K=D8HB wrote:
wrote

4) Reducing the license test requirements has not brought
sustained growth to US amateur radio.

Does Amateur Radio need to grow?

Not at the price of continuously lowering standards - which
doesn't work anyway.

If so, why?

All else being equal, the ARS would be well served to have more hams.
For a whole bunch of reasons ranging from more buyers and
sellers at hamfests to more points to make in contests to more
folks to ragchew with.

But all else is never equal. Simply lowering the license test
requirements hasn't helped raise the numbers.

While there's a lot of debate on the code test issue, even
though all that's left is the basic, entry level 5 wpm test,
little attention is paid to the fact that the *written* testing
was drastically reduced in 2000 for all license classes.
Previously it took 5 written tests totalling 190 questions to
get an Extra, now it takes 3 written tests totalling 120
questions. The biggest reduction took place for the Technician -
the written testing for that license was cut to about half its
former level.=20

73 de Jim, N2EY