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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amanda J. Rush" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:33 PM
Subject: FCC Morse code announcement


> International Press, Washington, DC.
>
>
>
> Today, in an unprecedented move, the Federal Communications Commission
> issued an emergency reinstatement of Morse code requirements for all 
> amateur
> and commercial radio licenses.  In addition, the amateur radio license
> structure has been reverted to 1985 standards.  All codeless amateur and
> commercial licenses have been placed on a "conditional 30 day temporary
> permit" and all such license holders will have to pass an appropriate 
> Morse
> code test by May 1, 2006 or face permanent revocation of their  licenses.
>
>
>
> All American registered commercial vessels are now required to have a
> crewman onboard that can copy Morse code at 13 WPM or they will be denied
> port clearance.  A temporary provision has been made in the FCC 
> regulations
> that will allow amateur radio operators that completed FCC administered
> Morse code tests prior to the implementation of the VEC program to meet 
> this
> requirement.  This generated such a demand for licensed amateur radio
> operators that the pay scale quickly escalated to $1000 per day for  such
> services.  In a bidding war, many major shipping companies have provided
> generous expense accounts,  luxury accommodations on vessels, sponsorship 
> of
> DX-peditions and immediate long term pension benefits.
>
>
>
> In a related issue, this action has caused a significant shortage of Morse
> code keys, and surplus military J-38 keys that sold for a dollar each 
> after
> WW II are now fetching upwards of $300 each on ebay, regardless of
> condition.
>