Other countries are abandoning the sea bass
Two other countries have joined in the small, but a growing list of countries, which they no longer require from amateur radio, to pass the Morse code test, when they want to have access to the HF band. In addition to these countries, others will follow. Everything is only a matter of time. Countries, who have already given up telegraphy, they have also given access to HF to VHF-UHF licensees.
To Switzerland, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands have joined the United Kingdom and Germany. Austria and New Zealand will soon join them. These activities are a response to the decision of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2003, which deleted the requirement to control Morse code from international regulations, leaving to the discretion of the ministries of the individual countries, whether or not they want to keep this requirement.
Norwegian Post and Telecommunications http://www.npt.no/ reported to the Norwegian Amateur Radio Society (Norwegian Radio Relay League http://www.nrrl.no), that LA class licenses, LB and LC were combined into one class 19. Auguta. The team, who had an LC class license, has changed to a LA license and LB license holders may apply for a LA license.
Dutch Radiocommunications Agency (The Netherlands Radiocommunications Agency http://www.agentschaptelecom.nl) announced this week that control of the Morse code will no longer require access to the HF band from September 1. Dutch Class A and C licenses- which can actually be compared with CEPT classes 1 and 2-will have the same rights, although they are still left with their current characteristics. The change will not affect a Class N license, which only allows broadcasting on 2m and 70cm. This announcement was received by all radio amateurs this week.
Information from the Austrian company ARU member-society, the Austrian Experimental Radio Transmitters Union (OeVSV) http://www.oevsv.at/ suggest, that the country will guarantee temporary access to HF to all CEPT classes 2 licenses sometime in September, formal changes are still being discussed.
Telecommunications in New Zealand plans to remove the requirement to control sea bass from the General Syllabus, as part of another round of changes in radio rules. The changes are to take place later this year.
In the United States, six independent companies have asked the FCC petition to remove the telegraph obligation to access the lower HF bands and confirm these changes in amateur radio laws ( section 97). The FCC has not yet asked the public, to comment on this.
Source:
ARRL list Vol. 22, No. 33 August 22, 2003
