In article , "mezmerized cows"
writes:

Ham radio started going into the toilet shortly
after Dick Bash published his infamous "study
guides".

And FCC declined to go after him for what was clearly an illegal activity.

Later after the ARRL went crying to the
FCC to publish the question pools

When did that happen? Reference please. Publishing the question pools became
necessary to create the VEC system.

(to put Dick Bash
out of business because *his books* were out-selling
the ARRL study guides 10 to 1 at hamfests and mail
order) it sealed the "initial cycle of dumbing down" for
Amateur Radio - and we are now where we are today
as a DIRECT result of the same.

When did that happen? Reference please.

All because *one ham* in Alaska managed to singlehandedly
'step on the proverbial toes of a publishing company' in Newington
Conn. and in their response, they decided to not only throw out
the baby with the bathwater, but also rip the tub out of the wall
and toss it out the 2nd story window...

Alaska?

What was this ham's call?

These are the true facts of the matter.

References?

The facts that I have seen documented are these:

1) In the 1970s, Mr. Bash gathered information by asking people who had just
taken ham exams to tell him what they remembered. By doing this over time and
with many people, he was able to reconstruct a close facsimile the actual
then-current FCC exams without ever seeing them or copying them.

2) FCC was aware of Bash's activities and methods but chose, wt the highest
levels, not to prosecute him.

3) Some prospective hams bought "Bash books" because they perceived it to be an
easier way to pass the written tests.

4) In the early 1980s, (about a decade after the appearance of the first Bash
books) FCC created the VEC and QPC systems, and turned over testing for
amateur licenses to them. This was done primarily to save FCC money and time,
because they could get volunteer hams to do work previously done by paid FCC
personnel.

5) The VE fees collected go to pay for expenses (postage, duplication, facility
rental, etc.).

73 de Jim, N2EY