"N2EY" wrote in message
...
In article , "Dee D. Flint"
writes:

Looks like we are slowly heading for a one class system and at the
highest
class at that as the greatest increase was in the number of Extras. On a
percent growth basis, it's even more noticeable. The Extra class grew
34%
in that time period.

If you consider the Tech and Tech Plus as one class, it sure seems that
way,
Dee.


Yes I believe it is necessary to consider them one class. Some new Techs
still do test for code and get HF privileges yet will only be listed as
Techs while all Tech Plus licensees will be listed as Tech after their next
renewal.

Of course Novice, Advanced and Tech Plus have to decrease, because no new
ones
are being issued. Extra can only decrease by expiration/cancellation, of
course.

Note how little Advanced has decreased, (percentagewise) though.

Yet shouldn't the Advanced be decreasing rapidly since they can now go to
Extra with little effort (they already know the toughest part of the
material from their Advanced study)? Is it that many haven't heard of the
licensing changes, or are they hung up on having a class that "proves" they
passed 13wpm (it doesn't since waivers have been around for over 10 years),
or are they simply satisfied with the range of frequencies that they have?

The minimal decrease in Advanced licensees would tend to lead me to believe
that the majority of people now receiving their Extra class licenses are
relatively new. They are the ones who just keep going after they pass that
first test. This would also explain the apparently low growth in Tech/Tech+
and General. They aren't in those classes long enough to get counted in
your postings under those classes.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE