Welcome to the 21'st Century.

No-Coders talk, FCC listens!

"Greatest thing since sliced perogi"-Walt Gracy, WB8E

There's no such thing as a free ride, right?  Well, apparently nobody told that to the legions of anti-CW proponents who have finally succeeded in persuading the FCC into relaxing the CW requirements to a ridiculously useless 5WPM!  That's right, 5WPM is going to be the ONLY code requirement for two of the three new amateur license classes.  General and Extra will require the CW, while Technician will continue to be the amateur equivalent of the old citizen's band license.

 

So, who wins?  We'll have wait and see. Certainly our friends at USECA will sign up a few more members, Kenwood might sell a few more radios, and certain other entities might make a few bucks.  Will these changes help advance the art?  Not likely.  This was the claim of those who cried for the code-free tech license a decade ago, that such a license would attract "techno-geeks" who would pioneer new communications technology. Where are they?  Hmmmmmmm.  Who loses?  CW buffs, who will definitely be forfeiting their sub-bands for the benefit of thongs of newly upgraded psuedo-hams, who earned their privileges through applying political pressure rather than demonstrating technical or operating proficiency.

Until next time, have fun while it lasts, and 73!

Steve K8VO

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