Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554

In the matter of ___________________
                                    WT Docket 98-143
1998 Biennial Review                    RM-9148
--Amendment of Part 97                  RM-9150
of the Commission's                     RM-9196
Amateur Service Rules

To: Federal Communications Commission

COMMENTS OF:

I.INTRODUCTION
     I, Gerald T. White, 8455 Pine Hills Dr., Oakland, CA 94611-
1532 file these comments on 9 Novenber 1998 in the FCC's Notice of
Proposed Rule Making, WT Docket No.98-143.

     I was first licensed in 1937, 61 years ago and now hold an
advanced amateur license; a graduate of Leland Stanford Jr.
University 1942 with an AB in Electrical Engineering. I served 29
years in the U.S. Navy, and accelerated courses in RADAR at MIT,
Aero Engineering at CALTECH, and retired as a commander in aviation
electronics engineering. In my travels I have held 5 amateur
licenses and met, worked, and trained many amateur radio operators;
I also held a radio telephone 1st. class commercial license prior
to WW II.

     In summary, I whole heartly agree with the comments and
attitude of W5YI as stated in the October 1998 issue of CQ magazine
on pages 94-96.

     1.  Six classes of licenses are ridiculous- three are enough: 
     Technician, General, and Extra.

     2.  Abolish Novice licensing, it has served its purpose 
     long ago. Applicants overwhelmingly prefer a no code TECH path
     into amateur radio.

     3.   Delete frequency limitations on Novices and power limit 
     limitations on other classes using the former Novice   
frequencies. Novices: 200 watts max. on 80,40,15, & 10 meter 
     bands.

     4.   Techs before March 21, 1987 become General class, others 
     pass element 3(B) and pass a 5 WPM code test. General class 
     should also become 5 WPM.

     5.  Advanced Class should be permitted to be VE's for General 
     Class.

                              1
GERALD T. WHITE, WB6IZE  comments 
                                        on WT  Docket 98-143 

     6.  Eliminate RACES licenses. This will eliminate a long 
     standing feud between two important groups.

     7.  Continue Amateur Auxiliary .

     8.  Code speed 5 WPM for General class, Advanced, and Extra 
     class licenses. It is time to STOP the use of useless code 
     speed requirements to reserve use of the ham bands by a few 
     senile old operators many of whom can no longer pass the code 
     themselves. This has greatly reduced the overall use of the 
     amateur bands that we need so desperately for training, 
     experimentation, and emergencies.       

     9.  YES! YES! 5 wpm for all where required by international 
     regs. Long over due. Let's get it done before we loose ALL our
     amateur bands.



                              SINCERELY YOURS;



                              GERALD T. WHITE

























                                   2