Italy Joins No-Code Ranks as FCC Revives Morse Debate in the US
Italy is reported to be the latest country added to the list of those that no longer require Amateur Radio
applicants to have passed a Morse code examination to gain HF access. The Daily DX reported this
week that current IW-prefix "no-code" VHF/UHF licensees in Italy now will be allowed operate on HF
and may also apply for new call signs if they wish. Canada eliminated Morse code as the "sole additional
requirement" for HF access in late July. To date, more than two dozen countries around the world—
including such major players as the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand--no longer
require Amateur Radio applicants to pass a Morse code examination to operate on frequencies below
30 MHz. If the FCC's past observations on the subject are any clue, the US could be joining the
no-code-required club in the future.
Industry Canada Introduces Alternatives to Morse Requirement for HF
Per Canada Gazette Notice DGRB-003-05 dated 30 July 2005, Industry Canada has adopted elements
of the RAC "Proposal on Morse Code and Related Matters" and has removed the mandatory requirement
for the Morse Qualification for access to the HF bands below 30 MHz. Effective immediately, HF
operation on the bands below 30 MHz has been authorized by Industry Canada for:
a) amateurs who were certified with only the BASIC Qualification prior to 2 April 2002;
b) amateurs who have been certified with both BASIC and ADVANCED Qualifications;
c) amateurs with only the BASIC Qualification who were certified after 1 April 2002, and who achieved a
pass mark of 80% or greater; Those amateurs with only the BASIC Qualification who were certified after
1 April 2002, but who achieved less than an 80% pass mark, will either have to qualify in Morse, write the
Advanced or re-write the Basic examination to obtain HF privileges. This latter requirement is related to
a decision to increase the BASIC examination pass mark to ensure that candidates have been tested in all
areas of the syllabus. Amateurs who need to confirm their examination marks should contact their Accredited
Examiner. Accredited Examiners are required to retain marks for at least three years. Also effective
immediately, the pass mark for the BASIC Qualification has been raised from 60% to 70%.
FCC Fines 'Law & Order'
Producers of the hit crime series ‘Law and Order’ have been fined $10,000 by the Federal Communications Commission. This is a result of the show’s film crew using unlicensed walkie-talkies that interfered with
transmissions of the New York Police Department. Universal Television is expected to appeal.
NEW ARRL GOES TO WASHINGTON VIDEO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
The ARRL is making available a 10-minute video, The ARRL Goes to Washington,
that documents the League's activities on behalf of Amateur Radio on Capitol
Hill and at the FCC. Produced by Dave Bell, W6AQ, Alan Kaul, W6RCL, and Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, The ARRL Goes to Washington now is available for
downloading from the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/pio/VTS-Video.mpg.
Because it typically occurs behind the scenes, ARRL's advocacy in "official
Washington" in support of Amateur Radio receives little fanfare compared to
its importance and significance. This video offers an opportunity to call
attention to this critical ARRL function in an entertaining and informative
way. ARRL members often say that legislative and regulatory advocacy is very
important to them. Now clubs, public information officers and others will be
able to witness the League's leadership in action in the nation's capital
for themselves.
Featuring ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and narrated by former CBS News
anchor Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, the presentation's debut at Dayton
Hamvention was resoundingly positive. Now you can download this video and
save it on your computer or on a CD. It makes a great centerpiece for an
Amateur Radio club program or meeting too.
This video is not intended, nor available, for telecasting or broadcasting
in any manner. It may be shown to groups or at hamfests, forums and clubs.
The file is 95 MB, so a high-speed connection is necessary. The video runs
10:42. A higher-resolution DVD is expected to become available in a few
weeks.
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