Of course it's a joke, ever since they got rid of the code the same thing 
has gone around every April first every year since then and probably w ill 
as long as there are people to fall for it.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Sarah Alawami
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2016 7:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FCC to Re-Instate Code Test

I hope it is a joke. What if yu just can't do the code but you are good =
at everything else. Yeah it probably is an April fools joke. If so, it =
aint a good one.
> On Apr 2, 2016, at 2:17 PM, Andy Baracco <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>=20
> i like it! Never understood dropping it to begin with. And this coming =
from=20
> someone who does not operate on that mode. i am simply opposed to the=20=

> general trend of today to water down everything. Sooner or later that =
makes=20
> everything meaningless.
>=20
> Andy
>=20
>=20
> -----Original Message-----=20
> From: Steve
> Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2016 11:30 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: FCC to Re-Instate Code Test
>=20
> BlankI received this yesterday from our local club.
>=20
> Steve, K8SP
>=20
> FCC to Reinstate Morse Code Test
>=20
>=20
>=20
> April 1, 2016
>=20
> Washington, D.C. - April 1, 2016 - Today, the Federal Communications
> Commission (Commission or FCC) approved Report and Order 14-987af =
which
> reinstates the Morse Code test for General Class and Amateur Extra =
Class
> licensees. "It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse Code test," =
admits
> Dot N. Dasher, the FCC's director of examinations. "We now realize =
that
> being able to send and receive Morse Code is an essential skill for =
radio
> amateurs. As they say, it really does get through when other modes =
can't."
>=20
> Not only will new applicants have to take the test, but General Class
> licensees who have never passed a code test will have one year to pass =
a
> 5-wpm code test. Similarly, Amateur Extra class licensees that never =
passed
> a code test will have one year to pass a 13-wpm test. Those amateurs =
that
> fail to pass the test will face revocation of their operating =
privileges.
> Materials for administering the examinations will be distributed to
> Volunteer Examiner Coordinators by the end of April, so that they can =
begin
> the testing on May 1, 2016.
>=20
> "This isn't going to be one of those silly multiple-choice type =
tests,"
> noted Dasher. "We're going to be sending five-character random code =
groups,
> just like we did in the old days. And, applicants will have to prove =
that
> they can send, too, using a poorly adjusted straight key."
>=20
> Technician Class licensees will not be required to take a Morse Code =
test,
> nor will a test be required for new applicants. "We discussed it," =
said
> Dasher, "but decided that since most Techs can't even figure out how =
to
> program their HTs, requiring them to learn Morse Code seemed like =
cruel and
> unusual punishment."
>=20
> When asked what other actions we might see from the FCC, Dasher hinted =
that
> in the future applicants taking the written exam may be required to =
draw
> circuit diagrams, such as Colpitts oscillators and diode ring mixers, =
once
> again. "We're beginning to think that if an applicant passes an =
amateur
> radio license exam it  should mean that he or she actually knows =
something,"
> she said.
>=20
> For further information, contact James X. Shorts, Assistant Liaison to =
the
> Deputy Chief of Public Relations for the FCC
>=20
>=20
> "A person cannot survive as a true Spartan fan unless he is a bit of a=20=

> masochist
> and a very large optimist."
>=20
> Steve
> Lansing, MI
>=20
> I'm not wearing a diaper, so don't try to change me.=20