FCC rule change

Submitted by wb0n on Sat, 12/16/2006 - 6:28am. Announcements

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 15, 2006 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES,
ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND
ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a
Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that modifies the rules for the Amateur
Radio Service by revising the examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or
Amateur Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating privileges for
Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order resolves a petition filed by the American
Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur
service rules released on October 10, 2006.
The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur
radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General
Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30
MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands
above 30 MHz. Prior to today’s action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio
regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to
pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today’s Order eliminates that
requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to
international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union’s 2003
World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to
require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur
radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates
an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from
advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio.
Today’s Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees by
eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges for the Technician Class and Technician Plus
Class licensees. Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all amateur
frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, which is an operator license
class that existed prior the FCC’s simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was
grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above
30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful
completion of a Morse code examination. With today’s elimination of the Morse code exam
requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the operating privileges of
Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus Class licensees should not be retained.
2
Therefore, the FCC, in today’s action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees
identical operating privileges.
Finally, today’s Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for partial reconsideration of
an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized
amateur stations to transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain amateur
service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is authorized only for certain wideband
voice and image communications. The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been
expanded below 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital stations operating
in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The FCC concluded that these stations can be
protected by providing alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment.
Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and Order on
Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or .
WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235.
– FCC –
News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
is available at www.fcc.gov.

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FCC Rule Change

Submitted by kabbyken on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 12:41am.

I have been a ham since August. I have also been studying the code requirements for the general upgrade. It is a shame to see it go, and would like to see it as part of the licensing.

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Obligations vs desires.

Submitted by kc0vcu on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 4:10am.

When it comes down to it, the FCC licence requirements are primarily related to the obligations that the FCC and the United states has to the International regulatory bodies.

Computers in a variety of forms have become a very useful part of what most ham radio operators use as part of the hobby. I would hazard a guess that whhile most hams are not using computers to modulate the radio waves they are sending, that with digital signal processors, and computer logging software that often talks with the radios in use to get or set the operating frequency for the log, that more operators are using computers than are using code.

That does not mean that amatuer operators should be tested on computational theory, digital signal processing, or their skill at using a computer, whether that skil is specific to Amateur oprations, or not.

Morse code is a part of our legacy, and is likely to be a part of the Amature service for as long as amateurs are trying to get messages from one point to another. There will always be people who will think that unless you can communicate via morse code at some arbitrary speed or another, 5, 15, 20 wpm, you aren't really an amatuer operator. There are probably a few out there who will make the same argument regarding whether or not you make your own transmitters and receivers.

If you have been diligently studying code since August, you are possibly ready to pass element 1. It will be at least a month, and possibly as long as 2 months before thie R&O is effective. I think that there are Hams who would consider your passing Element 1, wether you are ready for elements 3 ro 4 yet, as a sign that you have put in that critical effort.

From my own perspective, I am just as happy that it is going away as a requirement to get on the air in the first place. It will still be a recommendation to follow the band plans which dictate that there are segments of each band that are reserved for the use of Morse Code. So people are going to continue using code in those parts of the band. There will be people wanting double the points just for a morse QSO. And so on. As a result Morse Code will be interesting to those people willing to put in the effort to learn it well enough to use it.

And as a result I think that we may see a greater apparent interest in learning code in the first place. I say apparent, because I think that for some time the number of people who aare actually learning code will go down, but I think that it will be obvious to those trying to teach others how to send and receive code, that the person on the other end is interested in using that knowledge, not just learning it so they can pass a test for some licence.

I know of people who think that everyone who has the interest in driving at a level that they attempt to get a drivers licence, should demonstrate in an exam that they are able to replace a flat tire on the car they are taking the exam in. If the intent is to make driving and controlling a car, a safer activity for all, then just being able to change a flat isn't enough. They would also need to be able to demonstrate that they know when it is a better idea to call a toe truck to get them off the highway when it is covered in ice, and there are people driving around at insane speeds for the conditions. But using the initial suggestion, (being able to change a tire) there are a number of people who would point out that requireing an amatuer to pass a morse code exam is not like requiring a driver to change a tire, it is like asking a drivers licence applicant to demonstrate that they know how to assist in changing the shoes on a horse.

In short, I don't think any effort to learn Morse Code, if you are intending to use it at some time as an Amature, is wasted. I think that if an operator has no interest in using morse code as part of their licenced activities, then forcing them to pass some exam on it is abusing them. (you don't have to agree.)

Additionally this simplifies the testing procedures significantly, which in the future may be reflected in lower exam fees. No worries about whether the taape player or CD player is going to function. No need to drag about headphones for people. No attempting to discern whether the applicant was trying to write a 7 or a T, was that an I or a / they put down? I or l? At some level evaluating what the applicant put down on paper becomes a subjective rather than objective situation.

73,

-Rusty - kc0vcu

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