[CQ-Contest] FCC on CW

[N7MAL]

Today I attempted to make a posting concerning the FCC Notice of Proposed Rule-making(NPRM) to eliminate the code requirement for obtaining an Amateur Radio license, thereby killing CW contesting. The moderator made it clear in, no uncertain terms, he would squelch all discussions because it was not related to contesting. Well it has a great deal to do with contesting, at least 50% of contesting. Once the requirement for knowing CW to obtain an Amateur Radio license is gone within 5 years the CW contests will fade away. The new breed of hams will have no interest in CW contesting because they had no incentive, or reason, to learn the code. It is well documented now that phone contests have more participation than CW contests. Removing the code requirement will put the final nail in the coffin for CW contests. There is a large number of CW contesters, like me, who are 'getting long in the tooth' and CW contesting will need replacements. If there is no longer any requirement to learn the code where are our CW contest replacements going to come from?
So, you see Tom this is probably one of the most important contest discussions we could have, especially as it relates to CW contesting. The contesting community needs to get together, with one voice, and make comments to the FCC against this NPRM. If the contesting community does not get fired up against the NPRM then 50% of the contests will just disappear. There are only 2 options: Ignore it by burying our heads in the sand and losing CW contests or make a strong stand against this NPRM. If we fail we can at least hold our heads high because we gave it our best effort to save CW contesting.


MAL                N7MAL
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
http://www.ctaz.com/~suzyq/N7mal.htm
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