Italy Joins No-Code Ranks

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Italy Joins No-Code Ranks as FCC Revives Morse Debate in the US[/size][/color][/b]

NEWINGTON, CT, August 10, 2005--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.
SEE  REST OF STORY[/size]

[K1MVP]

Italy Joins No-Code Ranks as FCC Revives Morse Debate in the US[/size][/color][/b]

NEWINGTON, CT, August 10, 2005--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.
SEE  REST OF STORY[/size]

This whole issue, (about elimination of the cw requirement),--
is a "done deal"  IMO.
This recent FCC WT Docket 05-235 soliciting comments is just
a "formality".
Comments were being solicited back in April of 2004 on the
various 18 petitions, which included RM-10867 by the ARRL,
RM-10868 by the RAF(Radio Amateur Foundation) and the
NCVEC petition(RM-10870 in which many commented, including
myself, where I and many others thought it might make a
difference.--IT DID NOT, the FCC supposedly reviewed the
comments, and then came up with this recent NPRM 05-235
to eliminate CW altogether.
It looks like the FCC wants to "streamline" or "simplify" things,
IMO, and who knows where this will lead to for the future
of amateur radio.
                                      73, K1MVP

P.S., this recent "news" from Newington fails to mention that
        while Great Britain has eliminated cw, they have "beefed
        up their written exams" in the process.
        I believe Canada also has an option that if one elects
        not to do cw, --a higher score on the written exam is
        required.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Here's a piece of the Canada info:
From the ARRL site

Effective immediately, amateurs certified with the Basic Qualification prior to April 2, 2002, and amateurs certified with both Basic and Advanced Qualifications may operate on the HF amateur bands. Licensees holding only the Basic Qualification who were certified after April 1, 2002, and who achieved a passing grade of at least 80 percent also are allowed to operate on HF.

Amateurs certified with the Basic Qualification after April 1, 2002, who did not achieve a score of at least an 80 on the examination will either have to attain the Morse Qualification, write the Advanced test or rewrite the Basic examination and obtain at least an 80 percent grade to obtain HF privileges.

This last requirement is related to a decision to increase the passing grade for the Basic examination to ensure that candidates have been tested in all areas of the syllabus. Details of the Industry Canada decision are in the Canada Gazette Notice and on the Latest News page of the RAC Web site.

[W2VW]

mollare qualcuno