[600MRG] New RadioTelegraph License

[John Langridge]

Congrats Steve!


The runaround you got from the various COLEM's is amazing.  I guess its a sign 
of the times for a license that the rest of the world considers not so useful 
anymore.  When I did my T2 in 2005, I was lucky to have a number of options here 
in Dallas.  I ended up testing at the breakfast table of Mrs. Elkins, widow to 
the former owner/director of the Elkin's Institute, a well-known radio school 
that was based out of Dallas.  That and the GROL were quick and easy as she knew 
her procedures very well and the licenses were in hand within a matter of weeks.

good times...

I think its worth it to have the license for whatever your personal reasons 
might be - they will be different for every man and its definitely worth the 
filing fee.

73 and again, congrats!

John KB5NJD/WG2XIQ
T200000092  



________________________________
From: "sbjohnston at aol.com" <sbjohnston at aol.com>
To: 600mrg at w7ekb.com
Sent: Tue, May 21, 2013 12:59:46 AM
Subject: [600MRG] New RadioTelegraph License




I'm proud to announce that the FCC granted my new RadioTelegraph Operator 
License today.  It is number           T000000001, so I am the very first to 
receive the new type of radiotelegraph ticket.  There doesn't seem to be a 
T000000002 yet, so apparently I am the *only* holder as well.  -grin-   That and 
$5 will buy me lunch at McDonalds.  


When the FCC announced the new radiotelegraph license structure in January (see 
below), I asked the FCC's helpdesk what elements would be needed for me to get 
the new ticket.  They confirmed that applicants for the new Radiotelegraph 
Operator License would be required to pass written elements 1 and 6, and 
telegraphy elements 1 and 2.  I hold an Amateur Extra class license issued 
before April 15, 2000, so my passing of that 20 wpm code test would substitute 
for Telegraphy Elements 1 and 2.  I also hold a General Radiotelephone Operator 
License (was originally a First-Phone), so that would cover written element 1.  
That left me only needing to take the exam for written element 6.

ETA was the only COLEM (the commercial equivalent of volunteer examiners) that 
responded to my email inquiries - none of the others even bothered to reply.  It 
took me three months to work out with ETA how to take the exam. Their examiners 
based at a nearby college apparently vanished without notice, and thus there was 
a lot of dead-end emailing and back-n-forth discussion. ETA finally offered the 
option to have a local library proctor the exam.  I made all the library 
arrangements and took the exam a couple weeks ago.  In just a few days ETA let 
me know I'd passed.  Then last week they told me they needed two signed passport 
photos for the application.  Fortunately I got their message when I was having 
lunch next door to a Walgreens that takes such photos, near a post office where 
I could mail them to ETA, all done in a half-hour or so.  ETA apparently 
received the pictures in time to submit my application on the first day the 
Commission was able to accept them, May 20. 


Steve WD8DAS

sbjohnston at aol.com
http://www.wd8das.net/
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- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Changes to FCC Radiotelegraph Operator Licenses Coming May 20

Effective May 20, 2013, the FCC will no longer accept applications for First 
(T1), Second (T2) or Third Class (T3) Radiotelegraph Operator Certificates. In 
addition, the FCC has consolidated the T1 and T2 Radiotelegraph Operator 
Certificates into a new license class called the Radiotelegraph Operator License 
(T). According to the FCC, this change takes effect upon renewal: T1s and T2s 
that are renewed on or after May 20, 2013 will be renewed as Ts, but existing 
T1s and T2s will retain their current license class for the duration of the 
current license term. The Commission also consolidated the T3 with Marine Radio 
Operator Permits (MP); T3s renewed on or after May 20, 2013 will be renewed as 
MPs, but existing T3s will retain their current license class for the duration 
of the current license term. These new rules were first announced in a Report 
and Order (WT Docket No. 10-177), issued January 8, 2013.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -





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