"Bill Sohl" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
...

"Jim Hampton" wrote in message
...
[snip]
While I have no problem with the elimination of Morse code, nor have I
a
problem with an easy entry level license, I am rather perplexed with
the
continued insistance that the tests are too hard. I am also somewhat
surprised at a free ride of either codeless techs or tech plusses
being
moved to general. The only techs which got the free ride were the
techs
from years ago who took the general theory. The only difference was
the
5
words per minute vs the 13 words per minute of the general class
license.
When the code requirement was dropped to 5 words per minute, the old
techs
had already passed the entire exam for new general class licensees.
Hmmmm
... come to think of it, they didn't get a 'free' ride - they passed
the
same elements as newly issued general class licenses.

Just my thoughts ...

And keep in mind that that upgrade isn't exactly "free". They have to
take
the time and energy to find or get the necessary proof of license, find
a
test session, show up at said test session, and process the paperwork.

Actually there's no need at all to do that. All the FCC needs to
do is change the rules to reflect that all Techs licenses are now
General and they will be reissued as General as they individually
expire and are renewed. The same would be true for Advanced to
Extra, and, if the NCVEC petition wins out with the new entry
license being "Communicator" then existing Novice licenses
would be equivalent to Communicator and renewed as such when
the current license expired. There is NO immediate need for any
paperwork to happen at all.

Cheers,
Bill K2UNK

If the goal is simplification of number of classes, then there would indeed
be a need to do the upgrades enmass. Otherwise the closed classes could
hang on for up to 10 years, which nearly negates the simplification process.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE