June 29, 2005

FCC Enacts Internet/Usenet Morse Code Requirement


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Filed at 10:26 a.m. EST


By The Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP)

The FCC, under pressure to clean up Internet, especially after the
Communications Decency Act provisions regarding Internet content
regulation were stricken as violating the U.S. Constitution, has
decided instead to require a Morse code requirement for Internet
users. Citing the success of the Amateur Radio Service and the general
belief that its requirement for operators to pass a Morse code
proficiency exam and other technical requirements, has kept the A.R.S.
"clean", the FCC will enact a 5 word-per-minute requirement for all
Internet users. They are leaving open the issue of whether there
should be a "codeless" class of Internet user and are soliciting
comments on this proposal. Codeless class users could read but not
write to newsgroups.


Persons wishing to develop a web site having only links to other web
sites having links to other web sites, and so forth, must pass a 13
word-per-minute test and demonstrate proficiency in HTML, the Internet
authoring language.


Persons wishing to develop web sites that have actual content, as
compared to just links to other web sites, must pass a 20
word-per-minute Morse proficiency test, demonstrate proficiency in
HTML and the Java programming language, and show that they have
mastery of at least one human language, such as English.


The FCC, which lacks budgetary authority to implement the testing
program, has stated that it intends to create Volunteer Examiner
programs for Internet applicants.


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