In article , Dick Carroll 
 writes: 
 
Dick Carroll wrote: 
 
  Then there is the very strong possibility, given the wording of FCC 
 documents and statements of staff,-- 
 
 **wording which NCI members choose to interpret as stating intent to 
 totally do away with code testing, but which doesn't say that at all** 
 
 --that they may NOT drop element one at all, and instead grant 
 low band HF access to one or more of the current lower grades of license 
 which now have none. That's a totally justifiable position, the no-code 
 mantra aside. 
 
 
  Further, the fact has recently surfaced that the UK did exactly this 
instead of completely dropping code testing, as was so widely 
and loudly stated by NCI members. 
 
It's just not mandatory anymore. 
 
  UK issues issue code-tested licenses, and the word is that a majority 
of UK hams prefer to take those tests, and qualify as code-licensed hams 
with a callsign issued that indicates that fact. 
 
If they want to - but they don't have to. 
 
Perhaps there's a possibility there - have code tests, but have them be 
non-mandatory. Perhaps 1x2 calls could be reserved.... 
 
73 de Jim, N2EY 
 
 
 
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
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