SB QST @ ARL $ARLB086 ARLB086 ARRL Board of Directors holds special meeting ZCZC AG86 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 86 ARLB086 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT October 22, 1998 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB086 ARLB086 ARRL Board of Directors holds special meeting The ARRL Board of Directors will meet in a special session on October 24 in St Louis. The agenda contains a single item: to consider the League's response to the FCC's August ''rules streamlining'' Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket 98-143. Among other things, the FCC has proposed elimination of the Novice and Tech Plus tickets and a reduction from six to four license classes. The FCC also invited comments on a number of other issues, including Morse code testing requirements. At its July meeting, the ARRL Board issued its own license restructuring proposals that also call for an end to the Novice and Tech Plus tickets and four license classes. Additionally, the plan would offer substantial HF privileges with a 5 WPM Morse code test, require a 12 WPM code test for Advanced privileges, and eliminate the 20 WPM code test for Amateur Extra privileges. The League plan also called for beefing up the Extra class written exam and ''refarming'' the existing Novice bands-primarily as additional phone segments. The ARRL informed the FCC of its restructuring ideas by letter but did not file a formal petition for rulemaking. Comments on the FCC's NPRM are due December 1. Reply comments are due January 15. NNNN /EX