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"Alun" wrote I don't think that qualifies as proof. Here is a direct quote from the "Amateur Radio Newsline" broadcast of Sept 12th, 1993, where the hissy-fit of W5YI is described. Since K7UGA left the Senate in 1986, long before this incident, it's unlikely that he responded with legislation which required free Novice exams. Sunuvagun! de Hans, K0HB " VEC UPSET ABOUT FREE NOVICE TESTS The ARRL says that it will not charge applicants for Novice tests. This even though the W5YI VEC has filed a complaint with the FCC alleging that the League's VEC operation is in violation of the rules because it refuses to charge applicants for these tests. But Fred Maia W5YI who operates the VEC bearing his callsign claims that its a matter of uniformity. That all VEC's who use what is called the annual method of figuring reimbursement are required to charge an examination fee for every test it gives, including Novice exams. The ARRL says that it plans to continue its policy of administering Novice tests free of charge because it believes that this policy is consistent with an FCC tradition established back in the 1950's. This, as a way of making it easy for youngsters to get entry level licenses. The League's President, George Wilson, W4OYI says that the whole thing is nothing more than one of the ironies that keeps ham radio politics interesting. Wilson notes that VEC's have always had the latitude to set their own fees. He adds -- and we quote -- "Frankly, we see no compelling Federal interest in whether or not a class of nine year olds ought to be charged for taking an entry level ham radio exam." But Maia and his W5YI VEC operation see it very differently. In his September 1st issue of his W5YI Report newsletter Maia says that the potential financial benefit to the League resulting from its policy is to serious to be ignored. He says that free examinations when all other VEC's charge, attract applicants who are the potential purchasers of examination preparation materials. Maia believes that the purchasing decisions of these people may be unduly influenced by their choice of VEC's. |
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