Before the
                                            Federal Communications Commision
                                                   Washington D.C. 20554
  
  In the Matter of                                                       )                                       WT Docket No.98.143
  1998 Biennial Regulatory Review                          )                                       RM-9148     
  Ammendent of Paert 97 of the Commission's        )                                       RM-9150
  Amateur Service Rules.                                           )                                       RM-9196
  
                                                       C.C.  Chairman William E.Kennard
        Commissioner  Susan Ness                                                        Commissioner Harold Furchgott 
        
       Commissioner Michael Powell                                                   Commissioner Gloria Tristani
                                                                 
                                                             
                                                                COMMENTS OF     
                                                                                                                        
  Louis Robert Pastor  . 5294 E. Frances Rd. Mt.Morris Mi. 48458     Oct. 30,1998.
  
      I filed  these comments on Oct.30,1998 in the FCC'S Notice of Rule Making WWT Docket 98-143.
  
  My name is Louis R. Pastor a retired Designer from General Motors Corp.in Flint,Michigan.
  
       My first dealing with the FCC was in 1955 when I received my Novice license KN8ACR. A year later I
  took the exam and code test for and passed the Technician license requirements retaining ,my call sign
  K8ACR. I have been active through the years and renewing my license as required.I have done a lot of
  conversions on military surplus equipment as well as building my own equipment from scrap parts.I feel
  that after 43 years of Amateur Radio experience my personal view is that  the FCC does not go far enough
  towards modernizing amateur radio. The proposed four classes of license are too many.I suggest to
  eliminate the Novice, Tech Plus and the Advance  license and retain the Technician ,General,and Extra.The
  current  Novice and Tech Plus license be grandfathered to General class  opereators and the Advanced 
  Class license holders be grandfathered to Extra Class operators.
      
        The Technician class should be the sole class license.It would grant VHF privileges ,entail the basic
  written test  and not requiring morse code.The General class license would grant HF privileges and would
  entail  a written test and require a 5wpm Morse code test.The Extra class license would entail a
  comprehensive written examination  and would signify achieved knowledge in all areas of theory and
  amateur practices.It should not require additional Morse code proficiency.Frequency allocations can
  continue to reflect the difference  in the license classes.This would put the US in alignment with other
  CEPT countries that have only three classes of license.Two HF and one VHF.
  
  
        I support the FCC 's suggestion to replace the Morse code with more revelant written testing on various
  aspects of current and developing technology.The 5wpm Morse test would eliminate the processing of
  issuing waivers for the handicapped. All Morse code testing should be eliminated  consietent with US
  obligations under the International treaties.
  
      
       These suggestions,if adopted would simpfly the licensing  process and project it into the twenty-first
  century.Thank  you for taking the time to read this letter of comments
  
  
  .Respectfully submitted,
  
  
  Louis Robert Pastor  K8ACR
  5294 E.Frances Rd. 
  Mt.Morris Mi. 48458                                                                            October 30.1998