"Bert Craig" wrote in message . net...
"N2EY" wrote in message
m...
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/01/19/1/?nc=1

Summary:

3 classes of license: Novice, General, Extra

Ok, so far so good.

I'm against free upgrades.

5 wpm code test retained for Extra only

I personally would like to see existing Tech, Tech+, and Novice licensees
upgraded to the new Novice ticket. (Tech+ privies.)

It's not that simple.

The proposed Novice would have a lot more HF modes and spectrum than
current Novice/Tech+ - but a lot *less* VHF/UHF.

Existing Advanceds get free upgrade to Extra

Sounds reasonable.

I disagree. All it takes to go from Advanced to Extra is a single
written test. Been that way for almost 4 years.

, Techs
and Tech Pluses get free upgrade to General

Nope.

Same as above.

'Phone image subbands for 80/40/15 widened slightly

Depends on one's interpretation of "slightly," I suppose.

25 kHz or so.

Old Novice subbands replaced by additional CW/data
and 'phone subbands on 80/40/15. Novices also get
privs on 6, 2, 222, and 440

Ok.

Novice power level set below that requiring RF exposure
evaluation

Also reasonable.

Novice test to be 25 questions on "basics"

Surely, they jest?!

Not at all. The old Novice was only 20-25 questions, back in the
bad old days (before about 1972).

Of course all the old Novice allowed was 80, 40 and 15 CW, plus
145-147 MHz meter CW and AM. And the AM was eliminated about 1967. 75
watts max input, xtal control only.

, General to be
derived from Tech and General, Extra pretty much as-is.

Ok.

73 de Jim, N2EY

Thanks for the synopsis, Jim. This scenario certainly beats a blank.

Read the entire proposal on the website.

Some good ideas, some not so hot ones.

Better than the "21st Century" paper proposes, anyway.

73 de Jim, N2EY