In article , Alun
writes:

Four years ago there were 6 license classes open to new hams. Now there
are only 3, but the other 3 classes are still held by almost 200,000
hams. Was that an "absurd" change? Tell it to the FCC!

Hans' proposal would create 2 new license classes and close off the
other 6 to new licensees. Is it really so absurd, given the changes
we've already seen?

His proposal is no more absurd than the claim that a single 5 wpm code
test is a "barrier".....

73 de Jim, N2EY



It's not really three, though. Although the 'Tech Plus' was abolished in
theory it still exists in practice. That particular absurdity will go away
when Element 1 is abolished, which it soon will be. To avoid actually
taking away any privileges the FCC will have to give the Novice subbands
to all Techs (assuming Element 1 will no longer be mentionned anywhere in
Part 97, the only other alternative would be to take them away from those
Techs who have them now, which would be very unpalatable).

And also without any purpose.

I don't agree with all aspects of Hans' proposal. In particular, I oppose
all time limits and time in grade requirements.

Do either of them really create a problem? I entered ham radio with both of
those features (Novice license only good for two years, upgrade or go off the
air, and a two-year experience rule for Extra). I don't think they were such
awful ideas.

However, I doubt FCC will go for either. Just MHO.

However, I think that
something ultimately will have to be done about the status of Novice and
Advanced licences.

Why? They're just entries in a database. Since no new ones are being issued,
they involve no more admin work than other license classes.

At the end of 1952, FCC stopped issuing new Advanceds. They allowed existing
Advanceds to keep those licenses, renewing and modifying as needed. Most of the
approximately 40,000 Advanceds of that time did just that.

Then, almost 15 years later, FCC reopened the Advanced to new issues.

It is just too messy to maintain closed licence classes
indefinitely.

How is it messy?

I would have no problem with automatically upgrading them
all, but I know that many others would not like it. Maybe the way around
this is to have new (or at least re-named) licence classes. Someone who
objects to Advanced licencees getting a free pass to Extra may aquiesce to
both becoming Class As, for example.

I doubt that!

A rose by any other name would smell
as sweet?

Renaming isn't going to fool anyone that is against free upgrades.

Is the current 50 question Extra test so tough that it presents a serious
"barrier" to existing Advanceds?

What is the problem of keeping old license classes on the database and rules?

73 de Jim, N2EY