RadioBanter - View Single Post

AJ Lake · September 18th 08, 01:33 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.homebrew

wrote:

the FCC considered Morse Code skill to be
part of what it meant to be a qualified radio amateur...

Even if there was no treaty, the ham employees in the FCC didn't want
no-code. The ARRL didn't want no-code. And the average (already) code tested
ham didn't want no-code. It's not surprising therefore that as a political
body the FCC just agreed with it's constituents.

I remember the moaning back then. Basically it came down to the idea
that many hams felt they'd earned the right to full privileges forever...

I think the moaning was over the basic unfairness of *removing* privileges
already earned. Over the years there has been many unpopular (to some)
license changes but virtually all (maybe all?) involved giving new
applicants easier privileges, not taking away already earned privileges.

btw, I earned my Advanced in the summer of 1968 and had full
privileges for a few weeks until the rules changed in November 1968.

And you didn't moan at all?? Give me a break...