Bill Sohl wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
Bill Sohl wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Iitoi wrote:

the results at that
site are strikingly similar to your tabulation, with 45% fully in
favor
of the NRPM (drop the test) and 55% in favor of keeping some level of
CW testing.

"Strikingly similar"?

Len Anderson claims the tally is 49.33% for and 50.67% against the NPRM
(either partly or completely). AH0A claims 45% for and 55% against.
That's a pretty big difference, particularly when Len posts his results
to four significant figures and claims to be
"accurate".

Whose count is correct?

It really makes no difference because the reality is that about 66%
favor ending code for General.

I say it depends on what the question is. If you're talking about the
General, there's a clear majority to eliminate the code test for that
license. But if you're talking about the Extra, there's a clear
majority to keep the code test for *that* license.

If you're talking about complete code test elimination, which the NPRM
proposes, there's a clear majority *against* that.

Given an absolute majority
opinion ro end code... at least for General, then we can be
sure the FCC isn't going to retain any code at all because to
do so once again means a reinstatement of code medica
waivers.

I disagree!

The medical waivers came about because of the request of a
now-dead King to a president who left office 13 years ago,
ADA had nothing to do with it IIRC.

But the ADA wil surely be a part of it IF FCC retains
any code testing going forward.

How do we know that for sure, Bill?

Does anyone think otherwise?

Yes - me.

If medical waivers were a consideration, FCC could have
immediately reinstituted them in July 2003, claiming that
the only reason they didn't exist before was the treaty. But
they didn't.

They could have dropped code immediately too but that
didn't happen either. The wheels of government change turn ever
so slowly.

Agreed!

My point is that it's not a done deal until they actually do it. And if
there were no question, they'd have done it already.

In any event, the NPRM indicates that FCC is strongly predisposed
to just eliminate Element 1 - and make *no* other changes.

Len claims to have read and understood all the "filings" - yet he could
not find the AH0A count, which is clearly mentioned in AH0A's filing.

So - did Len *really* read and understand ALL the filings?

Obviously not!

He classifies the valid responses on the same basis as you ("For
NRPM",
"Keep the current test", and "Extra Only"). Then he has three
categories of "Others" which aren't included in his tally (Dupes and
other junk).

Yet the results are different - by a considerable percentage.

Why?

Bottom line again is "who cares?"

Obviously Len does - just look at how he carries on about it.....

Well I surely don't care.

Nor I, really. It's just an academic exercise - FCC doesn't have to go
with
majority opinion.

In the scheme of
things the results as tabulated by etiher Len or Joe are a
solid base for the end of code testing.

For General, yes. For Extra, the opposite is true.

For extra the opposite is just barely a majority.

55% is more than "just barely". Most US presidential elections are a
lot closer
(in the popular vote).

..I wouldn't
hang any hopes on that meaning anything to the FCC.

Nor I. But the fact is that the majority opinion does not support
complete
elimination of the Morse Code test.

But as we both know, FCC is under no mandate to
follow the majority opinion.

Exactly!

So why keep a scorecard at all?

The "let's keep it just
for Extra" group isn't even united on what speed it should
be. Most will accept (IMHO) retention of 5wpm for
Extra, but some have called for a return to the days
of yesteryear and would like 13 or 20wpm.

So we compromise on 15 wpm.

ROTFLMAO

Thought you'd enjoy that!

73 de Jim, N2EY