[OH-KY-IN] Fw: [pr:7527] release: Feb 23- The End of an Era

[Bruce Vanselow N8BV]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Pitts, Allen W1AGP" <w1agp at arrl.org>
To: "pr list" <pr at reflector.arrl.org>
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 09:37:52 -0500
Subject: [pr:7527]  release: Feb 23- The End of an Era
Message-ID:
<LYRIS-3178-116852-2007.02.08-09.36.32--n8bv#juno.com at reflector.arrl.org>

News Release
Allen Pitts, W1AGP
Media and Public Relations Manager
(860) 594-0328
apitts at arrl.org 
 
The end of an era - the beginning of code for fun           
 
Newington, CT,  Feb. 8, 2007-    The last federal license requirement for
proficiency in Morse code ends at midnight, February 22.  Amateur Radio
(also known as “ham radio”) was the last place where the FCC still
required the 170 year old skill.  But that era is coming to an end.  The
hams at the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio,
headquartered in Newington, CT are not letting the Morse code requirement
be dropped without notice!  Volunteer Examiners from the ARRL staff and
the surrounding area are holding “The Last Code Test” at 11p.m. on
February 22 – and will end it just before the stroke of midnight.
 
Immediately after midnight, a second session will begin under the new FCC
licensing rules which do not require Morse code skills.  The sessions
will be conducted under the auspices of the ARRL/VEC who are certified by
the FCC to conduct testing sessions on behalf of the federal government.
 
Many other clubs and groups around the country are doing similar
projects. After February, people will learn and use the code for the joy
of it, not just to pass an exam.
 
“This is another good opportunity that local groups have to get news
coverage,” says Allen Pitts of the ARRL’s Media & PR Department.  “The
last code test is both audible and visual, and signals the end of a major
era in communications.”
 
Developed in the 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail as a means to
communicate using Morse’s new telegraph, the code of dots and dashes
became the standard for long distance communications over wires and, at
the turn of the century, by early radio operators.   Even after voice
transmissions were common, Morse code remained a valuable radio skill. 
But concurrent with the development of computers and digital radio signal
processing, radio’s dependence on Morse code diminished.  On February 23,
knowledge of the code will no longer be required.
 
“This is far from the end of Morse code overall,” claims Pitts.  “Other
countries are reporting the ‘Tom Sawyer’ effect.  When the code
requirements were dropped there, the learning and use of Morse code
actually increased.  When it is no longer a chore, people can and will do
it for fun.” 
 
-more-
 
 
 
 
 
 


The end of an era                                                        
                              Page 2 of 2
 
 
In addition, plans are also being made to welcome thousands of Technician
class Amateur Radio operators to the HF (shortwave) frequencies.  This is
another change the FCC has made to Amateur Radio in the USA.  Half of
America’s 656,000 Amateur Radio operators are Technician class licensees
and, beginning February 23, the new rules allow these ham operators
limited privileges on the HF frequencies that, in good conditions, can
provide worldwide communications.  Previously, use of these HF
frequencies required one of the higher level, more difficult licenses –
which included requirements for Morse code proficiency.   Since the
announcement of the rule changes, staff at the ARRL reported the demand
for study materials used to earn Amateur Radio licenses has more than
doubled.
 
Hundreds of experienced hams will be on the air between February 23 and
25 to welcome the new Technician class licensees to the HF frequencies
and aid them in their entry into worldwide communications. Among the
welcoming committee will be the famous Amateur Radio station W1AW, the
flagship station of the ARRL.
###