RadioBanter - View Single Post - How many licenses should there be, why and what privileges?

December 29th 05, 04:18 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.policy

wrote:
Bill Sohl wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Bill Sohl wrote:
Scattered around several other threads there have been several
dialogs as to how many licenses the USA should have for
amateur radio.

The options suggested so far seem to be:

(a) 1 License
(b) 1 License plus a "lerner's license"
(c) 2 Licenses plus a "lerner's license"
(d) 3 Licenses
(e) 3 Licenses plus a "lerner's license"

What I wonder about these is how the individual
proponents of each would set the "difficulty
level" of each in comparison to current Tech/Gen/Extra
AND how they see privilege differences (in terms
of power levels and/or band segments and modes)
in multiple license options.

That's just the beginning, Bill.

The devil is in the details, limited by what FCC
has written in various NPRMs and R&Os:
- No existing licensee should lose privileges
- No existing licensee should gain privileges without taking
the required tests
- No free upgrades
- No significant extra admin work for FCC
- FCC sees the optimum level as 3 license classes, none of
which have a limited term and all of which are renewable.

None of the above is defined by any FCC rules.

That's true, Bill.

But from FCC actions and reactions over the past 20 years
plus, it's pretty clear that FCC is acting in accordance with
those ideas.

What is clear is that in '98 the FCC wanted to modernize the ARS. And
it was pretty clear that they wanted the ARRL to lead in that
modernization. And it was pretty clear that the ARRL had no plan
(gosh, no concensus). When the ARRL saw Carl, Bill, and NCI et al,
heading up the steps of the FCC building, the ARRL finally had the
courage to develop a plan. The FCC wasn't particularly impressed with
the ARRL plan.

Almost 8 years later we're still dealing with a lack of leadership in
the amateur community, even after several NPRMs.

Perhaps NCI needs to ramp up and become an advocate for a broader array
of issues than just the Morse Code Test issue.