They got your attention didn't they?  I was thinking that it was something
talking about them lifting the requirement which seems  to be the
direction they are headed.





On Sat, 1 Apr 2006, John Miller wrote:

> lol that makes it official, half the lists I'm on have seen an April
> Fools thing now.
>
> At 08:33 PM 04/01/2006, you wrote:
> >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.
>