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

"N2EY" wrote:
"Dwight Stewart" writes:
The FCC doesn't have a mandate
to test discipline.

Yes, they do. That's what the "character"
stuff in the rules is about.

I've read the rules many times, but must have missed the part or parts
about character testing.

FCC reserves the right to deny a license to someone who has passed the tests
*if* FCC determines that said person cannot be trusted to follow the rules. In
practice this means that someone convicted of a crime (usually a felony) can be
denied a ham license, particularly if the crime was a violation of the
Communications Act.

For example, some years back a ham went to jail for hacking into computers (he
wrote a book about it in prison, btw). Ham radio had nothing to do with his
crimes
but FCC did some serious consideration of not renewing his license. I think he
finally convinced them that he was rehabilitated and trustworthy enough to have
a license.

There's a local ham around here who
has generated so much trouble on
various repeaters and earned himself
so many warning letters that FCC is
considering not renewing his license
for "character" reasons. IOW he
simply doesn't have the necessary
self-discipline to be a ham.

First, what does that have to do with testing?

It has to do with discipline and responsibility. Even though this guy could
pass the tests again, his renewal may be denied.

Second, there is nothing in
the rules about refusing a renewal based on character, so I seriously doubt
that would be the FCC's explination for any action like this (a pattern of
rule violations, yes).

We discussed the "character" issue in its own thread some time back. K2ASP gave
some good insights. A person who can't seem to follow the rules *can* be denied
a renewal based on what FCC calls "character".

Don't take my word for it - ask Phil and/or google up the old thread. I recall
the C-word was in the thread title.

Agreed. But those things do constitute
"discipline".

Only if you stretch the word to mean something beyond common usage.

Then use the word "responsibility" or the words "responsible behavior".

73 de Jim, N2EY
Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/