[cfgeeks] FCC eliminates morse code requirements

[Steve Litt]

On Saturday 16 December 2006 21:37, Gilbert Young wrote:
> On Dec 16, 2006, at 5:38 PM, Steve Litt wrote:
[clip]

> All HF bands were restricted from use unless you learned a particular
> mode of communication, and at a particular proficiency level, because
> the ARRL says so?  What if ~45% of the licensed radio operators are
> tech only licenses?  Yep, only ~1/2 of the licensed radio operators
> today know code. It seems that if code was still enforced for every
> license, ham license holders would be about ~1/2 what they are today,
> and the band plan would probably be halved as well by now at the rate
> commercial interests salivate at chunks of it.  I haven't met anyone
> under 30 that has any interest in Ham radio at all
>
> > So yes, in my opinion we should have mandated it, or more accurately,
> > continued to mandate it.
>
> I think if ham radio wants to demonstrate good stewardship to keep
> the frequencies they currently have, they are far better off getting
> rid of CW as a requirement for any HF privileges  I really do believe
> it is a blessing in disguise that the code requirements were dropped
> for all licensees involved.  FWIW, the number of licenses has been
> declining in recent times, from 2000 to 2006, the number of US
> licensed hams has reduced by about 3-4% in total numbers (2000=~680K,
> 2006=~650K).  I am pretty sure if it continues to do so, Ham
> operators would have less and less and then no leg to stand on for
> any frequency, band, mode, etc... especially if they take the stance
> that a huge chunk of spectrum must be kept sacred to CW proficient
> people (the # of which are -fast- dwindling).
>
> IMHO I hate to see it happening, or admit it, but it is a dying hobby
> that is nowhere near what form it was back even 30 years ago on so
> many levels.  Ham radio will be on life support within a decade or
> two, IMHO:
>
> "Average age of licensed Hams is approaching 60 years as these trends
> in License Counts and Remaining Life continue. These trends lead me
> to believe our hobby of Amateur Radio will suffer from severe
> problems unless there is a major change in our ability to recruit,
> educate, license and sustain activity of new young Hams."
>
> http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/LICENSE.html

Gil, 

That's a very persuasive argument. So persuasive, in fact, that I'm changing 
my mind. In an EMP or 500% deflation scenario, the one thing that scares me 
more than nobody knowing code is nobody transmitting at all, especially if 
the commercial interests have long since bribed the government into "eminent 
domaining" the remaining amateur frequencies.

SteveT