Morse Code No Longer Required for a Ham License

In spite of cell phones, Citizens Band radio and the web, amateur radio is alive and well. In fact, this week's dropping of the traditional Morse code requirement in the United States may bring more hams into the hobby.

The dropping of the code requirement has been the subject of considerable debate within the amateur radio community. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided that the potential benefits to amateur radio of dropping the code requirement outweigh any advantages provided by a knowledge of Morse code.

Why should amateur scientists care? Amateur radio operators have traditionally provided vital communications during disasters and emergencies. When cell phone towers and commercial radio stations are out of service due to power failures or downed antennas, amateur radio operators fill the void with portable, battery-powered equipment.

From a purely science perspective, an amateur radio license allows amateur scientists much more flexibility and power in transmitting video and data communications from balloons and rockets.

You can learn how to become an amateur radio operator at the web site of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

For complete details about the FCC code decision, see "Amendment of Part 97 of the Commission’s Rules to Implement WRC-03 Regulations Applicable to Requirements for Operator Licenses in the Amateur Radio Service." For those who don't wish to download this PDF file, the following excerpts from the decision provide an interesting review of the thinking behind the FCC's decision (numbered footnotes are provided in the PDF download):

"14. Based on our review of the record in the proceeding and on consideration of the various comments on this issue, we believe that because the international requirement for telegraphy proficiency
has been eliminated, we should treat Morse code telegraphy as we do other communications techniques. In this connection, we note that our Rules do not require individuals to pass a practical examination to demonstrate some degree of proficiency in non-telegraphy communications techniques. Rather, individuals demonstrate knowledge of other communication techniques and technical qualifications by passing written examinations composed of questions that prove that the examinee possesses the operational and technical qualifications required for the privileges authorized by the operator license.41 We believe, therefore, that written examinations are sufficient to determine whether a person is qualified to be issued an amateur radio operator license. Accordingly, we conclude that the public interest will best be served by eliminating the telegraphy examination requirement as a separate examination requirement in the amateur service. To achieve this result, we will amend Section 97.501 of our Rules to eliminate the requirement that an individual demonstrate five wpm [words per minute] proficiency in telegraphy in order to qualify for a General or Amateur Extra Class operator license.

"15. In reaching this decision, we note that one of the fundamental purposes underlying our Part 97 rules is to accommodate amateur radio operators' proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.42 The Commission has previously stated that an individual's ability to demonstrate increased Morse code proficiency is not necessarily indicative of his or her ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art,43 and the record before us shows that many commenters agree. In the NPRM, the Commission expressed its belief that eliminating the telegraphy examination requirement would encourage individuals who are interested in communications technology, or who are able to contribute to the advancement of the radio art, to become amateur radio operators.44 A number of commenters agree that the Morse code requirement “keeps individuals that would enhance the hobby from getting a license,”45 and that there is “no relationship between an individual’s knowledge of Morse code and that individual’s knowledge of radio regulations and practices and skills necessary to operate an amateur station.”46 Other commenters, while not disputing that telegraphy can and will continue to be a way to communicate, point out that amateur radio operators exchange messages using telegraphy only “if they choose to do so,”47 and that “. . . interest and participation [in use of Morse code] should be voluntary, as it is with other subspecialties in the amateur service.”

"16. Another fundamental purpose underlying our Part 97 rules is to enhance the value of the amateur service to the public, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.49 Based
on the record before us, we are not persuaded to depart from the pending proposal by the argument that telegraphy proficiency should be required because amateur radio stations may provide or assist with
emergency communications.50 The Commission previously addressed the essence of this argument, and concluded that most emergency communication today is performed using voice, data, or video techniques, and that most amateur radio operators who choose to provide emergency communications do so using voice or digital modes of communication because information can be exchanged much faster using these modes rather than telegraphy.51 As a result, we find that requiring an individual to demonstrate Morse code proficiency as a license qualification requirement is unrelated to licensees’ ability to provide or assist with emergency communications.

"17. We conclude that these considerations outweigh arguments that a telegraphy requirement is justified because telegraphy is “historically and traditionally unique,”52 and that telegraphy ability, as
demonstrated by passing a test, has “fundamental and enduring value”53 to the amateur radio community. We also disagree that a Morse code proficiency testing requirement must be retained “to insure the
continued quality pool of amateur radio operators,”54 or because the telegraphy examination “is the only part of the licensing procedure that cannot be simply memorized.”55 The record is devoid of a demonstrated nexus between Morse code proficiency and on-the-air conduct. As a result, we concur with the observation that “maintaining the code requirement does not purge amateur radio of bad operators. Education and self policing does.”56 As noted in the record, the claim “that code requirements help eliminate “bad apples” from the radio hobby has not proven correct in the past and is not a viable argument for the present, or future.”57

"18. Finally, we disagree with commenters who support eliminating the telegraphy requirement for the General Class operator license, but advocate retaining it for the Amateur Extra Class operator license.58 The ARRL and others argue that the telegraphy requirement for the Amateur Extra Class operator license should not be eliminated because the Amateur Extra Class license ought to represent “the ultimate in achievement in both technical and operating skills in Amateur Radio,"59 and "the number of radio amateurs who have achieved this ultimate license class clearly demonstrates that a 5 words-per minute telegraphy requirement is not a significant deterrent to those who aspire to it."60 We nevertheless believe that the public interest is not served by requiring facility in Morse Code when the trend in amateur communications is to use voice and digital technologies for exchanging messages. Rather, we believe that because the international requirement for telegraphy proficiency has been eliminated, we should treat Morse code telegraphy no differently from other amateur service communications techniques. This reasoning applies equally to the General Class and the Amateur Extra Class operator licenses. We are not persuaded that the Amateur Extra Class being the highest license class is a sufficient reason alone to retain a requirement that we conclude is otherwise inappropriate and unnecessary.61 We also note that our action here does not preclude Amateur Extra Class licensees, or for that matter, other amateur service licensees from pursuing and/or continuing to pursue Morse code proficiency should they so desire."

For the complete decision, see"Amendment of Part 97 of the Commission’s Rules to Implement WRC-03 Regulations Applicable to Requirements for Operator Licenses in the Amateur Radio Service."

Please send your comments about the end of the code requirement to Backscatter. You can also post your thoughts on the SAS Community Forum.

Forrest M. Mims III