August 28, 1998

FCC Secretary
Magalie Roman Salas
Office of Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
1919 "M" Street N.W.
Room 222
Washington, D.C.

Dear sir:

In the matter of 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review-Amendment of
part 97 of the Commission's Amateur Service Rule, FCC WT Docket
98-143: I strongly recommend that the current 13 word per minute
code requirement for General Class license be reduced to 5 words
per minute.  The current rules keep many amateur radio operators
from enjoying the full range of spectrum available.  In my own
case, I have passed the written exam for General Class
operations, only to be denied the privilege because my code speed
could not make the 13 word per minute minimum.  My own operations
rarely use code, and consist almost entirely of voice
communications.  Please consider changing the current
requirements so that thousands like me can join the amateur
community on the many bands available in General Class operation.

Yours truly,

Michael Maun, N8MFX
Technician-plus Amateur Operator
671 Washington
Grosse Pointe, MI 18230