From Newsgroup: alt.ham-radio.hf




April 1, 2016

Washington, D.C. – April 1, 2016 –
Today, the Federal Communications Commission
(or FCC) approved Report and Order 14-987af
which reinstates the Morse Code test for
General Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees.
“It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse
Code test,” admits Dotty Dasher, the FCC’s
director of examinations. “We now realize
that being able to send and receive Morse
Code is an essential skill for radio amateurs.
As they say, it really does get through when
other modes can’t.”

Not only will new applicants have to take the
test, but General Class licensees who have
never passed a code test will have one year
to pass a 5-wpm code test. Similarly, Amateur
Extra class licensees that never passed a code
test will have one year to pass a 13-wpm test.
Those amateurs that fail to pass the test will
face revocation of their operating privileges.
Materials for administering the examinations
will be distributed to Volunteer Examiner
Coordinators by the end of April, so that they
can begin the testing on May 1, 2016.

“This isn’t going to be one of those silly
multiple-choice type tests,” noted Dasher.
“We’re going to be sending five-character
random code groups, just like we did in the
old days. And, applicants will have to prove
that they can send, too, using a poorly
adjusted straight key.”

Technician Class licensees will not be required
to take a Morse Code test, nor will a test be
required for new applicants. “We discussed it,”
said Dasher, “but decided that since most Techs
can’t even figure out how to program their HTs,
requiring them to learn Morse Code seemed like
cruel and unusual punishment.”

When asked what other actions we might see from
the FCC, Dasher hinted that in the future
applicants taking the written exam may be
required to draw circuit diagrams, such as
Colpitts oscillators and diode ring mixers,
once again. “We’re beginning to think that if
an applicant passes an amateur radio license
exam it should mean that he or she actually
knows something,” she said.

For further information, contact James X.
Shorts, Assistant Liaison to the Deputy
Chief of Public Relations for the FCC .

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