WB2SFS
04-11-2004, 12:51 PM
New licensing proposals are turning up everywhere. Here is the ultimate in bizarre proposals, as written in the monthly newsletter of Palomar amateur Radio Club (PARC), in San Diego, California. Looks like the San Diego hams are in the forefront of change!
Quote
The newly formed Society for Preservation of Amateur Radio Traditions (SPART) recently published an editorial on their web page http://www.spart.cwisalphaomega.org castigating the FCC for the lowering of technical knowledge and operating acumen evidenced in the liberalized licensing process. Of greatest concern to SPART is that the many “instant upgrades” to Extra Class licenses is seriously undermining American ham radio leadership among international and developing countries.
Likewise, SPART cites the recent examples of failure of public services to communicate in disasters (as in the California fires), and security alerts, as reason to re-invigorate the extensive volunteerism traditionally seen in the ham radio community, a tradition they deem present in all sectors of the hobby. Touting the current emphasis in Washington circles to look beyond routine problems and focus on education, advanced space technology, and homeland security, SPART approached the ARRL and FCC with a surprisingly innovative though highly unusual four-tier license structure proposal.
Under SPART’s approach, and in line with the current ideas surrounding the Novice license, they propose doing away with the Novice license as known, and instead allowing anyone who wishes to operate radio in the ham bands to operate as a Citizens Unlimited Band (CUB) licensee. For this first tier license, no code requirements would be established, and licenses would be given to anyone who asks for one and presents a social security card as identification. As a CUB, operators would enjoy voice privileges on the 160M, 80M, and 40M HF bands using AM as the operating mode. They would have no power restrictions. They would also be allowed to operate on the WARC bands, but only the CW portion (no speed restriction). The idea here is that in so doing, CUBs would appreciate the fellowship of DX on WARC, and be inclined to improve their CW skills without onerous testing. SPART maintains this will prove the long held view of the value of CW, and how world class CW ops become proficient because of their devotion to the joy of CW. (Sounds to me like the an answer to “Why CW?” Simply: “Because it is”)
The second tier license would be the Serious Amateur Performer (SAP). This license would be reserved for CUBs who have completed five or more emergency operating exercises (supervised by Homeland Security Communicators), show proof of citizenship, qualified for DXCC on their allowed HF bands, and expressed an interest in ascending to higher class operations. SAPs would continue to enjoy CUB privileges, but would also be able to operate VHF/UHF satellite modes on CW. VHF/UHF would be limited to 500 watts ERP.
Third tier licenses would be available for CUBs, SAPs, or unlicensed people who are U. S. Citizens, legal immigrants, or visitors. This license class would be known as Real Amateur Telegraphers (RAT) class. They would be expected to pass a written exam, proctored by the VE examiners with a Homeland Security Proctor present. The exam would consist of code copy and transmit test at 15 WPM, essay questions concerning radio theory and practice, and a 100 multiple-choice questionnaire on U. S. history. Under discussion with the FCC is consideration of including a practical demonstration of homebrew building projects. Preliminary homebrew projects under consideration (the actual project to be performed at the test would be a surprise announcement at the test session) are construction of a vacuum tube, use of a vacuum tube in a Colpitts oscillator, construction of an 11m linear amplifier, or sip-n-puff vacuum tube code practice circuit.
Under SPART rules, the fourth license tier would be the pinnacle of amateur radio excellence. This would be the valued Extra Class License. An Extra Class License would be issued to any of the above licensees, or to anyone else, who ignores all that stuff, and takes a comprehensive theory and rule multiple choice exam, administered by a VEC as is done today, and passes a 25 WPM code exam. Extra Class Licensees would be eligible for all the privileges of today’s Extra Class, and could refer to themselves as “real extras”. They would be barred from the 11M CW band..
The only unusual requirement for the Extra Class license approval as proposed by SPART is that the exam must be taken on April 1st. of any year, and must be witnessed by an IOOK* VP.
ARRL and FCC are requesting comments and suggestions to this idea. They should be forwarded to ARRL via email at http://1aprilnote@arrl.fool.org
Unquote
(If you read this far: Happy April Fools Day).
73 de WB2SFS
*IOOK: International Order Of Krazies found at http://iook.org http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Quote
The newly formed Society for Preservation of Amateur Radio Traditions (SPART) recently published an editorial on their web page http://www.spart.cwisalphaomega.org castigating the FCC for the lowering of technical knowledge and operating acumen evidenced in the liberalized licensing process. Of greatest concern to SPART is that the many “instant upgrades” to Extra Class licenses is seriously undermining American ham radio leadership among international and developing countries.
Likewise, SPART cites the recent examples of failure of public services to communicate in disasters (as in the California fires), and security alerts, as reason to re-invigorate the extensive volunteerism traditionally seen in the ham radio community, a tradition they deem present in all sectors of the hobby. Touting the current emphasis in Washington circles to look beyond routine problems and focus on education, advanced space technology, and homeland security, SPART approached the ARRL and FCC with a surprisingly innovative though highly unusual four-tier license structure proposal.
Under SPART’s approach, and in line with the current ideas surrounding the Novice license, they propose doing away with the Novice license as known, and instead allowing anyone who wishes to operate radio in the ham bands to operate as a Citizens Unlimited Band (CUB) licensee. For this first tier license, no code requirements would be established, and licenses would be given to anyone who asks for one and presents a social security card as identification. As a CUB, operators would enjoy voice privileges on the 160M, 80M, and 40M HF bands using AM as the operating mode. They would have no power restrictions. They would also be allowed to operate on the WARC bands, but only the CW portion (no speed restriction). The idea here is that in so doing, CUBs would appreciate the fellowship of DX on WARC, and be inclined to improve their CW skills without onerous testing. SPART maintains this will prove the long held view of the value of CW, and how world class CW ops become proficient because of their devotion to the joy of CW. (Sounds to me like the an answer to “Why CW?” Simply: “Because it is”)
The second tier license would be the Serious Amateur Performer (SAP). This license would be reserved for CUBs who have completed five or more emergency operating exercises (supervised by Homeland Security Communicators), show proof of citizenship, qualified for DXCC on their allowed HF bands, and expressed an interest in ascending to higher class operations. SAPs would continue to enjoy CUB privileges, but would also be able to operate VHF/UHF satellite modes on CW. VHF/UHF would be limited to 500 watts ERP.
Third tier licenses would be available for CUBs, SAPs, or unlicensed people who are U. S. Citizens, legal immigrants, or visitors. This license class would be known as Real Amateur Telegraphers (RAT) class. They would be expected to pass a written exam, proctored by the VE examiners with a Homeland Security Proctor present. The exam would consist of code copy and transmit test at 15 WPM, essay questions concerning radio theory and practice, and a 100 multiple-choice questionnaire on U. S. history. Under discussion with the FCC is consideration of including a practical demonstration of homebrew building projects. Preliminary homebrew projects under consideration (the actual project to be performed at the test would be a surprise announcement at the test session) are construction of a vacuum tube, use of a vacuum tube in a Colpitts oscillator, construction of an 11m linear amplifier, or sip-n-puff vacuum tube code practice circuit.
Under SPART rules, the fourth license tier would be the pinnacle of amateur radio excellence. This would be the valued Extra Class License. An Extra Class License would be issued to any of the above licensees, or to anyone else, who ignores all that stuff, and takes a comprehensive theory and rule multiple choice exam, administered by a VEC as is done today, and passes a 25 WPM code exam. Extra Class Licensees would be eligible for all the privileges of today’s Extra Class, and could refer to themselves as “real extras”. They would be barred from the 11M CW band..
The only unusual requirement for the Extra Class license approval as proposed by SPART is that the exam must be taken on April 1st. of any year, and must be witnessed by an IOOK* VP.
ARRL and FCC are requesting comments and suggestions to this idea. They should be forwarded to ARRL via email at http://1aprilnote@arrl.fool.org
Unquote
(If you read this far: Happy April Fools Day).
73 de WB2SFS
*IOOK: International Order Of Krazies found at http://iook.org http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif