- Today on Ham Radio Q&A:
Are changes in store for the technician license?
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Hi I'm Michael, KB9VBR, your host for Ham Radio Q&A.
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You may have seen an article recently from the ARRL
concerning a technician license enhancement proposal.
On February 28th, the league submitted
a Petition for Rule Making to the FCC
to expand HF privileges for technician license holders
to include limited phone and data privileges
on 80, 40, and 15 meters.
This is an addition to the current phone privileges
on the 10-meter band.
These recommendations stemmed from the ARRL
Board of Directors Entry Level License Committee
which explored various initiatives
and options in 2016 and 2017.
The petition is currently open for public comment
and you can submit your comments and opinions
until April 13th, 2019.
I'll provide a link to the FCC comment section
in the description below.
But for now I'm gonna unpack this petition a bit
and give you my opinion on if this is a good idea or not.
Basically, the ARRL states that this action
will enhance the available license operating privileges
in what has become the principal
entry-level license class in the amateur service.
In the introductory statement of the petition,
the ARRL outlines three things that the rule making will do.
It will attract new amateur radio operators;
it will result in increased retention of licensees
who hold technician class licenses;
and it will provide an improved incentive
for entry-level licensees
to increase technical self-training
and pursue higher license class achievement
and development of communications skills.
This proposal is, in ARRL's view,
critical to developing improved operating capabilities,
increasing emergency communications participation,
improving technical self-training,
and increasing growth overall in the amateur radio service.
Let's look at these three statements.
First off, attract newcomers to amateur radio.
Since 2011, growth of the amateur radio service
has been fairly modest at about 1%.
While this is still positive growth,
it is thought that this growth trend
will not be able to counteract the future losses
as older hams continue to age out of the amateur service.
Higher levels of attrition are concerning
as younger people are more likely to gravitate
towards other digital technologies than amateur radio.
Conversely, there has also been a significant focus
on STEM education and the increasing rise
of the do it yourself maker movement.
Both of these fit well with amateur radio
and the petition argues that the current entry level license
does not include the right mix of privileges
to attract newcomers,
nor do those entry level operating privileges
contribute to socialization of those holding
higher license class licenses.
Second, the petition will result in increased retention
of technician license class holders.
In the petition, the ARRL noted
that substantial increase of new radio operators
occurred at the creation of the technician class license
without morse code requirement
which was more than 30 years ago.
But in the time since this change,
we have also seen a larger segregation
of technicians primarily to FM repeaters
and VHF communication.
This led to a stagnation and disinterest
of hams renewing their license,
which is evident in the significant drop
of licensed amateurs in the late 1990s.
The FCC did eliminate morse code testing
as a requirement in 2006 and gave technicians
limited operating privileges in the HF bands
by allowing them into the novice license allocations.
But the league believes
that this was not a big enough carrot
to entice technicians onto the HF bands.
So they argue that since techs
don't have much incentive to be on HF,
they are less likely to upgrade to a general class
and will instead find interest
in other avocational activities.
And the third point, it will provide an improved incentive
for entry level licensees
to increase technical self-training
and pursue higher class achievement
and development of communication skills.
The league argues that the general goal
is to have an entry level license
that offers a way for newcomers
to experience multiple facets of amateur radio,
encouraging them to get on the air,
communicate with other level license holders,
and engage in a lifetime of learning
while using amateur radio.
They conclude that since the current technician exam
contains far more material than is necessary
for an entry level examination,
that the license should be aligned
with the testing material,
opening up phone and data privileges for technicians.
This will make the entry level license class
more relevant to the needs and interests
of technically inclined younger people.
So, is this a good thing or not?
Well, I think you may see in breaking down the petition
like this how this can be a benefit to amateur radio.
I did skim through the public comments a bit
left for the petition and I saw mixed support.
I would say that probably about 60% in favor,
but those opposed to it are really strongly opposed.
I will admit that when this was first announced,
I was kind of on the fence, but after further analysis
I kinda find this petition to be a good thing
and here's why.
In my opinion, the technician level exam
has had too much content that is geared
towards HF operation.
We are testing techs on frequency allocations,
HF modes, and transceiver controls;
and they have no meaningful outlet or utility for them.
Yes, 10 meters is available for phone,
but look at the long term
and you realize that the solar cycle makes 10 meters
more challenging than welcoming
for the technician level ham.
Giving technicians limited phone and data access
to the 15, 40, and 80 meter bands
lets them put their knowledge to use right away,
without having them to take the extra step
of upgrading to general.
They will be mixing on the air
with higher license class operators
that can be a role model and mentor to them.
It also opens up more features and facets of amateur radio
to those that are just starting out,
which will have the side benefit of keeping them interested
in the service hopefully for a lifetime.
Also, expanding privileges in one class
does not devalue your license.
Generals and extras have more access
and allocations than technicians have.
Plus you now have the enviable role of being a mentor,
by modeling good operation and amateur practice
on the HF bands.
Interacting with a tech on the FM repeaters
won't get them to HF,
but communicating with them on 40 and 80 meters
will give them incentive to want to upgrade.
And let's face it, HF is the heart and soul of amateur radio
and getting more hams active on HF
invests them into the amateur radio for the long haul.
But the bottom line is,
will this petition for rule making succeed?
Will the FCC grant more HF privileges
in the phone and data bands
for technician license class holders?
I don't have a crystal ball, so I really can't tell you.
The ARRL often floats petitions like this,
and the commission treats them more like policy documents
than actionable items,
so it could be years before the FCC
gets around to making a significant change like this.
But it's also been over 10 years since the license classes
were restructured, so really anything can happen.
So what are your opinions on this petition for rule making?
Is the ARRL going too far,
or is it a welcome change to the amateur radio service?
I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts,
so please leave them down below.
And if you wish to make your thoughts known to the FCC,
public comment on this matter
is still open until about April 13th, 2019.
For more articles and information,
be sure to check out my blog at www.jpole-antenna.com.
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Well that's it for this time,
I'm Michael, KB9VBR, have a great day and 73.