rjr@mgweed.UUCP (11/15/83)
FCC Drastically Reduces Ham Testing
The days are numbered for those applicants who simply
want to walk into an FCC facility and take a Commission
administered amateur radio examination.
The FCC Field Operations Bureau has issued an internal
mimeographed memorandum indicating that amateur radio
examinations given at all District FCC Offices throughout the
country will be limited to a total of four during calendar year
1984. The author of the memo was the FCC's Field Operations
Bureau Chief, Richard M. Smith.
The internal notice is now in the process of being
printed and will be distributed shortly. No examinations will
be given by the Commission (either at regular testing points or
at remote locations) more often than quarterly. An appointment
must be requested in advance. Needless to say, the opportunity
for upgrading will be drastically reduced next year.
The examinations will be offered at FCC Field Offices
during these periods:
Quarter Testing Dates ------- -------------
1 February 6 through 10, 1984
(Applications received by January 15).
2 May 7 through 11, 1984
(Applications received by April 15).
3 August 6 through 10, 1984
(Applications received by July 15).
4 November 5 through 9, 1984
(Applications received by October 15).
All FCC facilities will give both the commercial and
amateur examinations on those dates. Amateurs should submit
their Form 610 applications at least one month in afvance of
the above dates if they want to take a particular examination.
If the situation warrants, more than one day will be scheduled
for testing during the above periods.
It is my understanding that the FCC will be looking for
a free facility other than their current testing rooms to hold
the exams because their offices would not be large enough to
accomodate the large number of anticipated applicants.
While field offices have not received instructions
regarding any correlation between the new FCC testing program
and the volunteer examination procedures recently approved by
the Commission, the FCC feels that these will be numerous other
testing opportunities at hamfests and other volunteer
supervised examination sessions. ''We are working very closely
with the Private Radio bureau to get that thing moving.''