FCC Seeks to Change Amateur Radio Licensing Rules, Allow Additional Emission Types

[NQ6U]

On October 2, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket No. 12-283 that seeks to change the Amateur Radio licensing rules, especially as they concern former licensees.

Full text on the ARRL Web site. (http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-to-change-amateur-radio-licensing-rules-allow-additional-emission-types)

[XE1/N5AL]

I disagree with the proposal on examination credit. If a ham lets his license lapse, I think he should have to take the exam over again. Just because the ham held a license years ago doesn't mean that he has kept up with all the rule changes during the intervening years. (---insert dumbing down tests/cw test elimination/license in Cracker Jack box rant here---). :)

On the "three VE" issue. If the Anchorage VEC has legitimate problems in securing three examiners for their ham exams (presumably because of low population density in some areas), they should be allowed to request a waver from the FCC to operate with two VEs. I don't think that an issue in a few geographic areas should necessarily have to affect the program as a whole.

[kb2vxa]

The US leads the world in making life difficult and so ignores the UK's progressive approach where an Amateur license is valid for life. Now wouldn't that eliminate a multitude of problems all in one fell swoop? As for the VEs, I vaguely remember some sort of waiver for those living too far to travel to an FCC field office to take the exam. Maybe some of the OTs can get together on this and remind the FCC of certain travel difficulties surrounding testing?

[PA5COR]

Amateur licenses here are valid for life as well in The Netherlands, cost nothing, changes can be done online, asking for special calls etc.
Cost nothing too... bloody socialist countries...;)

[KG4CGC]

I think every American should be forced to hold an Amateur radio license of at least a level of General for 8 years, if they have reached that level after holding the Tech for 2 years. If at the end of the license period they wish to continue and renew, that would be an option along with leaving Amateur radio all together.

Since we've done away with the draft, we need to instill a sense of duty in Americans that goes beyond talking and takes it into action. People will understand the importance of preparedness and duty to country. Naturally, we can attach punitive laws to the Amateur license where if convicted of a crime, including many misdemeanors, one can lose their Amateur license just like one can lose their driver's license in SC for simple possession, unrelated to a driving offense, for 6 months. The only difference being is that the driver loses for 6 months whereas the ban from Amateur radio would be permanent. This would weed out the riff raff. Like the code requirement USED to do.

The FCC through the military could develop a military based Amateur Radio Core for those who want to take it further and are willing to risk death in the event of a national emergency where the citizens need to be marshaled into safe compliance with the needs of the state. I also see no need for oversight for such a program.

[n2ize]

The US leads the world in making life difficult and so ignores the UK's progressive approach where an Amateur license is valid for life. Now wouldn't that eliminate a multitude of problems all in one fell swoop? As for the VEs, I vaguely remember some sort of waiver for those living too far to travel to an FCC field office to take the exam. Maybe some of the OTs can get together on this and remind the FCC of certain travel difficulties surrounding testing?

It was called the "Conditional Class License".

[n2ize]

I think every American should be forced to hold an Amateur radio license of at least a level of General for 8 years, if they have reached that level after holding the Tech for 2 years. If at the end of the license period they wish to continue and renew, that would be an option along with leaving Amateur radio all together.


Since we've done away with the draft, we need to instill a sense of duty in Americans that goes beyond talking and takes it into action. People will understand the importance of preparedness and duty to country. Naturally, we can attach punitive laws to the Amateur license where if convicted of a crime, including many misdemeanors, one can lose their Amateur license just like one can lose their driver's license in SC for simple possession, unrelated to a driving offense, for 6 months. The only difference being is that the driver loses for 6 months whereas the ban from Amateur radio would be permanent. This would weed out the riff raff. Like the code requirement USED to do.

The FCC through the military could develop a military based Amateur Radio Core for those who want to take it further and are willing to risk death in the event of a national emergency where the citizens need to be marshaled into safe compliance with the needs of the state. I also see no need for oversight for such a program.

Yes, if you get caught smoking a reefer in your own home you lose your ham license for good. Wwe can't have rotten good for nothing junkies spoiling our hobby.

I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree (Master or Ph.D) in some type of scientific or technicaly oriented field such as electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.

[kf0rt]

I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree (Master or Ph.D) in some type of scientific or technicaly oriented field such as electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.

And be able to copy RTTY in your head. :yes:

[KG4CGC]

Yes, if you get caught smoking a reefer in your own home you lose your ham license for good. Wwe can't have rotten good for nothing junkies spoiling our hobby.

I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree (Master or Ph.D) in some type of scientific or technicaly oriented field such as electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.

If you did that then we couldn't get enough hero wanna be volunteers.

[NQ6U]

I think that an Extra class license should allow for concealed carry.

[W2NAP]

Yes, if you get caught smoking a reefer in your own home you lose your ham license for good. Wwe can't have rotten good for nothing junkies spoiling our hobby.

I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree (Master or Ph.D) in some type of scientific or technicaly oriented field such as electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.

but think of all the wackers! the wackers would be crushed

[WØTKX]

I got "grandfathered" back in because I took my exams at the FCC field office in St. Paul MN.

Glad that it happened, but I was prepared to test again. The tests today can be passed by brute force memorization instead of actually knowing how to do things and recognizing circuits. And sometimes paying off the VE, apparently. :shifty:

New=packer thinking, old=mapper thinking.

The old tests were better, because you actually had to know stuff and stuff, IMHO.

[XE1/N5AL]

I think that an Extra class license should allow for concealed carry.
Maybe a double bazooka?

[WØTKX]

http://pantsinacan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bazooka_joe.gif

[kb2crk]

Yes, if you get caught smoking a reefer in your own home you lose your ham license for good. Wwe can't have rotten good for nothing junkies spoiling our hobby.

I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree (Master or Ph.D) in some type of scientific or technicaly oriented field such as electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, etc.

I think that no degree should be necessary if applicant is capable of putting an hf station together for less than $100......

[kb2vxa]

"The old tests were better, because you actually had to know stuff and stuff, IMHO."
The only thing I had to drill was the sub band assignments and naturally had a brain fart while testing. Simple logic got me through, often a best guess is the correct answer.

"I think that in order to get an Amateur License you should be required to hold a graduate degree..."
"but think of all the wackers! the wackers would be crushed"
You just can't keep a good (K1)MAN down.

"I think that an Extra class license should allow for concealed carry."
You don't need either when you're from Pottsylvania.