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#11
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The ARRL's stand was now clear. Exclusive frequencies must be restored
to the Advanced and Extra class amateurs in order to give the Generals an "incentive" to upgrade. Of course, what was left unsaid was that in order to do so, frequencies would have to be taken away from the General class hams." All this so the top HAMs have something to gloat about. |
#12
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"Tom W" wrote in message ...
On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 22:00:25 GMT, Dee D. Flint wrote: "google blogger" wrote in message roups.com... Looks like the Ivy League also has **finally** realized that the Incentive License disaster of the 1960's pretty much trashed ham radio. Learn your history. ARRL fought that proposal. That was solely the idea of the FCC. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE Learn *your* history. It was the ARRL which first proposed incentive licensing. From http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page13.html: "In summary, although the vast number of hams were satisfied, a small minority had complaints. And the ARRL listened. In 1963, acting on complaints they claim they received from members and operators in other countries, the ARRL proposed "Incentive Licensing." In an editorial, the ARRL implied that perhaps it was a mistake when the Class B and Generals were given the 75 and 20 meter phone segments. The ARRL's stand was now clear. Exclusive frequencies must be restored to the Advanced and Extra class amateurs in order to give the Generals an "incentive" to upgrade. Of course, what was left unsaid was that in order to do so, frequencies would have to be taken away from the General class hams." Unfortunately, that's not quite how it happened. FCC thought that hams would go for the Extra after 1953 simply "because it was there". And some did - but not many. As early as 1958, FCC asked why there were so few Extras. They were concerned about certain trends in amateur radio they didn't care for, such as increasing use of manufactured equipment whose inner workings the ham-owner had only a vague concept of. FCC asked ARRL for proposals in 1958, and again in 1963. ARRL put together a very simple proposal in 1963, *in response to* FCC's request. It consisted of just two items: 1) Reopen the Advanced class license to new applicants (it had been closed at the end of 1952) 2) Require an Advanced or Extra class license to use 'phone on the 80, 40, 20 and 15 meter ham bands. (back then 30, 17 and 12 meters were not ham bands). That was the whole proposal. No additional code testing would be needed to retain full privileges. No subbands-by-license-class except those already in place for Novices. No new limitations on CW. Existing Advanceds wouldn't have to do a thing. Existing Generals and Conditionals would have to take one additional written test to get their 80 thru 15 'phone privileges back. This proposal was nothing new - it was essentially a return to the old "ABC" system that had existed from the mid '30s to February 1953, and which FCC had revised in 1951 by adding Novice, Tech and Extra and renaming the ABC classes of license. The 1963 ARRL proposal got an RM number and the commentary began... FCC looked at that simple proposal, and then asked for more. They got quite a bit of response from the amateur committee, and at least 10 of the proposals were assigned RM numbers. There were at least 11 proposals with RM numbers by 1965. Commentary to ARRL was mixed, to say the least, but a slight majority were in favor of "incentive licensing" changes. ARRL and FCC took that as a mandate... Out of all these proposals FCC put together ideas and came up with a proposed scheme that bore little resemblance to the 1963 ARRL proposal. It was far more draconian, restrictive and encompassing than anything ARRL proposed, and was strongly opposed. Finally a compromise was announced in 1967. Over 6000 comments were received by FCC on the matter, even though the number of hams back then was less than a quarter million and there were no online comment systems. The whole process took years (1963-1967). Most hams then and today are not aware that FCC asked first. But they did. And I'll ask the question again: How did incentive licensing "trash ham radio"? 73 de Jim, N2EY |
#13
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"Tom W" wrote in message ... On 22 Jan 2004 12:19:26 -0800, N2EY wrote: "Tom W" wrote in message ... On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 22:00:25 GMT, Dee D. Flint wrote: "google blogger" wrote in message roups.com... Looks like the Ivy League also has **finally** realized that the Incentive License disaster of the 1960's pretty much trashed ham radio. Learn your history. ARRL fought that proposal. That was solely the idea of the FCC. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE Learn *your* history. It was the ARRL which first proposed incentive licensing. From http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page13.html: "In summary, although the vast number of hams were satisfied, a small minority had complaints. And the ARRL listened. In 1963, acting on complaints they claim they received from members and operators in other countries, the ARRL proposed "Incentive Licensing." In an editorial, the ARRL implied that perhaps it was a mistake when the Class B and Generals were given the 75 and 20 meter phone segments. The ARRL's stand was now clear. Exclusive frequencies must be restored to the Advanced and Extra class amateurs in order to give the Generals an "incentive" to upgrade. Of course, what was left unsaid was that in order to do so, frequencies would have to be taken away from the General class hams." Unfortunately, that's not quite how it happened. FCC thought that hams would go for the Extra after 1953 simply "because it was there". And some did - but not many. ... Please cite references. I have before me two historical accounts which both agree that the ARRL first broached the subject of incentive licensing, as well as the QST editorial from 1963 which rationalized it. Web pages such as "The Wayback Machine" also agree that the League first proposed the changes which were finally implemented in 1967. In fact, http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page14.html goes on to say: "On May 3, 1963, the ARRL Board of Directors adopted their official position on incentive licensing. Their proposal would completely take away all General and Conditional class phone privileges on 75, 40, 20, and 15 meters in a two-year phase-in period. In other words, the ARRL's incentive licensing would only allow HF phone operation for Generals and Conditionals on 10 meters and on the small sliver of 160 meters that was available in the days of LORAN Radionavigation. The ARRL also suggested reopening the Advanced class license again to those who held a General or Conditional license for one year. Strangely, the ARRL did not suggest that Extras be given exclusive frequencies, nor did they propose exclusive CW frequencies. Rather, they just wanted exclusive access to the 75 through 15-meter phone segments for the Advanced and Extra class licenses ..." Based on all of these items, it appears to me that your account could well be someone's revisionist history. I can find nothing in the literature to support it, but can easily find material which refutes it. Thank you for all the refrences. I also 'remember' it that way. As I stated to Dee D in another post. 73 Dan/W4NTI |
#14
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"Dan/W4NTI" w4nti@get rid of this mindspring.com wrote in message ink.net... "Tom W" wrote in message ... On 22 Jan 2004 12:19:26 -0800, N2EY wrote: "Tom W" wrote in message ... On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 22:00:25 GMT, Dee D. Flint wrote: "google blogger" wrote in message roups.com... Looks like the Ivy League also has **finally** realized that the Incentive License disaster of the 1960's pretty much trashed ham radio. Learn your history. ARRL fought that proposal. That was solely the idea of the FCC. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE Learn *your* history. It was the ARRL which first proposed incentive licensing. From http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page13.html: "In summary, although the vast number of hams were satisfied, a small minority had complaints. And the ARRL listened. In 1963, acting on complaints they claim they received from members and operators in other countries, the ARRL proposed "Incentive Licensing." In an editorial, the ARRL implied that perhaps it was a mistake when the Class B and Generals were given the 75 and 20 meter phone segments. The ARRL's stand was now clear. Exclusive frequencies must be restored to the Advanced and Extra class amateurs in order to give the Generals an "incentive" to upgrade. Of course, what was left unsaid was that in order to do so, frequencies would have to be taken away from the General class hams." Unfortunately, that's not quite how it happened. FCC thought that hams would go for the Extra after 1953 simply "because it was there". And some did - but not many. ... Please cite references. I have before me two historical accounts which both agree that the ARRL first broached the subject of incentive licensing, as well as the QST editorial from 1963 which rationalized it. Web pages such as "The Wayback Machine" also agree that the League first proposed the changes which were finally implemented in 1967. In fact, http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page14.html goes on to say: "On May 3, 1963, the ARRL Board of Directors adopted their official position on incentive licensing. Their proposal would completely take away all General and Conditional class phone privileges on 75, 40, 20, and 15 meters in a two-year phase-in period. In other words, the ARRL's incentive licensing would only allow HF phone operation for Generals and Conditionals on 10 meters and on the small sliver of 160 meters that was available in the days of LORAN Radionavigation. The ARRL also suggested reopening the Advanced class license again to those who held a General or Conditional license for one year. Strangely, the ARRL did not suggest that Extras be given exclusive frequencies, nor did they propose exclusive CW frequencies. Rather, they just wanted exclusive access to the 75 through 15-meter phone segments for the Advanced and Extra class licenses ..." Based on all of these items, it appears to me that your account could well be someone's revisionist history. I can find nothing in the literature to support it, but can easily find material which refutes it. Thank you for all the refrences. I also 'remember' it that way. As I stated to Dee D in another post. 73 I too appreciate the detailed references. Facts are always good to have. I was unaware that the initial concept was put out by the ARRL. I was looking only at the final version that the FCC developed, which was substantially different than the ARRL's proposal and which the ARRL then opposed due to these significant differences. FYI, in conversation, I prefer Dee rather than Dee D even though I use more formal signature. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE |
#15
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"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message gy.com... I too appreciate the detailed references. Facts are always good to have. I was unaware that the initial concept was put out by the ARRL. I was looking only at the final version that the FCC developed, which was substantially different than the ARRL's proposal and which the ARRL then opposed due to these significant differences. FYI, in conversation, I prefer Dee rather than Dee D even though I use more formal signature. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE Thats what I like about you Dee, your ability to recognize constructive comments and not fly off the handle. Dan/W4NTI |
#16
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"Tom W" wrote:
In fact, http://www.qsl.net/ecara/wayback/page14.html goes on to say: "On May 3, 1963, the ARRL Board of Directors adopted their official position on incentive licensing. Their proposal would completely take away all General and Conditional class phone privileges on 75, 40, 20, and 15 meters in a two-year phase-in period. In other words, the ARRL's incentive licensing would only allow HF phone operation for Generals and Conditionals on 10 meters and on the small sliver of 160 meters that was available in the days of LORAN Radionavigation. Great article! Thanks for posting that link. I learned a few things I never knew before. (I was just starting to get interested in radio in 1963.) It's amazing that ham radio has survived at all when you consider how much needless tinkering with the license structure has gone on over the years, and how much discontent it has created. Art Harris N2AH |
#17
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#18
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On Mon, 19 Jan 2004, Tom Winston wrote:
On 19 Jan 2004 10:08:20 -0800, N2EY wrote: Existing Advanceds get free upgrade to Extra, ... That's not an upgrade; that's a downgrade. Advanced class licensees passed the Extra class written exam, and passed a 13 wpm code test. Furthermore, most Advanced class licensees took the older Extra exam -- an exam that's a lot tougher than the current Extra exam. Possession of the Advanced class license proves that the holder met higher standards than the current crop of Extras. So thanks, but no thanks. When I want to downgrade, *I* will make that decision. But one can still tell: The PRIOR CLASS field will still say "A". Just go away, ARRL, and keep your grimy paws off my license. That part I agree with; they can't seem to leave anything alone without screwing it up. |
#19
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"D. Stussy" wrote | | But one can still tell: The PRIOR CLASS field will still say "A". | Not in all cases. My "prior class" was Conditional. |
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