On 10/1/2016 10:01 AM, KE9V via rec.radio.amateur.moderated Admin wrote:

Perturbation

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Test Free Licensing

Posted: 30 Sep 2016 03:47 PM PDT
https://ke9v.net/2016/09/30/test-free-licensing/


Hardly a week goes by without hearing of another successful Saturday
licensing session resulting in new amateur radio licensees. These
typically the result of a cram session where a neophyte can walk in the
door having zero knowledge of the hobby, and walk out the door four
hours later a brand new radio ham.

I frequently complain about these puppy mills and am just as frequently
rebuffed by those who run them. Im told that no amount of study and
testing can create a radio amateur only hand-on experience can do that
so the notion is to get them licensed as quickly as possible and let
nature run its course.

And you know what? I agree with them. But that sort of begs the
question, then why dont we do away with license testing altogether? If
these tests are merely speed bumps to the entry of the hobby, lets dump
them.

Twenty years ago I would have rejected the notion of eliminating testing
out of hand. Demonstrating proficiency in operating a transmitter was
considered essential to preventing chaos on the bands. And a certain
level of technical acumen was necessary to prevent unintentional
interference.

Neither of these concerns are realistic to the amateur service in the
21st century. Transmitting equipment must be accepted by the FCC before
it can be sold and those who still home brew gear are rare and obviously
smart enough to know what they’re doing.

We seem to have reached a point where testing only perpetuates the
business of testing. The sales of license study manuals and Volunteer
Examiner puffery are the only real “winners” in this ongoing sham.



Incentive licensing was a worn-out concept in 1980. We have need of only
one class of license that conveys all amateur privileges and it should
be issued based on an application basis only – perhaps with a $100 fee
that’s good for ten years.

If radio amateurs wanted to volunteer to administer the issuance of
licenses and maintain that database, perhaps the fee could be used to
help fund FCC enforcement?

Think about it. You can’t churn out qualified radio operators from a
four-hour memorization session. Even the volunteers who promote this
process agree. New hams will learn best from on the air time and actual
practice. The testing process serves only to prop up the sales of study
guides, memorization tricks, and to create a point of control for
volunteer examiners.

That we’ve always done it that way is of no consequence, it’s time to
move forward.

It would be a wonderful if local clubs facilitated the application
process at the conclusion of an hour-long “get to know us better” club
meet and greet. Having new licensees become acquainted with seasoned
local operators provides tangible benefits – unlike the phony baloney
memorization sessions.

Benefits include;

1. Cleaning up the FCC database thru regular license fees.

2. Potentially creating a fund for continued FCC enforcement activity.

3. Removal of costs associated with testing aids and study materials.

4. Elimination of the work associated with creating testing pools, etc.

5. Putting new applicants in touch with local clubs.

6. Streamlined process where all licensees carry all amateur privileges.

Perhaps best reason of all would be reality.

We’ve been perpetuating a 20th century concept and pretending that it
adds value to the amateur service. In reality, it’s a totem based on
century old ideas about exclusivity and false hope that it elevates our
service when in fact, its just a delusion to make us feel better about
ourselves.

Am I wrong? Sound off in the comments below.


As a retired teacher of mathematics, who now does teach part of some of
the "quick repetition" classes, I agree that I don't like the idea. But
I think there can be a considerable benefit to these classes also. When
I am teaching one, I definitely don't just go over memorizing answers to
questions. I try to give "reasons" why the correct answer has to be the
right one, and also why the wrong answers are wrong. As reasons I spend
some time on each topic explaining what is really going on. A student
who is just looking for help with memorizing will find some of that,
since our brains do a better job of memorizing when there is something
to structure the item. But I can usually get them asking questions about
the "why" that seem to me to go well beyond just memorizing. The other
teachers who share these classes with me seem to have these goals also.

Yes, I'd like to change the class drastically, but for many reasons
beyond my control that is not going to happen. One of the reasons has to
do with who is taking the class: Many of my students are there because
some outside agency wants them to have a license, not necessarily
wanting them to know much. Various emergency services, some portions of
cell phone companies, etc., have a ham ticket on the path to promotion
or even holding the job beyond some initial temporary position. While I
have those students' attention I can try to "sell" what we all love
about ham radio as well as the desire to get a license, and to upgrade,
as a challenge to face. One of the guys who started with a technician
class I was part of was a VE at our most recent session: He is working
on his Extra ticket, and I feel certain he will get there.

Maybe there is a place for some of the complainers to become teachers
and do the job in a way they think would be an improvement!

Bob W, WA9D