From: John Smith I on Mon, Mar 5 2007 6:13
am
Subject: How Many License Classes?

KH6HZ wrote:
...
Isn't this what they claimed the code test did?

Well yes, and not only what that argument correct, that argument was
acted upon by the FCC and morse was eliminated.

Errr, the FCC eliminated the morse code TEST.

Deignan keeps using the old false argument that the old
code test was "the same" as the writtens. He and others
have kept up that facade of "all or nothing" for a
decade. Obviously the two test types are DIFFERENT.

However, those making
false claims as to CW's viability, and relevancy still attempt to
justify past practices of using it as a barrier to new licensees, they
eventually will give up this insanity as they find this has lost them
all their credibility.

"They" won't give up, JS. :-)

Deignan is just trying to revive a very dead horse so
he can beat on it some more.

Clearly, this is a fully 100% accurate statement, since 3 of the 4 options
presented as answers for each multiple-choice question is incorrect.

Interesting view. However, since this is accepted practice and used by
most elementary schools, high schools, colleges, state and federal
institutions it is the preferred method of testing. However, the
context of these questions need to examined closely as those with
self-serving interests can attempt to manipulate these questions for an
outcome they wish--on BOTH sides!

One of the MYTHS still prevalent is that "THE TEST," some
sort of awe-inspiring, feared thing, represents the SUM
TOTAL OF AMATEUR RADIO KNOWLEDGE! Nonsense, of course,
but the myth goes on...as does the beat...of the dead
horse by others. :-)

A 35- or a 50-question TEST can't possibly show EVERY BIT OF
knowledge as so many "olde-tymers" seem to imply. But, to
so many, they think the amateur TEST is some equivalent to
a college-level test of knowledge. Having taken both types,
far more at the college level, even the colleges-universities
do NOT consider their multiple-choice tests as representing
anything but a student's retention of knowledge UP TO THAT
PERIOD OF A COURSE. Those tests in schools are there to both
inform instructors of a student's capabilities and also to
show the student what they've gained or missed in a course.

Now, the FCC was NEVER chartered as an academic institution.
Not even its predecessor radio regulating agencies. A radio
amateur license test is ONLY for the purpose of the FCC in
determining whether the FCC thinks an applicant should be
granted a license in the amateur radio service. NO MORE.
The FCC decides. The FCC giveth and the FCC can taketh away.

The manual psychomotor skill of morse code cognition is far
from any intellectual-academic skill of knowledge of anything
more than morse code cognition. It cannot demonstrate any
memory retention of regulations, theory, or of accepted
practice in amateur radio EXCEPT for morse code use as it
is SUPPOSED to be in the amateur radio service.

The FCC has established the number of written test elements
for all the radio operator licenses the FCC grants. Since
privatization of radio operator testing of about two decades
ago, the FCC has yielded CONTENT of questions to the various
examiner groups. In itself, the arguments for or against
privatization is a very separate one from who has the
"right" to regulate. By law (of Congress, 1934 and 1996)
the FCC has the right to regulate. Period.

I believe others made similar comments regarding elimination of the code
requirement 20+ years ago.

Yes. The insanity of requiring morse testing did become the "elephant
in the china closet" which was over-looked. Seemingly, this was a type
of "mass hysteria" or "mass insanity" as you see in vigilante groups, or
other self-protectionist groups.

I think you've left out the self-righteous, self-
proclaimed "experts in radio" that some olde-tymers
imply they are. :-(

The "handwriting on the wall" was there in radio four
decades ago. Radio services had already begun to down-
play USE of OOK CW modes for communications or the new
radio services simply didn't use those modes.

But, the EMOTIONAL aspect of amateur radio licensing
is hardly ever discussed. Olde-tymers are incessantly
touting the marvelous things They encountered when
young and inexperienced and want to keep those things
forever and ever, lest they suddenly realize that They
have become old like their beloved morse mode. Even
if they acknowledge the reality of age, they have
another emotional need to show they are "better than
others" in something, anything. High-rate morse code
cognition is a convenient "betterment." What is WRONG
is their wanting to transfer Their desires to all
others not in the amateur radio service that come
after them.


Although it speaks ill of the power of
the FCC to present itself as a logical and relevant governing agency,
most of those problems have been eliminated or are in the process of
being so ...

I am OPPOSED 100% to that viewpoint. The FCC is required
to regulate ALL of USA civil radio services. That is a
very formidable task and, like it or not, amateur radio is
only a small part of that whole task. The FCC serves ALL
the citizenry of the USA, not just a minority group in a
radio hobby activity.

Having observed FCC Reports and Orders and other legalese
on radio regulations of many radio services, I find them
most logical in their public statements about their
decisions. For over 20 years of observations and over
many radio services. Those are clear and straightforward,
in rather plain English despite their abbreviations. That
they do NOT agree with certain groups or opinions is no
cause for blanket condemnation. Decisions have to made
and the FCC seems to me to do a credible job of that.

If you want to bring back the Chaos of the radio waves
that existed in the 1920s, then go for all the anarchy
you can stomach. I do NOT want that and even the aging
"flower children" of the 1960s are starting to realize
the Opposition to Everything won't get them anywhere.


The trend in amateur radio licensing is to make things "easier".

Well, as people become more and more educated on the whole, all of
education just seems easier. When you basic understanding out of high
school these days equals the education you only used to get from jr.
colleges in past years, that happens. A good many of the old wives
tales, misconceptions and ignorance is fading away in a better educated
world. I mean your avg seventh or eight grader is highly computer savvy
these days and his/her access to the internet gives them unlimited
access to any knowledge in mans archives.

The ability of motivated individuals is truly unlimited when they have
access to all mankinds accumulated stores of knowledge. An advantage
those of yesteryear never had and will never be able to make up for ...

A couple of points he Deignan has not toned down his
combination of Cynical Chic attitude and general "I am
superior to you" coloring of his comments. The "knowledge
of computers" (how to use them, really) is generally
overblown by those INTO computers as it applies to this
modern age. Yes, the Internet is OPEN to all and at least
one out of five households in the USA has some form of
Internet access. But, on the Internet is a collection of
dreck, of bigotry, terribly one-sided crap, emotionally-
loaded opinions, all mixed in with public relations,
personal "look at me" sort of things AND intellectual
knowledge. It is much more convenient to use the Internet
to hunt for any of those things than to leave the house
and go running around for input different ways.

The Internet made many many things possible but the
increase of an individual's knowledge bank is an
entirely different subject. The Internet is such a
HUGE pot-pourri of different "stuff," so MUCH stuff
that it can't be evaluated properly.

73,