Boy, I know a few Extras who'd be quaking at the thought of having to copy 
CW at all, let alone at 20 WPM.

Lol
Steve
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amanda J. Rush" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: FCC Morse code announcement


> Well, April 1st isn't technically over yet, so I figured I still had time.
> I almost wish it were true though.
> I can think of some people who got licenses, and have since turned in to
> afflictions of their respective ham clubs.
> Ray, you know who I'm talking about.
> Amanda J.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Miller
> Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:42 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: FCC Morse code announcement
>
>
> 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.
>