News Flash (Jan 24, 2007):
The date is official - February 23, 2007!!!
We won the battle!!!
The FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235, published in the Federal Register today, making the effective date of the new "code-free" rules February 23, 2007. A link to the item in the Federal Register is here.
On behalf of myself and the entire NCI Board of Directors I would like to thank NCI's members - and our US members in particular in this case - for their support, participation in the regulatory change process through their comments, and patience as we've fought this battle over the past years.
To those of you who already have HF privileges, thanks for understanding that this change is necessary to reinvigorate growth in the ARS and to allow all of our fellow amateurs to both enjoy all facets of amateur radio, to advance their technical skills without the unnecessary obstacle of passing a Morse test, and to participate and contribute in the public service and emergency communications communications services that we provide to the public.
To those who will take advantage of the new opportunity, thanks for your support, enjoy your new privileges, and make good use of them - after you've taken care of the necesary paperwork for your upgrade. Don't let the few who may look down their noses at you because you didn't have to jump through the Morse test hoop get under your skin and provoke a bad reaction on your part. Take the "high road" and behave properly and don't let them have any cause to say, "See, we told you ham radio would turn in to CB without the code test." Show them, by your actions, that one doesn't need to be Morse proficient to be a good operator!
Finally, speaking for myself and not necessarially for the entire NCI Board, while the ARRL asked the FCC to keep the 5 wpm code test for the Extra class license, I think that it is important to realize that the current membership demographic and leadership of the ARRL are dominated by older, generally more "traditionalist" hams and that position was, in the ARRL leadership's view, an attempt to balance the views of those members with the views of more progressive members - and potential members.
While I don't agree with all of the ARRL's positions, I am a life member because the ARRL does do a LOT of good for amateur radio. I believe that the best way to move ARRL in a more consistently progressive direction is to become a member and to make your views known to your Division Director (and elect leadership with the vision to take amateur radio into the future). It's usually easier to effect organizational change from within than from outside.
I am making this point because we need a strong national organization to protect and preserve our spectrum allocations and NCI, whose focus has always been on eliminating the code test requirement, was never intended to "morph" into such a roll, nor would it be practical for NCI to do so. The ARRL has the necessary organizational infrastructure in place - and it's taken decades and millions of dollars to build. We can't practically replicate all of that, but we can, collectively, influence the ARRL's direction in the future
If you're not a member of the ARRL, I personally urge you to consider becoming one to support the good work that it does for amateur radio, while working from within to help effect changes that will make ARRL a more progressive, future-focused organization.
73 and see you on the bands!
Carl - WK3C
News Flash (Jan 22, 2007):
New FCC Rules Eliminating Morse Code Test Requirement Expected to Take Effect Some Time Around the End of February 2007
The ARRL has announced, via its website and bulletins, that it has learned that the FCC's Report and Order (R&O) in the "Morse code proceeding," WT Docket 05-235, is scheduled to appear in the Federal Register Wednesday, January 24. Assuming that occurs, the new Part 97 rules deleting the Morse code examination requirement would go into effect Friday, February 23, 2007. ALL amateurs need to be aware that this date is tentative, pending official confirmation and publication.
Publication of the R&O in the Federal Register will start a 30-day countdown for the new rules to become effective.
This page will be updated with the firm, official effective date of the new rules as soon as it has been determined.
ALL amateurs are cautioned NOT to operate beyond their operating privileges and reminded that there are no "instant upgrades"to General or Extra ... even if you have passed the written elements for General or Extra, you MUST do the paperwork to upgrade as described below.
On or after the effective date of the new rules, an applicant holding a valid Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for a higher license class will be able to redeem it for an upgrade. For example, a Technician licensee holding a valid CSCE for Element 3 (General) could apply at a VEC exam session, pay the application fee -- which most VECs charge -- and receive an upgrade. A CSCE is good only for 365 days from the date of issuance. Candidates for General or Amateur Extra between now and the effective date of the new rules still must have Element 1 (5 WPM Morse code) credit to obtain new privileges, however.
Once the new rules DO go into effect, Technician licensees will gain HF privileges identical to those of current Novice and Tech Plus (or Technician with Element 1 credit) licensees without having to apply for an upgrade. Novices and Technicians with Element 1 credit have CW privileges on 80, 40, 15 meters and CW, RTTY, data and SSB privileges on 10 meters.
News Flash (Dec 15, 2006):
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES,
ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS
Our
Mission
No-Code International TM is a organization dedicated to the abolition of the Morse code testing requirement as a prerequisite for any class of Amateur Radio license. NCI TM will continue as a lobbying organization as long as the manual telegraphy testing requirement exists.
What we believe. We want to make a few points crystal clear:
| 1. | NCI is not opposed to manual Morse code operation. But Morse code is just another mode and should not be afforded any special priority over others. It is available to those who wish to use it. Morse proficiency should not be required for those who do not wish to use the mode. |
| 2. | Manual radiotelegraphy communications has been superceded by more modern, reliable, accurate, faster and efficient means of communication. |
| 3. | Requiring manual telegraphy proficiency is not compatible with the radio amateur's mandated objective of contributing to the advancement of the radio art. |
| 4. | No evidence exists that Morse proficiency is an indicator of a desirable, motivated or better qualified operator. |
| 5. | The Morse code requirement serves as an advancement barrier to many otherwise qualified individuals. |
| 6. | The value of Morse code communications in the Amateur Service is primarily recreational in nature and manual telegraphy proficiency should no longer be a compulsory licensing requirement for any class of Amateur Radio license. |
No-Code International is dedicated to getting regulatory officials world-wide to eliminate Morse testing.
This web site was originated by Bruce Perens, K6BP and is being continued by the Board of Directors of NCI, some of whom are long term ARRL members who do not agree with the ARRL's philosophy on the manual Morse code testing issue. If you agree as we do that manual telegraphy should be abolished as a license testing requirement, then we need you as an NCI member. Please let us know who you are:
Click
here if you agree with the philosophy and goals outlined above
and would like to apply for membership in No-Code International.
(It is NOT necessary that you be a licensed
amateur to be a member of NCI ... the only requirement is that you sincerely
support the goal of eliminating Morse proficiency as a prerequisite to
obtaining an amateur license).
No-Code International and NCI are trademarks of No-Code International.
Thanks to Brad McConahay, N8QQ, for significant contributions in the areas of graphic design and layout of the original web pages.