From: Alva Anderson W5VCJ [mailto:aanderso.cw@verizon.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 1:32 PM To: hq@arrl.org Subject: ARLB007 An open letter to the Board: Although I have been around amateur radio almost 50 years, I am relatively new, being first licensed as KD5LZQ in October 2000. Restructuring had taken effect, and I was disappointed with the low requirements of licensing. My uncle, T.W. Stevens, the former W5VCJ -- whose call I took in honor of him -- had tried to get me involved in ham radio in the early 1960s. Back then, one had to really learn something to be a ham. For years, we have seen a gradual but accelerating decline in personal achievement and responsibility in all aspects of American life, from schools and universities, and to the awarding of privileges from amateur radio to aircraft piloting. Rather than cover the philosophical underpinnings leading to this unnecessary and unwarranted decline in traditional American values, I would like to urge the Board to reverse its decision on this item. As an ARRL member, I should, at the very least, like to go on record as vehemently opposing this decision for the following reasons. First, it is unnecessary. All of the privileges that the Novice and Technician Plus Class licensees desire are available to them via a license upgrade. And since many of us of all age groups have gone from no license to Extra Class in a year or so, it simply cannot be a matter of difficulty to upgrade. Rather, I believe this is simply a matter of convenience to the Novice and Tech Plus licensees. Sadly, I think it is also a matter of laziness. It does take effort, though certainly not very much, to upgrade to General Class, where all these privileges are available. In addition, I think the ARRL is trying to get the bands more active across the spectrum so that we don't lose them, and the Board sees this as the only viable alternative. Finally, at least some of the old Novice Class licensees probably would like to hold their Novice ticket as some sort of status symbol, since it is no longer issued to new applicants, yet gain the benefits of upgrading. This reversal of values is becoming pandemic in American society. No matter what the reason for the Board's action, the real effect is an assault on the concept of class licensing as such. For example, consider that the Extra Class has only 25 kHz of a few bands, plus the ability to apply for VE certification to test others for their Extra Class ticket. Not much for all the extra work, and I am sure that there would be a lot fewer of us had the licensing requirements been what they were only a decade ago. In other words, privilege should be earned. In essence, the Board's decision is yet another assault on individual achievement, and the reward and joy that is the providence of those who make an intense effort in life. As a consequence, I believe that the real effect will be a decline in both amateur radio participation as such, and membership in organizations such as the ARRL. First, it will bring a LOT more people into the bands and effectively fill up spectrum -- spectrum that is now has a lot of bandwidth for those of us who have earned it. Next, it will drive away those of us who have made the effort to upgrade because the bands will be filled effectively with advanced CB'ers -- and the result will be a dramatic, and irreversible, increase in phone traffic. After all, what need do the CB'ers have of the ARRL? Finally, those of us who are driven by the desire to be the best we can be, and to instill this sense of life in others, will once again be sabotaged by the organizations we support, just as we are being sold out by those whom we elect to office, both public and private. While you often hear opposition to changes in the rules and licensing, I can give you the deeper philosophical -- metaphysical, epistemological, ethical and political -- reasons in another context if you are both open to reason and have the interest. Please do not help destroy the best within us for a short term "fix" -- a fix that in the final analysis will not work! Sincerely, Alva Anderson, Jr. W5VCJ 219 Martin Drive Wylie, TX 75098-4847 aanderso.cw@verizon.net ------ Coy Day, N5OK, ARRL West Gulf Division Director, RR 1 Box 254, Union City, OK 73090-9726 (405) 483-5632 mailto:n5ok@arrl.org Web: http://home.att.net/~n5ok.ok/