In article k.net, "Dwight
Stewart" writes:

"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart wrote:

(snip)

My point is that the whole issue is not a mass movement.
Clint claimed, without any proof, that most hams want
code testing gone. Yet surveys show the opposite.

I certainly haven't seen a survey recently that could be said to
accurately represents the views of the entire ham radio community, Jim.

Neither have I, Dwight. As I have pointed out, the ARRL/READEX survey is 7
years old. But it's the most recent *scientific* survey we have. (Its 1500
respondents were chosen at random, not self-selected as is the case in many
"surveys".)

I
believe you recenty posted the results of a survey done by some club that
shows the majority surveyed supported code testing.

Not "some club". ARRL hired READEX (a professional survey organization) to
conduct the survey in preparation for WRC 1997.

I don't doubt those
results at all. If you surveyed the local club here (and their friends
outside the club), the majority would also support code testing.

The ARRL/READEX survey sampled the entire country and all license classes and
age groups. Surveying club members doesn't.

Of course,
the club members here are fanatics in their support of code testing, even to
the point of openingly ridiculing Technicians who attend the meetings.

That sort of behavior is unacceptable. Not "real ham" behavior.

Because of that, few who oppose code testing, and even fewer Technicians,
attend that club's meetings or socialize with the members. Find me a survey
that is truly unbiased and I'll be glad to discuss the results. Until then,
discussing the results of surveys is simply a waste of time.

Then consider the comments to the restructuring NPRM.

As you well know, NCI is only a tiny part of the overall
movement to end code testing - far more outside that
organization are involved (including some in this newsgroup
you've personally discussed this issue with).

How do we know this?

How do you know what?

How do we know that there are "far more outside that organization..involved"?

I see the same small number of people in this newsgroup, at qrz.com, eham, etc.

That you've talked to people in this newsgroup who

are not NCI members yet are still opposed to code testing? I suspect the
vast majority of those in this newsgroup who oppose code testing are not
members of NCI.

Most of those opposed to code testing I have encountered here *are* members of
NCI. But there are really not that many on either side who post here. How many
different people have posted to rrap in the past year?

Who are "so many others", Dwight? If they really exist, why
haven't they signed on to NCI, which costs nothing more than
a few mouse clicks?

What is it with your obsession with NCI?

No "onsession" at all. I'm just curious as to why someone who felt strongly or
even mildly that code testing should go would *not* join that organization.
Particularly given the ease of doing so. And particularly given the fact that
if the membership numbers got big enough, a majority could be claimed based on
those numbers alone.

Are you campaigning for members
or something?

Just the opposite ;-)

There is no requirement whatsoever that says those who oppose
code testing must join that organization. I haven't joined it. Neither has
my wife. In fact, I don't know anyone personally who is opposed to code
testing who has joined. Of course, there are many organizations in this
country I haven't joined. Therefore, NCI is certainly nothing special in
that regard.

That says nothing about how many actually are opposed or support code testing.

And if it's such a done deal, why didn't FCC just dump Element 1
back in July?

As you well know, the FCC has rules and regulations to follow, Jim.
Because of that, they can't "just dump" anything.

That's not what Phil Kane says. A complete NPRM cycle is not required for every
rules change. Particularly when the change is characterized as "removing a
burden"

It's also what both the NCI and NCVEC petitions say. Both of them contend that
FCC has the authority to just remove Element 1 immediately, and ask FCC to do
so. Are they mistaken?

Something will happen sooner or later. Give it time.

Something always happens, given enough time.

73 de Jim, N2EY