In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

Everyone's allowed to change their minds, Mike. Even when they
say "never"....

Oh yes! But they have to face the consequenses of changing their mind.
But there is some pretty severe damage to credibility when the change
involves basic principles.

Yep. Fact is, I support the "NewNovice" concept, except for it being a
nocodetest license. But I strongly oppose the free upgrades.

Here's a prediction for you:

Hopefully BPL will not completely trash the HF spectrum - if that
garbage takes over, all bets are off. Assuming it is defeated or at
least contained:

There will be proposals and more proposals. FCC will someday do
another NPRM,
there will be a lot of comments, lots of arguing, and then eventually
FCC will do another R&O which will consist mostly of what's easiest for FCC
to
implement. At the rate they're going, late 2005 before the rules change.
(Yes, I have't forgotten The Pool)

They'll dump Element 1, simplify the entry level test even more,
reshuffle some other regs, etc., regardless of what the majority wants,
what
arguments are given pro and con, etc. Free upgrades? Maybe.

We'll see a surge of new hams and a surge of upgrades - for a while.
But not much will actually change, because they're not addressing the real
problems like CC&Rs, lack of publicity, lifestyle changes, etc.

You watch and see if I'm right.

I wouldn't bet against that! Sounds within a order of mag with my
prediction.

They're not addressing the real problems.

Meanwhile some of us will have been having a lot of fun with ham
radio. I know I have, and will continue to do so.

Me too. Glad I didn't listen to those that told me that "Morse code is
going to go away any day now." ~Three extra years on HF and counting.......

ARRL prez W5JBP sez (see "Amateur Radio Newsline" interview) he doesn't
expect FCC to finally act until late 2005. I would not be surprised if that
were the case. 5 years on amateur HF/MF for you by then. 38 for me.

73 de Jim, N2EY