There is no International Code Requirement and techs can operate
 

In article , "D. Stussy"
writes:

That's an "if-then" statement. There IS an international requirement,
though.

You are correct that it's an "if-then" statement.

You are wrong - there is no INTERNATIONAL requirement.

Yes, there is. The international requirement is that each country sets its own
standard. That's why the section wasn't simply eliminated at WRC 2003.

It's within the international requirement for a country to set the Morse code
requirement at 20 wpm, 10 wpm, 5 wpm, or 0 wpm. FCC has set 5 wpm for now. That
is expected to change.

There is NOW a national
OPTION in an international agreement, but since parties to the agreement can
OPT-OUT, it is not a requirement.

Incorrect. Each country MUST set a Morse requirement. 0 wpm/no test is one of
the requirements that meets the treaty requirement.

Look at the UK - do they still require "Morse assessment" for all Foundation
licenses? And isn't the Foundation" the first license of all new UK hams?

A requirement is something that must be met - i.e. there is no choice or
discretion. It is NOT OPTIONAL.

Exactly! Each country MUST set a Morse code requirement of some kind. The USA
has 5 wpm - for now.

You can argue this all you want but the end result of it is that FCC still
requires Element 1 credit for all HF ham licenses. Don't believe me? Ask 'em.



73 de Jim, N2EY

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003, Dick Carroll; wrote:
"D. Stussy" wrote:
That's not what S25.5 says now. It says that a country may choose to have no
requirement.

Uh-huh. So you don't think it gives them time to choose before reducing the
regulatory system to chaos?

No. What it means is that it no longer defines a requirement but an option.
47 CFR 97.301(e) is predicated on it being a requirement, which it isn't
anymore. That means that .301(e) has become VOID on its face.