AUG 12 1998

I definitely do not like or agree with the proposal quoted below
from WT Docket No. 98-143

IV.   DISCUSSION

A. Number of License Classes

"We therefore propose that the Technician Plus Class be phased
out. Holders of an FCC-issued Technician Class operator license
granted before March 21, 1987, have previously passed the written
examination required to qualify for a General Class operator
license.   Other 'Technician Plus Class operators could qualify
for a General Class operator license by passing written
examination Element 3(B) which consists of thirty questions on
the additional privileges of a General Class operator license and
the 13 or 20 wpm telegraphy examination. We seek comments on this
proposal.'

I feel that the Technician Plus class operators(myself included)
would object very strongly to losing the limited operating
privileges that they have already earned.  I do not feel that
Technician Plus operators only operate on VHF/UHF bands in FM
mode.  I myself am a Technician Plus operator, and am active on
10 meter phone frequently, as well as Single Sideband mode.. and
FM mode on 6 meters and 2 meters.

I feel that the ARRL's proposal is much more fair to all Amateur
Licensees, as no operating privileges will be taken away from
anyone. I feel that the morse telegraphy requirement currently in
place should be amended as per the ARRL proposal, which will
satisfy treaty requirements, and be in complete agreement the
current decline in the importance of morse telegraphy in today 
services.

I strongly urge the commission to accept the current ARRL
Simplified Amateur License Structure proposal, as written by the
ARRL Board of Directors, with the following possible exceptions;

1     I would not object to Technician (operators having to pass
examination Element 3(B), but I feel very strongly that the 13
words per minute morse telegraphy testing is difficult for an
entry Level H license.

2     I propose that the question pools 5-r all Amateur Radio
License exams be edited to include on the air operating
procedures, stressing courtesy, and proper behavior while
operating. I further propose that the new question pools not be
made available to the general public, with strict penalties     
attached to any form of disclosure by VEs, or others who have
access to the question pool.  Access to the question pools
should only be given to VEs, and the Commission employees who
need this information.

3     If exception number two is not deemed feasible, or
desirable by the Commission, then I propose that the number of
questions in each question pool be increased to four times the
current number.  The purpose of exceptions two and three is to
eliminate, or limit rote memorization (the question pools.  In
simplest terms, memorization of the question pools is not the
same as learning, rote understanding the Rules, regulations, and
theory required to set up, maintain, and properly operate an
Amateur Radio station.

I strongly urge that the ARRL Simplified Amateur License
Structure proposal, as written by the ARRL Board of Directors be
implemented by amendment of the part 97 rules in as timely a
fashion as is practical, as this is the most fair proposal to
both current and future Amateur Radio Licensees.

Martin Campbell

rutherford.ulea@mcleodusa.net          KBOHAE