" wrote in
ps.com:

I am a new ham and will respond to this based on being new. I got my
license last year at age 48 so I'm neither a kid nor a senior. I've
been tested and scored at 136 so I'm not a genius but am far from a
dummy. I mention these things to give a general picture of who I am and
where my position comes from.

Radio Buff wrote:

No more automatic renewals. Individuals must retest and pass all
elements required for their license class.

Although I see the reasoning behind this request I disagree. There are
older hams who wouldn't be able to pass their license class test but
who still enjoy participating in their nets and talking to their circle
of ham friends. I don't want to be the one to take that away from a
senior ham who is hurting absolutely no one by enjoying their hobby.
The fact they might not pass the Extra test means nothing.

Yes it does mean something. It means they're appliance operators. They
pass their exams once then forget everything and don't want to advance
themselves anymore or be proficient hams. They're not an asset to the
service, they're just lazy asses with licenses and only want to operate
appliances.

Radio Buff isn't going to want to give up enjoying radio when he/she is
older and can't pass the exam either.

If I can't pass the tests, I don't deserve a license, or renewel. I don't
get to operate if I can't qualify. It's that simple. You people think
that if someone can't pass a test, they should get the license anyway.
It's a government handout just like how you get your welfare checks and
food stamps in the mail at your project housing. Your Democrat party
outcome based thinking is what is distroying Amateur radio and America.
Everyone is equal and if you want to excel and improve yourself there is
something wrong with you because your not supposed to want to do that.


The passing score for written exams needs to be raised to 85%.

I have no problem with this provided the exam is similar. If you want
to raise the minimum score required while also increasing the
difficulty level of the exam by 20-25% the combination will make it too
difficult for many. You will kill amateur radio because there will be
far fewer coming into the hobby than going SK.

Quality or quantity? You people that want things easy always say
requiring more qualified licensees will kill the service. You're against
quality because it require you have to work a little. Well, If you ever
need radio help in an emergency to save lives & property, and the ham
operator you talk to on the other end is an incompetant retard, I'll bet
you'd wished for quality then.


Code elements should be 13 wpm for General, and 20 wpm for Extra.

Code should not be a part of the license test anymore than PSK or any
other operating mode. There are so many different ways to enjoy and
utilize amateur radio today that were not available decades ago that
make code no longer a necessity. Mandating code skills is now similar
to mandating slide rule skills for an engineer. It is an excellent tool
and anyone capable of using it has a true skill. That said, there is
nothing that can't be done by one without slide rule skills. They may
be at a disadvantage at certain times and in certain specific locations
and scenarios but for the most part the individual with the slide rule
skills has no true advantage today as they did a few decades ago. The
same holds true with code.

Yah, we can't require quality or skill for a license. I know you're right.
We gotta be like CB'ers.


I do believe there should be a segment of the bands each license class
is authorized that is reserved for those with code in their license. It
just shouldn't be a requirement any longer. It keeps otherwise
intelligent and capable people away from the hobby and the goal should
be to bring them in not keep them away.

Code isn't a requirement, you can always talk on CB, FRS, and cell phones
all you want.


Make the no-code license one year non-renewable.

This point is pointless with the sensible approach outlined above.

No, it's not pointless. It insures licenses will improve and will be
valuable to the service. I know you would hate that because in another
month you would either have to upgrade or loose your ticket.

Doesn't anyone else here want to save ham radio? I'm getting tired of
arguing with the lazy asses. I hope some of you cared and want to help me
save ham radio enough that you emailed this to President Bush, your
Senators and Congressmen to press the FCC does the right thing for us:

No more automatic renewals. Individuals must retest and
pass all elements required for their license class.

The passing score for written exams needs to be raised to 85%.

Code elements should be 13 wpm for General, and 20 wpm for Extra.

Make the no-code license one year non-renewable.


73, Thanks for your support.


SC