[TenTec] Real Meaning of the New FCC Proposal

[CATFISHTWO@aol.com]

Perhaps it is just  the FCC realizing that the rest of the world  is dropping 
the requirement for cw as a  requirement for HF so they are  stepping in 
line. 
 
 I agree that the need for CW as a testing  "separator"  for  folks wanting 
to get on hf  may have kept some  less than desireable's  off the hf bands, but 
it also kept off a lot of folks who were interested on  other modes on hf 
that would be a plus to ham radio. 
 
 I do think CW will be around for at least the rest of my life and  probably 
for  at least the next hundred years. dropping it as a requirement  for 
testing is not going to ban it as a mode. in fact fully half the hf bands  are still 
going to be dedicated to non voice modes, on the left end of the  dial.  
folks who dont't do CW are giving up half their spectrum. the world  changes and 
the ham bands change along with it. Its called progress.  
 
I treat this and the new Orion II and a change  proprlling us one step  
further into the future.
 
YMMV
 
73 and gud DX to all  
 
tom N6AJR
 
 
 
In a message dated 7/22/2005 9:47:01 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
jafrank at nyc.rr.com writes:

I'm not  picking on you in particular Rob, but your idea that cw will 
continue to live  on as strongly, without it being an FCC testing requirement, 
strikes me as  quite naive. The FCC's new proposal to eliminate cw testing is 
clearly a  retraction of a long standing endorsement by them of that mode of 
operation.  Think about why the government continues to fight against the medical use 
of  marijuana ... because recognize to sanction such use (and BTW I believe 
it  ought to be legal for the medically needy) would send a message of 
endorsement  about smoking pot to the general public, and they don't want to do that. 
They  don't want to send that kind of message. Try and read between the lines 
and  look at the meaning and the real implications of things. Regarding the 
idea of  other modes not having to be tested for, so why should cw be ... the 
FCC's  retracting their endorsement of the importance of cw has a different 
meaning  than does never having made an endorsement for one of the other
communication modes to begin with. It says "we used to think this was  
important but now we don't anymore."  That's not the message I want new  or 
prospective hams to get.

Jeff (KX2P)