Morse code requirement ends Friday, February 23, 2007

Circle Friday, February 23, on your calendar. That’s when the
current 5 WPM Morse code requirement will officially disappear from
the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules. On or after that date,
applicants for a General or Amateur Extra class Amateur Radio
license no longer will have to demonstrate proficiency in Morse
code. They’ll just have to pass the applicable written examination.
Federal Register publication January 24 of the FCC’s Report and
Order (R&O) in the “Morse code proceeding,” WT Docket 05-235, starts
a 30-day countdown for the new rules to become effective. Deletion
of the Morse requirement – still a matter of controversy within the
amateur community – is a landmark in Amateur Radio history.

“The overall effect of this action is to further the public interest
by encouraging individuals who are interested in communications
technology or who are able to contribute to the advancement of the
radio art, to become Amateur Radio operators; and eliminating a
requirement that is now unnecessary and may discourage Amateur
Service licensees from advancing their skills in the communications
and technical phases of Amateur Radio,” the FCC remarked in the
“Morse code” R&O that settled the matter, at least from a regulatory
standpoint.

The League had asked the FCC to retain the 5 WPM for Amateur Extra
class applicants, but the Commission held to its decision to
eliminate the requirement across the board. The R&O appearing in the
Federal Register constitutes the official version of the new rules.
It is on the web in PDF format at,
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.g