, as many as possible. Sell those mags.

Adding HF phone and digital for Technician privileges isn't going to get many more hams to join the ARRL. However, if the ARRL dropped the membership fee to something like $20, then maybe...
.
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KX4OM

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2018, 10:38:16 AM »

Not enough Elmers to support the "I pushed the mic button, and I get no output on the meter" questions. On the other hand, the manufacturers' lobbyists are ecstatic.

Ted, KX4OM
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KB2SMS

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2018, 04:27:52 PM »

They can take and pass the general exam. It's that simple. It's not that hard. There is no reason to give more privileges to the tech class.  I bet that in the near future they (the ARRL) will want to do away with the tech all together.
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KG4RUL

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2018, 05:09:36 AM »

The Technician license was always promoted as a rung on a ladder leading to higher privileges.  Now ARRL wants to promote it as the next to top step.  My response to the ARRL - NO!  It is NOT needed at all.  Spend a little more time studying and get the General. 
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ONAIR

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RE: ARRL Requests Expanded HF Privileges for Technician Licensees
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2018, 04:25:00 PM »

The ARRL (and the radio manufacturers) will do anything to help increase the number of ham operators.  It's all about the bottom line.
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