In article t, "Bill Sohl"
writes:
Here's your options:
We currently have essentially a 6 license system in place (even though
several licenses are no longer issued). To go from that system
to the one proposed by ARRL leaves three options as I see it:
1. The one-time free upgrade process as put forth by ARRL which takes
nothing away from anyone
Hold on a sec.
Right now there are about 105,000 Extras. And we have a few slices of
choice kHz on 4 HF bands. In my experience, QRM in these subbands is
usually
less than elsewhere in the same band because relatively few US hams have
access
to them.
If all 83,000 Advanceds get a free upgrade to Extra, they'll have access
to
those choice slices and they'll probably increase the QRM level. So giving
them
a free upgrade *does* take something away from existing Extras.
Like all those Advanced are on the air now. Give me a break.
If they're not on the air, there's no reason to give them upgrades,
is there?
83,000 advanced today who are either SK, inactive or just
don't see the need to upgrade and you expect even a measurable
increase in QRM because some of them may suddenly start
operating in the Extra only segments.
Then just leave 'em be!
Same situation for Generals.
elsewhere in the same band
and immediately gets everyone into the
new 3 license system,
But nobody says why that is such a big priority, when it wasn't 4 years
ago.
I suspect the FCC four years ago (5 years ago now) expected change
over time. You are free to voice your own thoughts on need or not.
They've gotten change over time, too.
or
2. Go to the new system but "grandfather" those on current but no
longer to be issued license classes which takes nothing from anyone but
presents a dual system of licenses, rules and regulations which would
likly exist for decades until those with licenses no longer being issued
as new ended up SK or otherwise dropped from our ranks
or upgraded! Have you forgotten that any of the closed off classes can
upgrade with the required tests? The fact that so few Advanceds have
upgraded in almost 4 years is quite interesting, don't you think? Number
of Advanceds is down by only about 16%, and that includes both upgrades
and expirations.
Repeat my comment above about the unlikly QRM from former
advanced being in Extra segments...if freely upgraded.
Then what's the problem?
or,
3. Implement the ARRL 3 licnense system and downgrade some
folks to new Novice (i.e. the Techs) or General (i.e the Advanced).
This last scenario takes away privileges and we all know how well
that went down in the late 60's Incentive Licensing implementation.
Or
4. Do something else.
I identified the ONLY three options on a general basis. You propose
something else but do not specify what that is. Either there is
nothing else as an option and you know it or, there is another
option but you don't wish for anyone to know what it is.
The ball is in your court. Only three options exist unless you can provide
a real 4th option.
OK, do this:
Leave General, Advanced and Extra privs alone.
"NewNovices" get privileges to be described elsewhere.
Existing Novice privileges change to those for "NewNovices"
Below 30 MHz, existing Tech Pluses get the same privs as "NewNovices".
Above 30 MHz, existing Techs and Tech Pluses continue to have what they have
now. (everything)
If it decided to eliminate Element 1 for the "NewNovice", then Techs would get
"NewNovice" privileges below 30 MHz.
Simple, easy and no giveaways.
To me the answer is clear...and, I suspect so is it also to ARRL which
is why the proposal includes free upgrades.
Why should FCC allow free upgrades today, when they said no in 1999? What
has
changed?
I don't care. In the end the FCC will decide. There's no need for me
to explain or even understand why the FCC might allow it.
That's good - won;t have to argue against it as much.
Rather, it is just one of
the unresolved loose ends that was deliberately not tied up until
better
consensus emerged from the amateur radio community about things like
Novice band refarming, etc. The League official noted that the ARRL's
band refarming proposal, RM-10413, has been sitting on an FCC
official's
desk for about two years now (he claims to know the exact FCC
official,
but did not name him). Because of this, as long a wait, if not
longer,
is expected on a "final" answer concerning automatic upgrading.
I say we should judge by actions. When FCC thinksa proposal is a good
or
bad
idea, they act. How long did the whole 98-143 process take, from
initial
release of the NPRM to the new rules in April 2000?
More important, what would a lack of free upgrades hurt? Is it really
such
a
burden to require an Advanced to pass Element 4, or a Tech to pass
Element
3,
in order to get the next higher grade of license?
See options 2 and 3 above.
The rules for the 6 license classes are already in place. So what's the
problem?
Which requires enforcement authorities to keep tabs on 6
different sets of spectrum authority.
You can disagree that it isn't
significant, but I'd bet it IS an issue in the FCC and other
government mindsets.
Suppose we do my Option 4.
FCC has to keep track of four privsets below 30 MHz and 2 above.
73 de Jim, N2EY
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