[Warning: Long reply] Now this is why I really hate these types of discussions.
Overlooked is all the years the ARRL fought for code tests. All that is remembered is when they bowed to the inevitable and tried to make the best of a bad situation. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the FCC was determined to eliminate a code test regardless of what anyone was going to say. Just as they were determined to eliminate the higher speed code tests in favor of 5 WPM a few years back. Nothing you, nor I, nor the ARRL said was going to put a single dent in that railroad. And a railroad it was. IMHO, they went through the motions -- NPRM, comments, reply comments, hearings. And in the end, they implemented exactly what they said they would, pretty much the way they said they would. But they went through the motions, so it will hold up in court... just like the 10 M amplifier ban (remember that? The courts, as I recall, said that while they wouldn't have ruled that way, the FCC was perfectly justified in doing so) I have to laugh with a tinge of bitterness every time I read the justification for those two decisions. I especially liked the parts (and I'm paraphrasing here) where the FCC claimed that it was going to reduce paperwork and make licensing more efficient... like they do any more than process the test results coming in from the VEC's anymore. No, this smacked of the same decision making that cost US amateurs 220 - 222 MHz. Remember that one? I especially liked the parts where they justified removing that band and giving it to UPS (and then UPS didn't want it anymore! because the ARRL convinced them that what they wanted to do wouldn't work there! what bitter irony!) because the band was underutilized, as proved by the lack of repeaters in that portion of the band. You know, the part of the band reserved for non repeater usage by the FCC -- want to poke some logical holes in that one, not that it would change anything? It has become very fashionable in some circles to blame everything wrong or perceived wrong with Amateur Radio in the US and other parts of the world on the ARRL. Somehow, it comes across that the ARRL is all powerful and it's wishes become law... yet they are so inept that the FCC ignores everything they do, which means they're useless. All powerful and useless at the same time. Some trick that is. Now I'm not saying the ARRL is perfect. It isn't. It's made some mistakes, and it's made some whoppers. (Take the twists and turns over DXCC Status for Scarborough Reef, Ducie Island, and Swain's Island to name three -- see, I can make this DX related!) But overall, it's done us very well. You don't like what the ARRL leadership in Newington is doing? Fine. What are you doing about it? Blowing off steam on this or other reflectors may make you feel better, but changes nothing. YOU need to remind the leadership that THEY work for US and that you're not happy. Send a letter. Send an email. Don't get a response, or don't like the reply? Send another. And another. And get all your friends to do it too. ONE letter or email won't make a difference, but a pile (physical or virtual) of them will. And tell your Division Director, too. After all, he (or she) is on the Board -- oversight is their job. Don't like the response you get from them? Then recruit someone to run against them in the next election. Find enough unhappy ARRL members, and you can make a race of it -- and even win. This takes work. It won't be easy, and there are obstacles to overcome. But they can be overcome. Are you willing to do something about it? Because if you're not... then you have no room to complain. Time to fish or cut bait... which shall it be? 73 -----Original Message----- From: john [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 6:52 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [DX-CHAT] Re:Digital robots At 06:15 PM 11/26/2007, you wrote: >1. The ARRL didn't push through the no code test license. Has everyone >forgotten No Code International? They defended the "code test license" with all the enthusiasm of a wet noodle. >3. The digital robots exist. They're already out there. Their operators >are demanding their share of the pie, too. So what are you going to do? Gee...a handful of digi robot ops get the full attention of the ARRL, yet CW ops get the short stick. I wonder why that is? John K5MO Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, [email protected] This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
