One thing I keep hearing over and over again, is why should CW be a "requirement" to gain access to the hf portions of the band? The most prevalent answers thus far are because it is tradition, and it is a way of weeding out those folks we don't want. Sorry folks, but neither of those arguments hold any water, at least in my point of view. First, why would we want to weed anyone out? We need to attract more and more people into the service, not the other way around. I hear some say that if the code were dropped, we would turn into another CB radio type of atmosphere. Have you tuned around the bands lately, and even before the restructuring in 2000. I have heard many Extras, Advanced and yes, General class operators, arguing, using words that would make a sailor blush, and otherwise making them selves an embarrassment to Amateur Radio. Yet, they had to pass the code before crossing into the threshold of HF. Did not make them a better operator. Tradition? So was spark gap. Do we require folks to send by spark gap in order to enter the hf areas? Of course not. We move on. CW is a great mode of operation. , but so is packet, atv, ssb, am, psk31, and the list goes on. Why should one mode of operation have any higher value than the other. I realize that we will have much discussion on this subject, but as Jim H points out, now is the time to do it. We all have our own opinions and ideas, but in my opinion, the bottom line is this. The final decision not only effects each and everyone of us in the board family, but most importantly, it effects our members, and non members alike. As side note, I noticed that over 50,000 of our members have signed up for section/division news from all over the country. Sending out a note to them via this means, and asking them to vote in a straw poll, would at least give us some insight to their opinion. Sure, it would not be scientific, but at least it would be some type of gauge..........and I believe the software only allows you to vote once. At least it does in the members only area. 73, Tuck K4NK@aol.com wrote:

I have just finished reading all of the comments on ODV about the Morse controversy. I am concerned about what I have read . It seems several have indicated that the FCC will drop the requirement NO MATTER WHAT we petition. As a Vice Director perhaps I'm just out of the loop enough not to understand the politics of this situation. My concerns go way beyond this issue. I operate 99% CW , I am concerned that our " CW sub bands " will go away at some point. Perhaps even the mode , as we see on 5 MHz. If this were the case Amateur Radio would offer no appeal to me . There will be a fight ... but as for me I will never back down on the requirement . I will also (although I have no vote on the board) oppose any effort to simply let the FCC drop the requirement.

Les Shattuck K4NK

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