FCC Considers Changes to Amateur Radio Licensing

The FCC has invited public comments on two proposals to change the licensing requirements for amateur radio operators. Both of these proposals are aimed at attracting and retaining new amateur radio licensees.

Tyro

The first one is the “Tyro” license proposal from Gary/AD0WU that creates a new license class with minimal licensing requirements and operating privileges on the 70 cm band. See the complete proposal on the FCC website.

I find this proposal severely flawed with way too many details that would need to be written into Part 97. For example, the proposal establishes 99 specific repeater/simplex channels in the 430 MHz portion of the band. Oh, and the repeaters use a non-standard 9 MHz offset. There’s lots more in the proposal that make it a non-starter.

Still there is a nugget of an idea in here: a GMRS-like entry-level amateur radio license that is super easy to get. This could be an easy-peasy gateway into ham radio for kids, spouses and family members. However, I expect the FCC to just dismiss this petition without serious consideration.

Enhanced Technician

The second proposal is from the ARRL (see this ARRL news item):

The FCC has invited public comments on ARRL’s 2018 Petition for Rule Making, now designated as RM-11828, which asks the FCC to expand HF privileges for Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on 75, 40, and 15 meters, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters.

The proposal would “add limited High Frequency (HF) data and telephony privileges to those currently available to Technician Class Amateur licensees.” The objective is to sweeten the Technician privileges to both attract new licensees and to retain existing Technicians (and maybe get them interested in moving up to General). There is an assumption/belief/hope that providing some HF telephony and digital privileges will accomplish these goals.

I am disappointed in the lack of data-driven analysis in support of this proposal. The ARRL filing claims that they “studied the comparable entry level license class operating privileges of other countries” but provided no data. There are different licensing schemes around the world…maybe we should compare and learn something from them. The data they did provide was survey data of ARRL members…which is really just an opinion poll: what do you think we should do with the licensing structure? This is not a great way to create public policy.

What’s the Objective?

Let’s start with the objective, which the ARRL petition says is “developing improved operating capabilities, increasing emergency communications participation, improving technical self-training, and increasing growth overall in the Amateur Radio Service.” I think this is a reasonable goal.

For some reason, every time there is a concern about improving and growing amateur radio, the proposed solution is a change in the licensing structure (usually to make it easier to obtain operating privileges). If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. While the licensing structure should be improved over time, it should not be the first (or only) tool to apply. The ARRL needs to take a much more strategic approach to working towards the objective. Fortunately, I see positive signs they are moving in the right direction. See ARRL CEO Howard/WB2ITX Speaks.

Back To Licensing

There is a worthy idea in the ARRL proposal:
Change the entry level license (Technician) to provide a taste of HF phone and digital privileges, so it attracts more people to the hobby AND get them more deeply engaged. This might actually work.

I am not an unbiased observer because I have plenty of fun playing around with radios on frequencies above 50 MHz. I originally thought I would be a Technician for life but gradually got pulled into the fun below 30 MHz. So part of my brain says “Technicians just need to figure out how to have fun on VHF/UHF.” There is a lot to be said for having the entry level license be focused on VHF/UHF to learn basic radio operating. HF can come later.

Another part of my brain sees the excitement and growing popularity of the WSJT-X digital modes, especially FT8. Why do Technicians get to use CW on some of the HF bands but not other digital modes? That seems kind of silly in the year 2019. And making HF contacts with other states and countries on SSB is a lot of fun, too.

Another question to ask is “what harm could be done by this proposal?” We could see a lot more activity in the portions of the HF bands Technicians are given. Maybe so much that those subbands get overrun with signals…seems like a potential problem. Some people have argued that giving Technicians these HF privileges will cause them to not upgrade to General. That seems like a low risk…if they get hooked on HF operating, they will upgrade to get access to additional spectrum.

There are really two assumptions in play here:

  1. Attract Assumption: More people will be attracted to ham radio due to the expanded Technician HF privileges.
  2. Retain Assumption: That Technicians will be more engaged in ham radio activity due to the expanded HF privileges (perhaps upgrading to higher license classes).

The distribution of US amateur radio licenses is roughly Amateur Extra (20%), General (23%) and Technician (50%), the remaining 7% are Novice and Advanced. So roughly half of US radio amateurs have decided to get their “VHF oriented” license while the other half have gone on to get an “HF privileged” license. Frankly, I don’t see the General license exam as a big barrier…I see people studying for it in our license classes and 90% of them are successful on the exam. But the exam is yet another thing to do, so it does represent an obstacle to overcome, just not a big one. What I do see them struggling with is actually getting on the air with HF. See Getting On HF: The Fiddle Factor. Easier licensing is not going to address that problem.

Who Wants HF?

Many Technicians are just fine with the operating privileges they have. I even noted some Tech’s complaining they are tired of OF hams telling them they need to fall in love with HF. Interesting. I don’t have reliable data on what Technicians think but I see several types of Technicians that are quite happy with their existing privileges:

  • Family/Friend Communicators – these folks are not hard core radio amateurs but they got their license to communicate with friends and family.
  • Outdoor Enthusiasts – these folks use ham radio to augment their outdoor activities: hiking, biking, offroad driving, camping, fishing, etc.
  • Emcomm and Public Service Volunteers – these hams are involved in local emergency response, support of served agencies (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) or providing communications support for marathons, parades, charity walks, etc.
  • Technical Experimenters – many radio amateurs are into experimenting with technology and the bands above 50 MHz offer a lot of opportunity for that.

I don’t know what percentage of Technicians are unconcerned about HF privileges but it is significant (half of them? perhaps more?) Providing HF privileges to this group will not have much of an effect. It seems like the ARRL should have data on this before serving up a proposal to change the licensing structure.

My Thoughts

What do I think? I think this proposal most likely will not make a significant difference with regard to attracting and retaining new radio hams. Something else is needed to do that, such as effective training programs, strong local clubs and mentors available to help newbies get started and build skills.

But it might just work. Maybe HF is the bright shiny object that will motivate people to pursue amateur radio.

So count me as agnostic on this proposal. I won’t be filing comments with the FCC. What do you think?

73 Bob K0NR


22 Replies to “FCC Considers Changes to Amateur Radio Licensing”

  1. The Part 97 rules defining the basis and purpose of the Amateur Radio Service include:

    97.1(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.

    97.1(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.

    RM-11828 would actually work CONTRARY to these purposes. The addition of privileges to the entry-class Technician license does not “provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art” and in fact discourages licensees from advancing their skills by significantly reducing the incentive to upgrade to General class or Amateur Extra.

    Rather then “Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators…”, we would have minimally trained operators on HF frequencies and modes that will increase the likelihood of interference to existing international amateur communications due to lack of education and competence. This is particularly true in the case of RTTY and digital operations, but would also significantly impact phone operations for amateurs worldwide due to the large subbands proposed by the ARRL.

    This proposal is sure to be popular with those who have no desire to work hard and study to advance their skills, but note that this is EXACTLY what the purpose of incentive licensing is!

    ARRL notes that half the US Amateur Radio population has Technician licenses. This indicates that this entry level license is already fulfilling the objective of making Amateur Radio attractive to newcomers. To improve on STEM education as they note, the challenge and incentive to upgrade needs to remain in place, not be removed or crippled for the sake of those with no work ethic or desire for self-improvement.

    CB, GMRS and FRS are available to those who do not want to work to acquire technical skills.

  2. I agree with Wayne Carlson’s comments above. I’ve been a Technician for a couple of years and have wanted to move up to General – the main reason I have not, is mainly just a lack of time to study and get it done. Too many other things on my plate. I don’t think dumbing it all down will really accomplish anything.

  3. I think the first thing that needs to be done before any other thing is even considered as far as the U.S. Amateur Radio Service is concerned is to have active enforcement of USGS § 47CFR Part 97 Rules & Regulations! Once that’s under control and they clean up the shameful operators on 7200 kHz and put a stop to SSB ops that run 6 kHz wide and AM ops that run 20 kHz wide signals then consider any changes to the amateur radio licensing structure and not before then!

  4. Personally I think the regulations are good as they sit. You will not entice anyone to get on the radio/learn more about different frequencies/modes, want to participate in volunteer activities unless they are self motivated. Folks that love learning, building, reading about new upcoming ideas are already motivated. I do not think this will generate new enthusiasm and will tend to make things more complicated than they need to be.
    To be quite frank, when I got my license it was under the impression from tutorials and books etc that I would be welcomed with open arms, ‘elmered’ non-stop, helped with any questions I had yada yada. Yea, that just does not happen in the real world. We, and I am slowing becoming one, old guys need to mentor new people, talk to them, invite them along to do things etc. The problem is that most folks lose interest because we lose interest in them. Don’t blame them at all.
    This coupled with the new user self-motivation will keep new hams on the rolls.
    Like one old time said to us when we went to one of our first meetings after both of us (wife and me) got our tech license:
    “Ham Radio clubs are the most anti-social clubs I have ever seen in my life”. He is right for the most part.
    Talk to the young user, encourage them, invite them to participate. Once their interest is peaked and ham life is for them, they will pursue the next license level..maintain the current way of things is my opinion.

    IMHO
    73 KG7MYX Mike
    KG7MYX

  5. Thanks for the comments.
    We have seen steady growth in the membership of our local ham radio club. The key appears to be providing a friendly environment where people can learn new skills.

  6. I think Bob has it right. I upgraded to General because I found a free class and test group (Laurel VEC) who donated their time and knowledge to getting more people licensed and on the air. Since then I’ve had some other barriers to getting on HF but I’m active on VHF and getting some antennas put up this spring.

    I think there are a lot of people looking for a technical hobby; look at all the people interested in drones, assembling their own computers, home automation, and all sorts of maker hobbies. I remember the big turn off for me was that I thought CW was still a requirement. And also when searching the internet for information a lot of the sites are dated and have old information. If you want the hobby to grow, every club should have free license testing and classes through at least general. Have detailed information about the hobby in general and testing specifically online with a decent looking modern website. Consider offering next step classes for new tech’s and general license holders a few times a year. And stop old fogies from berating people on the air that they think should know better.

  7. I have not witnessed even once an old timer berating a no-code operator on the air as Chris speaks of, not even once since they dropped the code licensing requirement. I read about people talking about it and am curious where this is happening at because I’ve never heard it and I operate on 75-meter phone almost every evening and have been going on 22 years as of April 17, 2019.

    • Cliff,
      I am happy you are not hearing this sort of thing. I can tell you I have.
      In the past 48 hours, I received two emails complaining about new licensees that don’t know much about ham radio.
      73 Bob

    • Hi Cliff,
      I’m also glad you’re not hearing this type of behavior on the air. I should have phrased that comment better. I’ve not experienced it directly “on the air,” the most I’m seeing is on the internet in popular social media and ham radio forums (I typed on the air but should have probably said online since that’s where I see it most often). I think the point I was trying to make is that the online image of ham radio is not very good. People trying to peek into the hobby from outside are not getting a clear picture of what it’s like. For example: I’m on a Facebook group for ham radio and the other day I saw a new ham that didn’t have a station ask a question about amps and if a 20+ amp power supply would have a problem on his 20 amp 120 v home circuit. There were dozens of comments that were insulting him for not knowing the answer and one even said “It’s simple Ohm’s law” (It’s actually Watts law 😉 I’m not even sure most knew how to explain it to him but knew it was basic and should have been learned, memorized, and retained from his test. There were a couple of helpful answers but the vast majority were berating him for asking the simple question.

      I think that a friendly online presence, allowing the interested non ham to investigate the hobby prior testing is one of the most important factors to attracting new users. Increased privileges are not important in the slightest. If a person wants to get on HF right away they will study for both tests and take them in one shot. Most new hams have no idea what they want to do and having a friendly online community is the only way to encourage them in the 21st century.

      Bob, K0NR, knows this which is why he puts effort into this site! Thanks Bob, and thanks for reading my comment Cliff.

      73

  8. I can remember a time when folks studied for weeks (months?) to get an amateur radio license, and when you had to appear in front of the FCC examiner when he (or she) visited your area several times each year.

    Then the FCC (and the radio manufacturers) decided that was all too hard, and took various steps to reduce any and all technical and code requirements down to memorizing the answers on a cheat sheet/book and eliminated code entirely. We were told this was done to help grow the ranks of the amateur service.

    Without question, there are more hams (in number) today than ever before, but a great number of them can’t program their radios, can’t change a PL tone (if they even know what it is), haven’t a clue what simplex is, and effectively treat their newfound VHF/UHF privileges as FM CB with repeaters.

    It’s bad enough when folks tie up linked repeaters for hours on end with senseless chat that could easily be discussed on simplex or a local non-linked repeater, now we’re going to “give” these folks more HF privileges?

    Certainly not all Technician class folks fall into that bucket, but there’s no way to dump HF onto one group of Tech’s without giving it to everybody, or is there? It’s called upgrading your license class if you want additional privileges, not asking the FCC (or the ARRL) for HF freebies.

    At the rate this is going, I’m sure some group will claim they “need” the ability of 2,000 watts, 200 ft. towers, and all HF band privileges as some basic human right once they enter grade school.

  9. I think this paragraph sums it up:

    “Frankly, I don’t see the General license exam as a big barrier…I see people studying for it in our license classes and 90% of them are successful on the exam. But the exam is yet another thing to do, so it does represent an obstacle to overcome, just not a big one. What I do see them struggling with is actually getting on the air with HF. Easier licensing is not going to address that problem.”

    LIke you, I find that it isn’t upgrading to General that’s the problem, it’s getting on the air. This includes finding the money to buy gear, the space to put up antennas, and the time to get on the air once the first two hurdles are jumped. Over and above that, I don’t think that the majority of Techs really care about HF.

    What I find puzzling is that, in making this proposal, the ARRL ignored all of the research that Bruce, K1BG, did on entry-level licensing. See the slide, “What went right? What went wrong?” in his slide presentation (https://w8rp.org/k1bg-on-entry-level-licensing/). Should this proposal be adopted, it’s only going to make the question pool larger and more complicated.

  10. I wish they do away EXTRA CLASS i have try to pass it lease 9 time and fail the test I am a GENERAL I have talk to other ham and they told me they try and fail it most of the ham or GENERAL
    KI4HTC

    • The Extra class exam is a lot more challenging…some people never pass it.
      I have not seen people struggle with the General as much. When we do our two day class, we have a 80% pass rate. The key is actually studying the material, not just memorizing questions.

      • The proposal before the FCC is to change the Technician Class privileges. I don’t know of any plans to change the General.

  11. Extra class should be tough. That’s the point of incentive licensing and “Extra” being earned, not a gift. There is no shame in holding a General class license. The additional allocations are nice but you’ve got access to all the bands.

    At 18 years old I worked my butt off and passed the exam (including 20wpm code test) before an FCC examiner.

  12. Leave it the way it is. If the desire is to have more privilege’s that alone should be encouragement enough. The problem that I see is the every increasing in price of equipment from rigs, and amplifiers. Electronic components made cheaper yet the simplest product is over priced especially for those interested in persueing Ham Radio.
    W4PWZ

  13. As it is obvious that the federal government is trying to get new ideas and technology from hams. Ie cell phone technology, phone patch tec. Etc. The FCC wants to open more use to the Technician class so they can get more information on technology from the Hams. They used hams to develop phone patch, thus bringing cell phones into existence. Hams are known for creating new ways to use the radio spectrum in ways never thought of before. This is why Ham radio exists. To milk new innovations from the hams. It is a win, win, lose thing. As cell phone took bands away from the Hams for cell phone use. Now to open tech license to more bands will give more information to the government so as to develop more applications of radio bands for government and citizen use. It is what it is.

  14. (Technology is the key word) No one these days want’s to go backwards. “There is no law on HF”, Users run wild on HF, ie No ID every ten minuets, Recording others conversations and playing them over & over again, ie causing interference ,egging on others to join in the hate & discontent , IT’S prepubescent BS. This is why more techs never upgrade, that and room for large antenna systems, Technology is the future and always will be, Lets face it there are more complaints on HF than any other, You would think grown men would conduct themselves better, (they dropped CW) to get more on HF, It Didn’t work! . Today there’s still more techs on 50 & above, Most talking about how stupid HF operators are & how they conduct there stations. Point is clean up HF or watch it die like CW,

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.