In regards to the news story on the above topic:

 

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-requests-expanded-hf-privileges-for-technician-licensees

 

I have recently received numerous “angry” e-mails from members who are against Technicians getting expanded privileges, perhaps thinking that this is a further “dumbing down” of amateur radio.

 

The fact is, the news story did not immediately indicate the processes of the Entry Level License Committee.  The intent was to create an entry level license that would attract young, technically minded youth into amateur radio, similar to the foundation license in the UK and Australia.  The initial emphasis should have indicated that if we do not attract youth in our hobby, the service will die out as we do, and there would be no legacy to be left.

 

Then, the practicality of the entry level license should have been discussed, that the FCC dropped us down to 3 license classes, and it would be unlikely that they would ever create another license class.  Therefore, the current Technician license was chosen to be the vehicle of the Entry License. To that end, we needed privileges that would give newcomers a true “taste” of amateur radio, which required additional HF privileges, and modification of the exam.

 

All of this, including the extensive surveys were discussed later in the article, but I doubt many read anything after the first paragraph.

 

I would request that we have a follow-up article that describes the processes and original intent of the Entry License Committee, in order to diffuse some of these very negative impressions.

 

On a positive side, I hear CQ actually agrees with us on this issue.

 

 

’73 de JIM N2ZZ

Director – Roanoke Division

Representing ARRL members in the Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina sections

ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio™

 

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