Dwight Stewart wrote:

"Dave Heil" wrote:

Your earlier comments:

"Dave, I don't have a background in a lot
of things (child birth, international affairs
with Belarus, NASA space missions, to
name just a few), but expect to have a
voice in those things when I have
something to say and would be darn
offended, and very confrontational..."

Please point out the portion in which you
state that you're discussing government
policy on child birth, NASA, etc.

Yes, those are my earlier comments - which you've disingenuously taken out
of context.

There was nothing disingenuous about anything and there was nothing in
your earlier statements to indicate that you were discussing government
policy. If I wanted to make it clear that I was speaking of policy, I
might have written something like, "I don't have a background in NASA
policy or child birth policy". Child birth policy doesn't seem to make
much sense does it?

That paragraph was a reply to words you wrote about code
testing - a government policy. The message that paragraph appeared in was
about code testing - a government policy. The discussion that message
appeared in was about code testing - a government policy. Please show me
where, in all that, there was even a hint that we were not talking about
government policy.

Show me that your words indicate in any way that you were discussing
child birth policy or NASA policy.

The needs of other radio services? What need
has any other service to tell hams which modes
to use? How would a great number of hams using
morse be less worthy of the "massive" frequencies
we have for our use?

This is not, and has never been, about the "use" of code, Dave.

That isn't what your words say. Look at 'em and see if you can find any
words about morse *use*. If you can't find them, perhaps I can provide
a quote.

This
discussion is about a testing requirement. And, from that perspective, I've
already addressed other radio services in my last message. But, since you
seem to have missed it (or decided to chop it up rather than look at it as a
whole), I'll repeat it here...

As I've already stated, if we're going to
remain a valuable radio service, worthy
of the massive frequencies we hold and
unlike personal radio services (CB), we
must consider the needs of the other
radio services when discussing any
licensing issue - including code testing.
The FCC did exactly that in the Report
& Order following the last round of
restructuring when they looked at
personal communication services, satellite
communications, fiber optic
communications, high definition television
systems, and police, fire, and rescue
communications. In that Report & Order,
the FCC stated that "...no communication
system has been designed in many years
that depends on hand-keyed telegraphy
or the ability to receive messages in Morse
code by ear" and that "...the emphasis on
Morse code proficiency as a licensing
requirement does not comport with the
basis and purpose of the service." Finally,
the FCC said, "...reducing the emphasis
on telegraphy proficiency as a licensing
requirement will allow the amateur service
to, as it has in the past, attract technically
inclined persons, particularly the youth of
our country, and encourage them to learn
and to prepare themselves in the areas
where the United States needs expertise."

Simple statement of fact. No new system has
been developed. Yet thousands of radio amateurs
use morse daily.

Again, this is not about the "use" of code, Dave. Those same radio
amateurs, and any others who want to join them, can and will continue to
freely "use" code long after any testing requirement is gone.

Maybe it could--if you believe that 5 wpm
constitutes "emphasis".

It is "emphasis" compared to the other operating modes, and compared to
where this country needs expertise (see FCC statements above).

I strongly disagree that a five word per minute morse test indicates
emphasis. Additionally, nothing precludes anyone from developing
expertise though "where this country needs expertise" hasn't been
defined. If you'd like to take the position that a five word per minute
code test is a huge hurdle for those who could develop some technical
expertise if they could only obtain HF amateur radio access, I'll play
along.

Dave K8MN