In article , Dick Carroll
writes:

Bill Sohl wrote:
Dwight:
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.

N2EY:
Then consider the comments to the restructuring NPRM.

I agree...surveys, votes, etc hold little sway with the FCC anyway.

So you think Bill Cross is obfuscating when he says that FCC wants the
ham community to decide what our rules are to be, for us to reach a
concensus??

Not at all!

What Mr. Cross (W3TN) means, I think, is that the *preferred* method of
rulemaking is for the amateur community to "discuss amongst themselves" and
come up with a consensus plan for some issue or other. Then present said plan
to FCC. Example: New Q&A pool is developed by QPC and presented to FCC for
approval. Few or no protests to the new pool; consensus acheived. FCC approves
new pool. Quick and easy.

But when consensus cannot be reached, FCC has to make a decision. And that
decision is based on many factors. In the case of code testing in regards to
98-143, the factors for reducing code testing won and the majority opinion lost
- in FCC's opinion. The medical waiver headaches alone.....(One could argue
that there was a consensus reached that medical waivers were not a good idea.
So FCC eliminated them....)

Suppose, just suppose, that the comments to 98-143 had been 80-90% to reduce to
5 wpm to meet S25.5 and eliminate all code testing as soon as the treaty
permitted. Do you think Element 1 would still be in place today? I don't.

73 de Jim, N2EY