FCC drops Morse Code for all licence classes
Although this news is a few days old, I post it for the sake of completeness.
From the ARRL letter
FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 19, 2006 — In an historic move, the FCC has acted to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur radio license classes. The Commission adopted the long-awaited Report and Order (R&O) in WT Docket 05-235, the “Morse code” proceeding, and released it December 19. The FCC R&O also includes an Order on Reconsideration in WT Docket 04-140 — the “omnibus” proceeding. It will modify the Amateur Service rules in response to ARRL’s request to accommodate automatically controlled narrowband digital stations on 80 meters in the wake of rule changes that became effective December 15. The Commission designated the 3585 to 3600 kHz frequency segment for such operations, although the segment will remain available for CW, RTTY and data. The effective date of the FCC’s R&O will be 30 days after publication in the Federal Register — most likely in February. Currently, Amateur Radio applicants must pass a 5 WPM Morse code test to operate on HF. The FCC’s action will eliminate that requirement all around.
continued here
ARRL has released a special web page regarding the FCC’s Morse Code Report and Order (WT Docket 05-235). It can be found here.
