[TenTec] FCC says cw Dead?

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

Let's turn the burner down on this one:

A.  This is a rule proposal, not a report and order (actual rule change 
decision).
B.  It was a response to a bunch of petitions to get rid of cw testing among 
other things.  FCC had to respond in some way--this is a response that's 
all.
C.  It's a proposal to drop cw testing, not to ban cw.
D.  There will be plenty of time to file comments electronically and then 
time to file reply comments to the comments electronically.  FCC will 
probably be flooded with con-statements and drop the whole thing.
E.  Even if they don't, all cw activity will continue; you can op cw 'till 
the cows come home if you want; this won't change that.  This just proposes 
dropping testing for competency in a mode; as I told a friend, there's no 
test to see if you can point an antenna at the moon, but you can still 
operate EME if you want to, and EME is alive and well as far as I know.

Before you start thinking the complete end of ham radio is near, get away 
from the rig for a week and take a breather.

The sad thing about the proposal however, is the rejection of ARRL's request 
to restablish an entry class license with HF like the novice used to be.

rob/k5uj

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