‰  NOW 30 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM MAY 2018 QST  PAGE 74 ‰

ARRL PETITION.  THE DETAILS SPECIFICALLY, ARRL HAS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE
TECHNICIAN LICENSEES, PRESENT AND FUTURE, WITH PHONE PRIVILEGES AT 3R900 TO
4R000 MHZ, 7R225 TO 7R300 MHZ, AND 21R350 TO 21R450 MHZ, PLUS RTTY AND
DIGITAL PRIVILEGES IN CURRENT TECHNICIAN ALLOCATIONS ON 80, 40, 15, AND 10
METERS.  THE ARRL PETITION POINTED TO THE EXPLOSION IN POPULARITY OF
VARIOUS DIGITAL MODES OVER THE PAST 2 DECADES.  UNDER THE ARRL PLAN, THE
MAXIMUM HF POWER LEVEL FOR TECHNICIAN OPERATORS WOULD REMAIN AT 200 W PEP.
ATTRACTING, RETAINING NEWCOMERS IS KEY THIS ACTION WILL ENHANCE THE
AVAILABLE LICENSE OPERATING PRIVILEGES IN WHAT HAS BECOME THE PRINCIPAL
ENTRY LEVEL LICENSE CLASS IN THE AMATEUR SERVICE, ARRL SAID IN ITS
PETITION.  IT WILL ATTRACT MORE NEWCOMERS TO AMATEUR RADIO, 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.  THE TECHNICIAN LICENSE HAS ONLY BEEN
THE ENTRY LEVEL AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
‰  END OF 30 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ