In article , Alun
writes:

"Joe Guthart" wrote in
:

What's going on here ... the talk of restructuring to remove morse code
requirements has been going on for over 18 months. Many, many
countries have already removed the morse code requirement to gain
access to HF. Sure there's been a lot of backlash from those who still
want to keep code alive. I know this is the government, but, what is
taking so long? Can't they come to some decision quickly. Anyone have
a proposed timeline of when this will be settled.

I did, but it was last year!!

Maybe someone in the FCC is a pro code test ham who is delaying the
process? The FCC in general has been in favour of removing the requirement
for a long time.

Alun, despite the protestations of the olde-tyme hammes, the FCC isn't
much interested in favoring a hobby activity. Never has been despite
what the league has said in their own self-serving propaganda.

Apparently some of the movers and shakers in the FCC's higher
echelons want a "consensus of the community" or some such
idealistic blatherphrase. If "enough agree" one way or the other, they
might decide. Or might not. Ham radio (a hobby) isn't high on their
things-to-do-today ranking.

The ARRL isn't helping matters any. They insist and insist on having
some form of code testing there. But, the ARRL is a minority
group in U.S. amateur radio and can't possibly get a valid ranking as
a majority opinion maker. [they shot themselves in the foot on that
membership thing long ago but aren't able to sense the pain...]

The US may be the last country to abolish the code test, the way things are
going. Mind you, AFAIK the code test has still not been abolished in Spain
or Italy(?), although I don't think there's a code test anywhere else much
in Europe anymore.

The olde-tyme hammes of yesteryear sound their protest to the
judges! They demand a recount! [slowly they begin their chant to
the accompanyment of balalaikas...]

The Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society stumbles on...