Since the move to delete CW from the regulations has started, it may be useful to understand what the impact might be on HF (and VHF bands). I hope Dave and others will offer some input and wisdom. Our web story about the change already notes that Switzerland (July 15) and the UK (July 25) will be giving it's VHF/nocode licensees access to HF this month. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/07/22/1/?nc=1 I suspect we'll see dozens of countries jumping in to follow them in the next few months. Guess I have several questions so far: 1) How many amateurs world-side have licenses that are VHF+ only? 2) What are the prospects for change in the areas/countries with the most amateurs (Europe and Japan, in particular, but I know there are large numbers in HS YB and HL also)? 3) If someone from the UK comes to the USA after July and has a license that now does not require CW, how will that effect their ability to operate in the USA? i.e. will they be able to operate on HF? It seems to me that we'll have increasingly crowded HF bands, and perhaps a decreasing amount of activity on VHF worldwide. That may be a bad thing as we try to hold on to VHF+ spectrum. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki@arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444