I thought it was so cool, I forwarded it to several of my ham friends.
Fred Olver [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: FCC Morse code announcement
> I've seen so much April fools stuff on so many lists today, I
> expected exactly what we got actually lol. Didn't surprise me at all.
>
> At 08:45 PM 04/01/2006, you wrote:
>>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.
>> >
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