Bill Sohl wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
KØHB wrote:
wrote

But since about the mid 1980s, we've been told that
the requirementsare "too high"....

Who told you that? Not FCC. Not ARRL. Not me.

It has been shown by the actions of the first two, and others.

First off, there's the reduction in code testing. Also code
waivers. Elimination of the sending test, the one-minute-
solid copy requirement, etc. But let's put those aside and
look at the writtens:

1) there's the official publication of the written exams.

Did the ARRL or any other ham organization petition
for the test questions to be published?

Not that I know of. The move to the VEC system was made by
FCC. Making the tests public was an unavoidable consequence
of the VEC system. Besides, if the FCC couldn't keep them
secret from Dick Bash back when FCC made up and controlled
the test distribution, how could anyone expect they could do it
when the VEs ran the testing?

2) CSCEs mean the tests can be taken one at a time.

Your point?

In the bad old days, all the elements for a particular license had
to be passed at the same test session. For example, getting an
Extra meant that you had to pass both code and theory at the
same time. That's a tougher requirement than being able to
take them separately.

And again, who lobbied for that change?

I don't recall if anyone did.

3) In March 1987 the General written was split into two elements
so that Techs no longer had to pass the full General written.

4) The content of the exams has been gradually made to cover
more subjects at less depth. Want to see some study questions
from the 1976 exams?

One could argue that is making the test
more difficult...depending on the individual.

It's the difference between knowing a little bit of the basics of a
wide variety
of subjects vs. an in-depth knowledge of fewer subjects. Most people
find
the latter to be more challenging.

5) Instant retest means someone can try over and over as long
as time and the wallet hold out.

Hasn't that been recently changed?

I don't think so. It was proposed but AFAIK not acted upon.

Even if not, I don't know of any VE group that allows
retesting on the smae test at the same test session.

My understanding is that some do - if you pay another fee.

In 2000, FCC reduced both the number of the written tests and
the overall number of questions for all remaining license classes.

And yet NCVEC says we need another license class because
the current Tech is "too hard".

Hasn't the ARRL said the same thing by proposing a new beginners
license?
(SNIP

Have they really proposed a new license? Or different privileges for
the
existing one?

73 de Jim, N2EY