Mike Coslo wrote in message ...
N2EY wrote:

In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

Carl will be very upset you put *this* idea in people minds too! ;^)


Carl has expressed his disdain for the concept of skilled radio operators here.
Look up some of his posts under his old call (WA6VSE) and phrases such as
"electronic paintball wars" "stomp into the dust" "wetware modem" "emulate a
modem" "better modes and modulations"....



I wonder where Carl is lately?

Probably tied up with work and work related travel.

Haven't heard from him since he had the
change of heart regarding the testing.

Everyone's allowed to change their minds, Mike. Even when they
say "never"....

Here's a prediction for you:

Hopefully BPL will not completely trash the HF spectrum - if that
garbage takes over, all bets are off. Assuming it is defeated or at
least contained:

There will be proposals and more proposals. FCC will someday do
another NPRM,
there will be a lot of comments, lots of arguing, and then eventually
FCC will
do another R&O which will consist mostly of what's easiest for FCC to
implement.
At the rate they're going, late 2005 before the rules change. (Yes, I
have't forgotten The Pool)

They'll dump Element 1, simplify the entry level test even more,
reshuffle
some other regs, etc., regardless of what the majority wants, what
arguments
are given pro and con, etc. Free upgrades? Maybe.

We'll see a surge of new hams and a surge of upgrades - for a while.
But not
much will actually change, because they're not addressing the real
problems
like CC&Rs, lack of publicity, lifestyle changes, etc.

You watch and see if I'm right.

Meanwhile some of us will have been having a lot of fun with ham
radio. I know I have, and will continue to do so.

73 de Jim, N2EY