On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:37:30 GMT, "KØHB"
wrote:

An interesting announcement! Here in Canada, Morse Code is now an
alternative method of qualifying for HF privileges.

In other words - Morse survived!

A couple of the other requests from the Amateur community (via the
RAC proposal) were granted as well - increasing the pass marks on the
exams to 70% from 60%, and the addition of commercial kit-building
privileges for Basic license holders.

Not bad - now there's a regulatory agency that listens. Well done,
Industry Canada!


73, Leo


Per Canada Gazette notice DGRB-003-05 22 July 2005, Industry Canada has adopted
elements of the RAC "Proposal on Morse Code and Related Matters" and has removed
the mandatory requirement for the Morse Qualification for access to the HF bands
below 30 MHz.


Effective immediately, amateurs certified with BASIC Qualification prior to 2
April 2002, and amateurs certified with both BASIC and ADVANCED Qualifications,
may operate on HF. Amateurs with BASIC only Qualification certified after 1
April 2002, and who achieved a pass mark of 80% or greater, will also be allowed
to operate on HF. Amateurs certified BASIC only Qualification after 1 April 2002
having achieved less than 80% pass mark, will either have to qualify in Morse,
write the Advanced or re-write the Basic examination to obtain HF privileges.
This latter requirement is related to a decision to increase the BASIC
examination pass mark to ensure that candidates have been tested in all areas of
the syllabus.


For details, see the Canada Gazette notice at
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/inter.../sf08435e.html and the
"Latest News" page on the RAC web site at http://www.rac.ca .

--
73, de Hans, K0HB