New FCC Rules In Effect

==>ARRL MARKS TRANSITION TO NEW AMATEUR SERVICE RULES

A new Amateur Radio Service regime now is in place. The requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency to gain HF privileges officially disappeared from the FCC's Part 97 rules February 23 at one minute past midnight Eastern Time. At the same time, some 200,000 Technician licensees without Morse code exam credit acquired HF privileges equivalent to those available to Novice licensees. The League is marking the occasion with a W1AW special event aimed at welcoming newcomers to the HF bands. The "W1AW HF Open House" has included exam sessions under both old and new rules. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, points to the still-growing number of ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) test sessions now on the schedule across the US as evidence that the rule changes will provide a shot in the arm to Amateur Radio.

"ARRL VEC has been extremely busy scheduling new exam sessions," Kramer said. "We normally coordinate about 5500 sessions per year, but we've already scheduled close to 5000 sessions and it's only the end of February."

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reports some 175 ARRL VEC test sessions are on the schedule through the February 23-25 period, "and these are just the ones that have registered with us," she added. Two dozen applicants showed up at League Headquarters, either to sit for an exam or apply for license upgrades.

"I was surprised at the number of people who wanted to take the test at 12:01 AM," Somma remarked. All but two test applicants took their exams under the new rules. "After people took their exams, some went over to W1AW to use their new privileges," she added.

First out of the gate at the League's 12:01 AM test session was Joshua Rozovsky, N3YAR, of Bloomfield, Connecticut. He upgraded from Tech to Amateur Extra.

Despite snowy New England weather, a few applicants traveled some distance to take their exams. "A nice young couple that drove in from Rhode Island joined ARRL while here," said ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB. "They thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take their upgrades here at HQ."

Breen, who upgraded to General at the February 23 exam session, has been tracking W1AW Open House events in near-real time on an ARRL Web site blog . She's also posted some videos to YouTube.com.

Somma says her department now is bracing for an anticipated application avalanche as paperwork from initial sessions shows up. She and Kramer predict test demand will surge even further in the days and weeks ahead. Not only has the number of test sessions increased dramatically, Kramer pointedout, the number of applicants at each session is up as well.

To keep up with demand, ARRL VEC has hired additional help. Staffers from other HQ departments also have been lending a hand.

March QST includes an eight-page "tearout" section "Now, New Opportunities for Every Ham!" between pages 48 and 49. . It focuses on various topics of interest to those gaining new HF privileges through upgrading or owing to the new rules as well as to veteran licensees. Among other things, it covers mentoring -- or Elmering -- newcomers, "The Top 10 Reasons to Try MorseCode," earning ham radio operating awards by using Logbook of the World (LoTW) and a "Welcome to the fascinating world of high frequency (HF) radio!" by ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ.

"The FCC's decision to eliminate the Morse code examination as a licensing requirement opens the door to HF for all amateur licensees," Sumner points out in his remarks. Sumner also addresses the topic in his "It Seems to Us" editorial in March QST (page 9).

"As these new HF operators join us on our favorite bands, we old timers need to set a good example and to be patient, welcoming and positive," he writes. "Let's all remember how little we knew when we got started, and honor those who helped us along the way by doing the same for others."

The March QST special section includes a new ARRL band chart.

The new rules seem to be driving greater enthusiasm for ham radio in general. There's been an uptick in ARRL publication sales, particularly in licensing manuals and licensing guides, and enrollment in the online ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010) is at an all-time high. Additionally, Kramer notes, DXCC applications are up by 350 from last year, while LoTW has exceeded 121 million QSO records.

"W1AW HF Open House" operation continues through the February 24-25 weekend, with primary activity from 10 AM until 5 PM Eastern Time (1500 until 2200 UTC) or later, depending on interest, propagation and participation. ARRL Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will compete in the North American RTTY QSO Party from W1AW.

Primary operation will be on both SSB and CW. W1AW will concentrate activity on the Technician and General class HF subbands, using its normal frequencies on most bands.

On SSB: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390 and 28.480 MHz.

On CW: 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675 and 28.0675 MHz.

On RTTY: 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 21.095 and 28

Morse Code No Longer Required as of February 23, 2007

From the The ARRL Letter, Vol. 26, No. 08, February 23, 2007

==>ARRL MARKS TRANSITION TO NEW AMATEUR SERVICE RULES

A new Amateur Radio Service regime now is in place. The requirement to demonstrate Morse code proficiency to gain HF privileges officially disappeared from the FCC's Part 97 rules February 23 at one minute past midnight Eastern Time. At the same time, some 200,000 Technician licensees without Morse code exam credit acquired HF privileges equivalent to those available to Novice licensees. The League is marking the occasion with a W1AW special event aimed at welcoming newcomers to the HF bands. The "W1AW HF Open House" has included exam sessions under both old and new rules. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, points to the still-growing number of ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) test sessions now on the schedule across the US as evidence that the rule changes will provide a shot in the arm to Amateur Radio.

"ARRL VEC has been extremely busy scheduling new exam sessions," Kramer said. "We normally coordinate about 5500 sessions per year, but we've already scheduled close to 5000 sessions and it's only the end of February."

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reports some 175 ARRL VEC test sessions are on the schedule through the February 23-25 period, "and these are just the ones that have registered with us," she added. Two dozen applicants showed up at League Headquarters, either to sit for an exam or apply for license upgrades.

"I was surprised at the number of people who wanted to take the test at 12:01 AM," Somma remarked. All but two test applicants took their exams under the new rules. "After people took their exams, some went over to W1AW to use their new privileges," she added.

First out of the gate at the League's 12:01 AM test session was Joshua Rozovsky, N3YAR, of Bloomfield, Connecticut. He upgraded from Tech to Amateur Extra.

Despite snowy New England weather, a few applicants traveled some distance to take their exams. "A nice young couple that drove in from Rhode Island joined ARRL while here," said ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB. "They thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take their upgrades here at HQ."

Breen, who upgraded to General at the February 23 exam session, has been tracking W1AW Open House events in near-real time on an ARRL Web site blog . She's also posted some videos to YouTube.com.

Somma says her department now is bracing for an anticipated application avalanche as paperwork from initial sessions shows up. She and Kramer predict test demand will surge even further in the days and weeks ahead. Not only has the number of test sessions increased dramatically, Kramer pointed
out, the number of applicants at each session is up as well.

To keep up with demand, ARRL VEC has hired additional help. Staffers from other HQ departments also have been lending a hand.

March QST includes an eight-page "tearout" section "Now, New Opportunities for Every Ham!" between pages 48 and 49. . It focuses on various topics of interest to those gaining new HF privileges through upgrading or owing to the new rules as well as to veteran licensees. Among other things, it covers mentoring -- or Elmering -- newcomers, "The Top 10 Reasons to Try Morse
Code," earning ham radio operating awards by using Logbook of the World (LoTW) and a "Welcome to the fascinating world of high frequency (HF) radio!" by ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ.

"The FCC's decision to eliminate the Morse code examination as a licensing requirement opens the door to HF for all amateur licensees," Sumner points out in his remarks. Sumner also addresses the topic in his "It Seems to Us" editorial in March QST (page 9).

"As these new HF operators join us on our favorite bands, we old timers need to set a good example and to be patient, welcoming and positive," he writes. "Let's all remember how little we knew when we got started, and honor those who helped us along the way by doing the same for others."

The March QST special section includes a new ARRL band chart
.

The new rules seem to be driving greater enthusiasm for ham radio in general. There's been an uptick in ARRL publication sales, particularly in licensing manuals and licensing guides, and enrollment in the online ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010)  is at an all-time high. Additionally, Kramer notes, DXCC applications are up by 350 from last year, while LoTW has exceeded 121 million QSO records.

"W1AW HF Open House" operation continues through the February 24-25 weekend, with primary activity from 10 AM until 5 PM Eastern Time (1500 until 2200 UTC) or later, depending on interest, propagation and participation. ARRL Publications Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will compete in the North American RTTY QSO Party from W1AW.

Primary operation will be on both SSB and CW. W1AW will concentrate activity on the Technician and General class HF subbands, using its normal frequencies on most bands.

On SSB: 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390 and 28.480 MHz.
On CW: 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675 and 28.0675 MHz.
On RTTY: 3597.5, 7.095, 14.095, 21.095 and 28.095 MHz.