FCC Drops Morse Code Requirement

leighklotz writes to mention a story discussing what some might consider a historic event. The FCC has dropped the Morse Testing requirement for amateur radio certifications. The public announcement was made on Friday. Ham radio operators will no longer have to study Morse, in a move patterned after other western nations. Says leighklotz: "The U.S. joins Canada and other countries in eliminating the morse code testing requirement, after being authorized to do so on July 5, 2003, when the World Radio Telecommunications Conference 2003 in Geneva adopted changes to the ITU Radio Regulations."

Comments

Re:What the Morse?

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree. If a person can spend many hours studying (I mean memorizing) the question pool for the various tests now that are handed to folks on a silver platter, they can spend a few more hours learning the morse code at 5 words a minute for Gods sake. Years ago, there wasn't a study guide that had all of the EXACT questions in it to study, now they drop the code requirement - what next? Let's make it just like the CB band. Once again the EXTRA CLASS hams gets screwed. I'll be waiting to see how long it takes the FCC to start trimming the bandwidth now assigned for CW operation on the bands. Maybe we can start taking away "outdated" subject requirements to graduate High School too, like history, and English? That could get the kids into the workforce and college faster and save taxpayers a whole bunch of money. Funny how the FCC announced this on a Friday - usually the day many financial announcements that aren't too favorable are released. I knew that their "public input" was a joke and this was pre-determined many moons ago. I am sure they won't at least toughen the test up a little to make up for the relaxation of the CW requirement. Don't hold your breath.

Re:Bad idea?

[T-Ranger]

Yes, because yelling "help", without any indication of the severity of the problem, or your location, on a medium that could have you and your receiver on opposite sides of the planet, is really going to get you help. You might as well start a fire.

Re:What the Morse?

[fyngyrz]

It never ceases to amaze me how people can apparently read what you posted, think they've extracted things out of it you never said or implied, then post an angry diatribe in "response."

You, sir, have managed to create three paragraphs of complete and uniform irrelevance to me or my written opinions on slashdot. In the spirit of HF, however, I will gamely reply: "So, how's the WX?"