"Alun" wrote

I don't think that qualifies as proof.

Here is a direct quote from the "Amateur Radio Newsline" broadcast of
Sept 12th, 1993, where the hissy-fit of W5YI is described. Since K7UGA
left the Senate in 1986, long before this incident, it's unlikely that
he responded with legislation which required free Novice exams.

Sunuvagun!

de Hans, K0HB


" VEC UPSET ABOUT FREE NOVICE TESTS

The ARRL says that it will not charge applicants for Novice
tests. This even though the W5YI VEC has filed a complaint with
the FCC alleging that the League's VEC operation is in violation
of the rules because it refuses to charge applicants for these
tests.
But Fred Maia W5YI who operates the VEC bearing his callsign
claims that its a matter of uniformity. That all VEC's who use
what is called the annual method of figuring reimbursement are
required to charge an examination fee for every test it gives,
including Novice exams. The ARRL says that it plans to continue
its policy of administering Novice tests free of charge because
it believes that this policy is consistent with an FCC tradition
established back in the 1950's. This, as a way of making it easy
for youngsters to get entry level licenses.
The League's President, George Wilson, W4OYI says that the
whole thing is nothing more than one of the ironies that keeps
ham radio politics interesting. Wilson notes that VEC's have
always had the latitude to set their own fees. He adds -- and we
quote -- "Frankly, we see no compelling Federal interest in
whether or not a class of nine year olds ought to be charged for
taking an entry level ham radio exam."
But Maia and his W5YI VEC operation see it very differently.
In his September 1st issue of his W5YI Report newsletter Maia
says that the potential financial benefit to the League
resulting from its policy is to serious to be ignored. He says
that free examinations when all other VEC's charge, attract
applicants who are the potential purchasers of examination
preparation materials. Maia believes that the purchasing
decisions of these people may be unduly influenced by their
choice of VEC's.