[CQ-Contest] Fw: ARRL B052 - oh sh**, there goes the neighborhood

[Jim White, K4OJ]

Okay all you guys who just can't do that whopping 20 WPM, looks like you
win...and I suppose in another decade CW will not even be required....the
following is forwarded to the OPERATORS on the CQ-Contest Reflector with a
VERY heavy heart...tnx AJ4Y for the QSP.  



SB QST @ ARL $ARLB052
ARLB052 ARRL Proposes Simplified Amateur License Structure
ZCZC AG52
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 52  ARLB052
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  July 20, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB052
ARLB052 ARRL Proposes Simplified Amateur License Structure
The ARRL Board has agreed to propose a simplified Amateur Radio
licensing
structure with four classes. Lengthy discussion and debate during the
Board's meeting July 16-18 led to majority support for a plan for four
written examination elements to establish amateurs' operational and
technical qualifications instead of the present five, and two Morse code
examination elements instead of the present three.
Under the plan adopted by the Board, the entry level to Amateur Radio
would
be known as Class D and would convey the privileges of the present
Technician license. The written examination would be at the same level
of
difficulty as that of the present Technician examination, but consistent
with the privileges of the license. All amateurs now licensed as
Technicians
would become Class D.
The next step would be known as Class C and would convey the privileges
of
the present General license, but with phone subbands expanded by 50 kHz
on
75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters.  Class C would be the entry
level to high frequency (HF) operating privileges. To upgrade from Class
D
to Class C, an amateur would pass a written examination on the
operational
and technical qualifications required for HF operation and a 5 word per
minute Morse code examination. All amateurs now licensed as General,
Technician Plus, and Novice would become Class C. The expansion of the
telephony sub-bands would result from "refarming" of the Novice CW bands
that are no longer required for their original purpose.
The third step would be known as Class B and would convey the privileges
of
the present Advanced license, but with phone subands expanded by 50 kHz
on
75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters.  To upgrade from Class C to
Class B, an amateur would pass a more advanced written examination
similar
in difficulty to the present Element 4A and a 12 word per minute Morse
code
examination. All amateurs now licensed as Advanced would become Class B.
The final step would be known as Class A and would convey the full
privileges of the present Amateur Extra Class, with telephony sub-bands
expanded by 50 kHz on 75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters. To
upgrade from Class B to Class A, an amateur would be required to pass
the
most difficult written examination in the sequence. Consistent with the
practice in many other countries, no additional Morse code examination
would
be required beyond 12 words per minute. All amateurs presently licensed
as
Amateur Extra Class would become Class A.
In their discussions, Board members emphasized that the objective is to
rationalize and simplify the amateur licensing structure without
reducing
the requirements for any class of license. Where reductions in Morse
code
requirements are proposed, there would be a corresponding increase in
written examination standards. On the other hand, Board members were
adamant
that simplifying the structure should not come at the expense of
privileges
already earned by amateurs. Therefore, present Novice and Technician
Plus
licensees, having earned entry-level HF operating privileges, would be
granted the new entry-level HF license.
Adoption of the simplification plan marks the culmination of 30 months
of
work by the Board, during which time the input of literally thousands of
ARRL members and other amateurs and prospective amateurs was considered.
The
Board debated a wide variety of options including both smaller and
larger
numbers of license classes, higher and lower qualification levels, and
different privileges. Nine of the 15 Directors voted in favor of the
plan,
with six opposed. Following the meeting ARRL President Rod Stafford,
W6ROD,
observed, "The debate was at times contentious and the result was not
unanimous. Some Board members preferred greater simplification; others
were
uncomfortable with some of the changes being proposed. However, every
Board
member, without exception, left the meeting knowing that each of his or
her
colleagues did what they believe is best for the future of Amateur
Radio."
Members are urged to contact their ARRL directors to comment on this
proposal. E-mail addresses are on page 10 of any issue of QST.  Members
also
may comment on the proposal via the ARRLWeb site, http://www.arrl.org or
via
e-mail at restruxarrl.org.

NNNN
/EX





The crux is of course:

"Consistent with the practice in many other countries, no additional Morse
code examination would be required beyond 12 words per minute."

Yeah, guess that is just too tough, that blazing 20 WPM as was 13 - better
cut it back to 12 so everybody gets something......how sad.

Is it possible to find out who voted which way?

Sorry to digress from contest related material, but I think this is
pertinent to our interests as contesters.

73,

Jim, K4OJ

Florida Contest Group - visit our website at:

http://www.4w.com/deemer/fcg.htm


The Florida Contest Group sponsors the Florida QSO Party, check out the FQP
website@:

http://home1.gte.net/wd4ahz/fcg/ssqp.htm

----------
> From: Paul Womble <aj4y at concentric.net>
> To: FL Contest Group <fcg at qth.net>
> Cc: FL Ham <flham at qth.net>
> Subject: [FCG] ARRL B052
> Date: Monday, July 20, 1998 22:37
> 
> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB052
> ARLB052 ARRL Proposes Simplified Amateur License Structure
> ZCZC AG52
> QST de W1AW
> ARRL Bulletin 52  ARLB052
> >From ARRL Headquarters
> Newington CT  July 20, 1998
> To all radio amateurs
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB052
> ARLB052 ARRL Proposes Simplified Amateur License Structure
> The ARRL Board has agreed to propose a simplified Amateur Radio
> licensing
> structure with four classes. Lengthy discussion and debate during the
> Board's meeting July 16-18 led to majority support for a plan for four
> written examination elements to establish amateurs' operational and
> technical qualifications instead of the present five, and two Morse code
> examination elements instead of the present three.
> Under the plan adopted by the Board, the entry level to Amateur Radio
> would
> be known as Class D and would convey the privileges of the present
> Technician license. The written examination would be at the same level
> of
> difficulty as that of the present Technician examination, but consistent
> with the privileges of the license. All amateurs now licensed as
> Technicians
> would become Class D.
> The next step would be known as Class C and would convey the privileges
> of
> the present General license, but with phone subbands expanded by 50 kHz
> on
> 75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters.  Class C would be the entry
> level to high frequency (HF) operating privileges. To upgrade from Class
> D
> to Class C, an amateur would pass a written examination on the
> operational
> and technical qualifications required for HF operation and a 5 word per
> minute Morse code examination. All amateurs now licensed as General,
> Technician Plus, and Novice would become Class C. The expansion of the
> telephony sub-bands would result from "refarming" of the Novice CW bands
> that are no longer required for their original purpose.
> The third step would be known as Class B and would convey the privileges
> of
> the present Advanced license, but with phone subands expanded by 50 kHz
> on
> 75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters.  To upgrade from Class C to
> Class B, an amateur would pass a more advanced written examination
> similar
> in difficulty to the present Element 4A and a 12 word per minute Morse
> code
> examination. All amateurs now licensed as Advanced would become Class B.
> The final step would be known as Class A and would convey the full
> privileges of the present Amateur Extra Class, with telephony sub-bands
> expanded by 50 kHz on 75 and 15 meters and by 25 kHz on 40 meters. To
> upgrade from Class B to Class A, an amateur would be required to pass
> the
> most difficult written examination in the sequence. Consistent with the
> practice in many other countries, no additional Morse code examination
> would
> be required beyond 12 words per minute. All amateurs presently licensed
> as
> Amateur Extra Class would become Class A.
> In their discussions, Board members emphasized that the objective is to
> rationalize and simplify the amateur licensing structure without
> reducing
> the requirements for any class of license. Where reductions in Morse
> code
> requirements are proposed, there would be a corresponding increase in
> written examination standards. On the other hand, Board members were
> adamant
> that simplifying the structure should not come at the expense of
> privileges
> already earned by amateurs. Therefore, present Novice and Technician
> Plus
> licensees, having earned entry-level HF operating privileges, would be
> granted the new entry-level HF license.
> Adoption of the simplification plan marks the culmination of 30 months
> of
> work by the Board, during which time the input of literally thousands of
> ARRL members and other amateurs and prospective amateurs was considered.
> The
> Board debated a wide variety of options including both smaller and
> larger
> numbers of license classes, higher and lower qualification levels, and
> different privileges. Nine of the 15 Directors voted in favor of the
> plan,
> with six opposed. Following the meeting ARRL President Rod Stafford,
> W6ROD,
> observed, "The debate was at times contentious and the result was not
> unanimous. Some Board members preferred greater simplification; others
> were
> uncomfortable with some of the changes being proposed. However, every
> Board
> member, without exception, left the meeting knowing that each of his or
> her
> colleagues did what they believe is best for the future of Amateur
> Radio."
> Members are urged to contact their ARRL directors to comment on this
> proposal. E-mail addresses are on page 10 of any issue of QST.  Members
> also
> may comment on the proposal via the ARRLWeb site, http://www.arrl.org or
> via
> e-mail at restruxarrl.org.
> 
> NNNN
> /EX
> -- 
> Polk County Amateur Radio Information:
> http://www.concentric.net/~aj4y
> Florida Contest Group:
> http://www.4w.com/deemer/fcg.htm
> Florida QSO Party:
> http://home1.gte.net/wd4ahz/fcg/ssqp.htm
> 
> ---
> The Florida Contest Group   http://www.4w.com/deemer/fcg.htm
> Hosts to W1AW/4 in IARU/WRTC-2000
> Submissions: fcg at qth.net
> Subscription/removal: fcg-request at qth.net


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