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January 28th 04, 07:46 PM
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"N2EY" wrote in message ... In article . net, "Bill Sohl" writes: "N2EY" wrote in message ... In article , Paul W. Schleck writes: In (N2EY) writes: In article om, "Dee D. Flint" writes: Basically I think the ARRL Board knows that the free upgrades means that their proposal probably will not be adopted in this form. The FCC has never gone along with free upgrades before and there is no evidence that they would do so now. However, I believe they tossed it in as another idea for the FCC to consider in developing whatever the FCC decides to do, if they decide to do anything at all. That's probably correct, Dee. And that's what bothers me! As you say, FCC has never done free upgrades, and the last time the issue came up (98-143), the ARRL proposal was for existing Novices (!) and Tech Pluses to get free upgrade to General. Of course, FCC said "no way", and has had no problem whatever keeping the closed-to-new-issues classes in their database. So why propose something FCC obviously isn't going to do? Just wastes everybody's time. More important, it diverts attention from the other issues. oh wait, I think I just answered my own question...;-) 73 de Jim, N2EY I brought this subject up with someone in the League. This exact thread, actually. I was told that the ARRL BoD sincerely believes (take at face value, or not) that failure to upgrade licensees in the FCC R&O for WT 98-143 was not a final "no" answer. Maybe it wasn't. But are such freebies really a good idea? Here's your options: We currently have essentially a 6 license system in place (even though several licenses are no longer issued). To go from that system to the one proposed by ARRL leaves three options as I see it: 1. The one-time free upgrade process as put forth by ARRL which takes nothing away from anyone Hold on a sec. Right now there are about 105,000 Extras. And we have a few slices of choice kHz on 4 HF bands. In my experience, QRM in these subbands is usually less than elsewhere in the same band because relatively few US hams have access to them. If all 83,000 Advanceds get a free upgrade to Extra, they'll have access to those choice slices and they'll probably increase the QRM level. So giving them a free upgrade *does* take something away from existing Extras. Like all those Advanced are on the air now. Give me a break. 83,000 advanced today who are either SK, inactive or just don't see the need to upgrade and you expect even a measurable increase in QRM because some of them may suddenly start operating in the Extra only segments. Same situation for Generals. elsewhere in the same band and immediately gets everyone into the new 3 license system, But nobody says why that is such a big priority, when it wasn't 4 years ago. I suspect the FCC four years ago (5 years ago now) expected change over time. You are free to voice your own thoughts on need or not. or 2. Go to the new system but "grandfather" those on current but no longer to be issued license classes which takes nothing from anyone but presents a dual system of licenses, rules and regulations which would likly exist for decades until those with licenses no longer being issued as new ended up SK or otherwise dropped from our ranks or upgraded! Have you forgotten that any of the closed off classes can upgrade with the required tests? The fact that so few Advanceds have upgraded in almost 4 years is quite interesting, don't you think? Number of Advanceds is down by only about 16%, and that includes both upgrades and expirations. Repeat my comment above about the unlikly QRM from former advanced being in Extra segments...if freely upgraded. or, 3. Implement the ARRL 3 licnense system and downgrade some folks to new Novice (i.e. the Techs) or General (i.e the Advanced). This last scenario takes away privileges and we all know how well that went down in the late 60's Incentive Licensing implementation. Or 4. Do something else. I identified the ONLY three options on a general basis. You propose something else but do not specify what that is. Either there is nothing else as an option and you know it or, there is another option but you don't wish for anyone to know what it is. The ball is in your court. Only three options exist unless you can provide a real 4th option. To me the answer is clear...and, I suspect so is it also to ARRL which is why the proposal includes free upgrades. Why should FCC allow free upgrades today, when they said no in 1999? What has changed? I don't care. In the end the FCC will decide. There's no need for me to explain or even understand why the FCC might allow it. Rather, it is just one of the unresolved loose ends that was deliberately not tied up until better consensus emerged from the amateur radio community about things like Novice band refarming, etc. The League official noted that the ARRL's band refarming proposal, RM-10413, has been sitting on an FCC official's desk for about two years now (he claims to know the exact FCC official, but did not name him). Because of this, as long a wait, if not longer, is expected on a "final" answer concerning automatic upgrading. I say we should judge by actions. When FCC thinksa proposal is a good or bad idea, they act. How long did the whole 98-143 process take, from initial release of the NPRM to the new rules in April 2000? More important, what would a lack of free upgrades hurt? Is it really such a burden to require an Advanced to pass Element 4, or a Tech to pass Element 3, in order to get the next higher grade of license? See options 2 and 3 above. The rules for the 6 license classes are already in place. So what's the problem? Which requires enforcement authorities to keep tabs on 6 different sets of spectrum authority. You can disagree that it isn't significant, but I'd bet it IS an issue in the FCC and other government mindsets. YMMV. Cheers, Bill K2UNK |
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