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DL8ABO > ARRL 29.02.00 00:47l 267 Lines 17302 Bytes #-9486 (90) @ EU
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To: ARRL @ EU
ARRLWeb: Frequently Asked Questions about Amateur Radio Restructuring
Text-only page
Frequently Asked Questions about Amateur Radio Restructuring
General Info · FCC Report & Order (PDF) · A Summary of Restructuring
Upgrade Possibilities
1. Will anyone lose any Amateur Radio operating privileges after
April 15, 2000?
No! All current license classes and privileges will remain the same, and
all licensees will be able to renew their licenses indefinitely. (The sole
exception is for those who obtained a Technician license or exam credit
prior to March 21, 1987--see question 4, below.) The primary difference is
that the FCC will stop issuing new Novice and Advanced class licenses
after April 15, 2000. Beyond that, current Technician and Technician Plus
licensees will be lumped into a single Technician licensee FCC database.
When renewed, current Technician Plus licenses will be stamped simply
"Technician." Technicians who have passed Element 1, the 5 WPM Morse code
examination, will enjoy current Tech Plus HF privileges, but the burden of
proof of having passed Element 1 (5 WPM or any higher Morse code element)
will be on the licensee. The current "no-code" Technician license will
continue to be available after the new rules go into effect, however. It
will continue to offer the present VHF/UHF privileges.
2. I currently hold a Tech Plus license. Can I take the current
General class written examination (Element 3B) right now, then apply
for an upgrade to General after April 15, 2000? I'm a little
confused on this point.
Yes. The FCC has told the League that current Tech Plus licensees holding
a Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for Element
3B on April 15, 2000, may apply for a General class upgrade. The present
Element 3B examination has 30 questions; the new Element 3 test will have
35, so the advantage to test before April 15, 2000, is slight. CSCE
holders must attend a Volunteer Examiner session, complete Form 605,
attach a valid CSCE, and pay the required application fee ($6.65 for the
ARRL-VEC), if the VEC you use charges a fee. To be valid on April 15,
2000, your CSCE will have to be dated on or after April 17, 1999. A CSCE
is only good for 365 days. (See also A Summary of Restructuring Upgrade
Possibilities.)
3. I hold an Advanced class license. Can I take the current Amateur
Extra class written examination (Element 4B) right now, then apply
for an upgrade to Extra after April 15, 2000?
Yes. The FCC has told the League that current Advanced licensees holding a
CSCE for Element 4B on April 15, 2000, may apply for an Amateur Extra
class upgrade. See question 2, above. The advantage here is that the
current Advanced licensee will face a slightly shorter 40-question
examination under the current licensing regime to get a CSCE for the
current Element 4B. The new Extra class Element 4 will contain 50
questions (and is expected to contain many of the present Advanced class
question pool technical questions). To be valid on April 15, 2000, your
CSCE will have to be dated on or after April 17, 1999. A CSCE is only good
for 365 days. (See also A Summary of Restructuring Upgrade Possibilities.)
4. I got my Technician license under the old system prior to March
21, 1987, and I now hold a Tech Plus license as a result. I
understand that I'm now eligible to upgrade to General without
having to take an additional examination. Is this correct?
Yes. Holders of a pre-March 21, 1987, Technician class license or CSCE who
now hold at least a Technician license may claim credit for a new General
class license after April 15, 2000, without additional testing. This is
because under the old system, the written examination for Technician and
General class was identical; the only difference was that Technicians had
to pass a 5 WPM Morse code test, while Generals had to pass a 13 WPM Morse
code test. The upgrade is not automatic, however. You will have to apply
through a Volunteer Examiner test session, complete Form 605, attach
documentary proof of having completed the requirements for a Technician
license prior to March 21, 1987, and pay an application fee, if any, to
the VEC involved.
Additional information and clarification: There has been some confusion
and misinformation about what pre-1987 Technicians need to qualify for a
General class license starting April 15, 2000. General applicants must
present valid credit for Elements 1, 2, and 3 at a volunteer examiner
session. Those who held a Technician license, now expired or otherwise,
prior to March 21, 1987, may claim Element 1 (5 WPM Morse code) and new
Element 3 (current Element 3B, General exam) credit. Those who held a
Technician license, now expired or otherwise, prior to February 14, 1991,
may claim only Element 1 credit, as may anyone who has ever held a Novice
ticket. The FCC rules provide Element 2 credit only for individuals who
are currently licensed (or within the two-year grace period for renewal)
at least at the Technician level. This means that before applying for a
General license, a former amateur licensed as a Technician prior to March
21, 1987, and no longer licensed or within the two-year grace period for
renewal, also must obtain Element 2 credit. To currently qualify for the
Technician license (which conveys Element 2 credit) requires passing a
65-question two part exam (Novice and Technician). Starting April 15,
Element 2 will be a single 35-question exam.
5. What do I need for "documentary proof" of having held my
Technician license before March 21, 1987?
Obviously, if you have an original or a copy of your Technician license
issued anytime prior to March 21, 1987, that would suffice. Other
documentary evidence could include an original CSCE for Element 3 issued
prior to that date; an FCC verification letter of having held a Technician
license prior to March 21, 1987; a document from the FCC's contractor, ITS
Inc; or possibly a Callbook listing dated prior to March 21, 1987,
indicating your license class as Technician.
6. I've lost my old license and didn't keep any copies. How do I get
verification from the FCC that I held a Technician license prior to
March 21, 1987?
The FCC says to send any requests for verification of a pre-March 21, 1987
Technician license in writing to FCC, 1270 Fairfield Rd, ATTN: Amateur
Section, Gettysburg, PA 17325. The request must include name, address,
telephone number, date of birth, call sign issued at that time, and when
the Technician license was granted (if exact date is not known, give the
approximate timeframe). The FCC asks those inquiring to include any
information that may be helpful in researching these requests, but it does
not need to know details of the examination session, such as where the
test was administered or who gave it. "These requests must be researched
on microfiche, so they will be very time-consuming," an FCC spokesperson
said, adding that no one should expect an overnight response. You also may
contact ITS Inc (visit http://www.itsdocs.com/). For a fee, ITS will
research prior licensing records and should be able to provide you with
the necessary documentary proof.
7. I've got an Advanced ticket now. Someone told me that I'll revert
to General on April 15, 2000. Is this true?
Absolutely not, although this rumor has been making the rounds on the
Internet and on-air discussion groups. You will continue to be an Advanced
class licensee and have Advanced class privileges after April 15. Again,
no one loses any privileges, and all license classes stay the same.
8. How can I find out where there's a Volunteer Examiner session so
I can apply for an upgrade or take an examination element?
A session search engine is available on ARRLWeb at
http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml. Also, feel free to contact
local VEs or ask local clubs for information on testing sessions in your
area.
9. I now hold a General class ticket. Since there won't be any more
Advanced tickets issued after April 15, 2000, can't I just take the
current Amateur Extra written examination (Element 4B) and use the
CSCE to get my Amateur Extra when the new rules become effective?
Nice try, but, the answer is no. If you're going to take your examination
before April 15, 2000, you must complete both Element 4A (instant upgrade
to Advanced) and Element 4B, then take your CSCE for Element 4B to a VE
session on or after April 15 to apply for your Amateur Extra ticket (this
means filling out Form 605 and paying the application fee, if any, to the
VEC). And yes, in this example, it means you would need to appear at two
test sessions. You also could just wait until April 15 and take the single
50-question Extra class written test. (See also A Summary of Restructuring
Upgrade Possibilities.)
10. I've got my Advanced now and want to take Element 4B before
April 15, 2000. What license manual should I study?
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators Question Pool
Committee has released revised Amateur Radio examination question pools
into the public domain. The revised questions, covering the new Elements
2, 3 and 4 that become effective April 15, 2000, now are available on
ARRLWeb. The QPC expects that the Element 4 question pool will remain
valid from April 15, 2000, until June 30, 2002. The Element 2 question
pool will be good until June 30, 2003, and the Element 3 question pool
will be good until June 30, 2004. The five-digit numbering system used in
past question pools continues to be used in the new question pools.
Graphics have been integrated, but the revised pools remain a
work-in-progress with minor revisions still possible. Current Novice,
Technician, Advanced and Amateur Extra graphic sheets remain available and
valid. Starting April 15, examinations for Elements 2 and 3 will contain
35 questions; examinations for Element 4 will contain 50 questions.
Applicants may continue to use the current Extra Class License Manual,
available from the ARRL. New study guides will be developed to reflect the
new testing regime. Likewise, those wanting to take Element 3B to upgrade
from Tech Plus to General should study the current General Class License
Manual, available from the ARRL.
11. Can I use my valid Element 4B credit CSCE for the Extra written
examination element to upgrade before April 15, 2000?
Only if you also pass the 20 WPM Morse code examination. Otherwise, you'll
have to apply after April 15, 2000, when the new rules become effective.
Remember, your Element 4B CSCE must be dated on or after April 17, 1999,
in order to be valid on April 15, 2000. A CSCE is only valid for 365 days.
(See also A Summary of Restructuring Upgrade Possibilities.)
12. I'd heard that Novices and Tech Pluses would be getting an
automatic upgrade to General when the new rules go into effect. Is
this true?
Unfortunately, no. In its comments to the FCC, the ARRL had proposed that
the FCC upgrade all holders of Novice and Tech Plus licenses to General
class as a one-time action to permit "refarming" current Novice/Tech Plus
HF subbands for higher-class licensees. The FCC did not adopt this
recommendation in its Report and Order of December 30, 1999, however.
A Summary of Restructuring Upgrade Possibilities
We emphasize that no one will lose any current Amateur Radio
privileges as a result of the FCC's "restructuring" order of
December 30, 1999. There is no need to upgrade if you are happy with
your current privileges, and no one's license class will be
"downgraded" if that individual chooses not to upgrade now or later.
Also note that there are no automatic upgrades. All who claim prior
test element credit (eg, with a Certificate of Successful Completion
of Examination or CSCE) must present their credit(s) to a VE team at
an exam session and pay the appropriate processing/application fee,
if required.
Below is a summary of some of the upgrading possibilities afforded
by the FCC's Report and Order of December 30, 1999.
Upgrading to Amateur Extra Class Without 13 or 20 WPM Morse
Code Testing
Advanced: With no further code testing, to be ready to upgrade to
Extra on/after April 15, you must pass Element 4B now and present
your Element 4B credit to a VE team on/after April 15. Or, take
Element 4 on/after April 15.
General: With no further code testing, to be ready to upgrade to
Extra on/after April 15 you must pass Elements 4A and 4B now, thus
getting your Advanced upgrade before April 15. Then, take your
Advanced upgrade and your Element 4B credit to a VE session on/after
April 15. You also can take both Element 4A and 4B credit to a VE
session on/after April 15. You also may pass Element 4 after April
15 (Element 4A cannot be bypassed; if Element 4B is not passed in
this scenario before April 15, on/after April 15 the Element 4A
credit previously earned would have no value toward any future
upgrade under the new system).
Technician Plus or Technician with 5 WPM or higher Morse code
credit: To be ready to upgrade to Extra on/after April 15 with no
further code testing you must pass Elements 3B, 4A and 4B before
April 15, then take this credit to a VE session on/after April 15.
Or, you must pass Elements 3 and 4 on/after April 15. (Technicians
able to document passing the Technician/General written examination
before March 21, 1987, can present this proof as credit for Element
3B before April 15, or as credit for Element 3 on/after April 15).
Technician (no Morse code credit): To be ready to upgrade to Extra
on/after April 15 you must pass Element 1A, the 5 WPM Morse code
test, and you must pass Elements 3B, 4A and 4B before April 15, then
take this credit to a VE session on/after April 15. Or, you must
pass Elements 1 (the 5 WPM Morse code test), 3 and 4 on/after April
15, to qualify under the new system.
Novice: To be ready to upgrade to Extra on/after April 15, you must
pass Elements 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B before April 15, then take this
credit to a VE session on/after April 15. Or, you must pass Elements
2, 3 and 4 on/after April 15.
Other Upgrade Examples
Technician Plus or Technician with 5 WPM or higher Morse code credit
desiring to upgrade to General: With no further code testing, you
must pass Element 3B before April 15, then take this credit to a VE
session on/after April 15. Or, you must pass Elements 3 on/after
April 15. Grandfather credit is also acceptable, per above.
Technician desiring to gain Novice/Tech HF privileges: You may pass
the 5 WPM code test at any time, before or after April 15, 2000.
Novice desiring to upgrade to General: You must pass Elements 3A and
3B before April 15, then take this credit to a VE session on/after
April 15. Or, you must pass Elements 2 and 3 on/after April 15.
Novice desiring to upgrade to Technician with HF privileges: You
must pass Element 3A before April 15, or pass Element 2 on/after
April 15.
Page last modified: 10:42 AM, 24 Feb 2000 ET
Page author: reginfo@arrl.org
Copyright © 2000, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
73 de Mirko +++ DL 8 ABO / AB 0 DL +++
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