Low Profile Amateur Radio

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FCC License Restructuring

The following is a letter I wrote to the ARRL. All pertinent names are blocked out. It should be noted that where I work an Extra class license is required to be certified to work on space hardware. For now anyway.

From: Holloway, Cliff ,   Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 5:45 PM   To: '*********'   Cc: '*********'   Subject: FCC License restructure

Hi ******;

My name is Cliff Holloway Amateur call N0HC.

I would like to share my thoughts with you regarding the recent licensing restructure.   I work for an aerospace company (since this opinion does not necessary reflect company policy I can't be specific) here in ******** that specializes in among other things antennas and RF systems. Our antennas are in orbit, on aircraft, on land and on the oceans, even on Mars.

The great majority of the technical design of this work was and is being done by Extra class Hams who are in many areas the best in their technical fields. Many of the engineers here started as Ham operators which in turn lead them to a career that in many cases has benefited mankind (the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer is one example).

It is no accident that these Hams are Amateur Extras, the same dedication to excellence that led them to the Extra license also led them to be the best in their fields.

This ruling hurts Ham radio, not because of reduced morse code speeds (but 5 wpm?) but because it gives away the "CROWN". When lower CW speeds were first proposed there was talk from the ARRL and others that the technical (written) side of testing would be raised to maintain the level of expertise in the Amateur Radio Service. What is now proposed is a "give away" of the higher license classes. With the Extra test being close to the Advanced test and the reduced morse requirement, in the near future the majority of Hams (at least on HF) will be Extras.

What's wrong with this? With no significant goal driving Hams to increase their level of expertise, both technical, operating proficiency and interest in Amateur Radio will fade, even leading in many cases to the loss of our more talented Hams. All this will leave our country with a much weaker  resource in Amateur Radio.

As written having an Amateur Extra license will mean nothing.

We all know it is a different world today and changes have to be made, more (and younger) Amateurs are needed. I don't have a problem with easier access to HF, but give these new Hams something to work for and be PROUD of.

Raise the technical level of testing for the upper classes of licenses.

I understand meetings are still going on in this matter, hopefully its not too late.

Thank you for your time.   ARS: N0HC   Clifford Holloway   ARRL Member

The following is the reply I received.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Cliff. I agree with your opinion that it makes no sense to have an "easy" extra class license. The FCC rules are not what we asked for. We now have to decide if we are going to accept them and make the best of it, or file a petition for reconsideration. The board will be making that decision in the next few days. My own view is that some "tweaking" is in order.

73, ***** ***** ARRL *******, ******

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© 2002 cholloway14@attbi.com

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