In article et, "KØHB"
writes:

"N2EY" wrote

Related question for Hans: Would existing Extras get Class
A licenses automatically, or would they have to retest?

My inclination would be for current Extras to remain Extras unless they took
the new test.

The FCC would not dare to do anything to alter the "status" of current
Amateur Extra-class licensees, particularly those who attained that
class in the Pre-Restructuring Era. We've already made it to the top,
under a significantly more comprehensive and challenging set of
testing requirements, including Morse code tests at speeds up to
20 WPM. Uncle Charlie won't muck around with that, considering it
is the white-hot resentment of the General-class licensees of the
Pre-Incentive Licensing Era which started the whole debate over
licensing standards in the first place. Had the FCC taken the simple
precaution of "grandfathering" those hams to the then-new Extra
class, we may not be having this debate now.

Lots of guys (Larry comes to mind) attach a certain cachet to
their current license, having "done it the old way". I've no problem with
honoring that.

The truth be known, I give relatively little thought to the fact that I am
the holder of an Amateur Extra-class license. About the only time I've
ever brought up the subject was to turn up the heat on the whining
no-coders. The hardest license class for me to achieve was my
Novice, which only came after 14 years wasted in my unwillingness
to knuckle down and learn the Morse code. Once I overcame that
personal character flaw, everything fell into place with surprising ease.

As far as "honoring" Extra-class amateurs who did it "the old way" is
concerned, that would probably not be an issue except for the
previously mentioned Inceltive Licensing debacle, and the fact that
CB Radio had the effect of "consumerizing" personal radio
communications to the point where a demand was created for that
capability. Now, in these days of cell phones and "wireless" digital
everything, amateur radio itself is all but irrelevant. So, in a way,
I guess there may now be some point in "honoring" those of us who
reached the pinnacle of the amateur radio licensing structure,
under the "old order" set of standards. Perhaps it could serve to
show newer hams what they have lost in the sense of true status
attained, and the good feeling of individual accomplishment that
it brings. This may possibly cause the trend to again reverse
itself, and create a demand for a return to a set of licensing
standards which reward increased knowledge and operating
skills with greater operating privileges.

73 de Larry, K3LT