I am a new ham and will respond to this based on being new. I got my
license last year at age 48 so I'm neither a kid nor a senior. I've
been tested and scored at 136 so I'm not a genius but am far from a
dummy. I mention these things to give a general picture of who I am and
where my position comes from.

Radio Buff wrote:

No more automatic renewals. Individuals must retest and pass all elements
required for their license class.

Although I see the reasoning behind this request I disagree. There are
older hams who wouldn't be able to pass their license class test but
who still enjoy participating in their nets and talking to their circle
of ham friends. I don't want to be the one to take that away from a
senior ham who is hurting absolutely no one by enjoying their hobby.
The fact they might not pass the Extra test means nothing.

Radio Buff isn't going to want to give up enjoying radio when he/she is
older and can't pass the exam either.


The passing score for written exams needs to be raised to 85%.

I have no problem with this provided the exam is similar. If you want
to raise the minimum score required while also increasing the
difficulty level of the exam by 20-25% the combination will make it too
difficult for many. You will kill amateur radio because there will be
far fewer coming into the hobby than going SK.


Code elements should be 13 wpm for General, and 20 wpm for Extra.

Code should not be a part of the license test anymore than PSK or any
other operating mode. There are so many different ways to enjoy and
utilize amateur radio today that were not available decades ago that
make code no longer a necessity. Mandating code skills is now similar
to mandating slide rule skills for an engineer. It is an excellent tool
and anyone capable of using it has a true skill. That said, there is
nothing that can't be done by one without slide rule skills. They may
be at a disadvantage at certain times and in certain specific locations
and scenarios but for the most part the individual with the slide rule
skills has no true advantage today as they did a few decades ago. The
same holds true with code.

I do believe there should be a segment of the bands each license class
is authorized that is reserved for those with code in their license. It
just shouldn't be a requirement any longer. It keeps otherwise
intelligent and capable people away from the hobby and the goal should
be to bring them in not keep them away.


Make the no-code license one year non-renewable.

This point is pointless with the sensible approach outlined above.