1960s
1960s. FCC permitted hams to hold both the Novice and Technician simultaneously. These hams had two call signs. They would use the appropriate call sign when using the corresponding privilege. The Novice was a one-year non-renewal license.
About 1960. FCC stopped issuing WV# Novice call signs and went to WN call signs.
1962. FCC denied petition for rulemaking which sought to give Technicians full privileges on 10 meters. FCC reaffirmed its policy that Technicians are VHF/UHF experimenters and not communicators. The next step for Novices is to upgrade to General and not to Technician.
A new magazine called VHF Horizons started publishing. The magazine was devoted to 50mc and above. Its editorial policy called for the FFC to change its policy and let Technicians become communicators, not just experimenters. While Technicians liked the magazine and its editorial policy, higher class license holders did not. Generals, Advanced and Extras sided with FCC policy and favored Novices upgrading to General and bypassing Technician. In 1964, VHF Horizons ceased publication due to insolvency.
There were over 250,000 hams in the U.S. 60,000 of them were members of the American Radio Relay League.
FCC proposed licensing fees of between $5 to $10. Notarization in which applicants for both ham and CB licenses swore they were providing accurate information was dropped.
“WB” call signs had started to be issued by the FCC in the second and sixth call districts.
By 1963. Novice band on 15M was expanded 50kc ; 21.1 to 21.250mc.
1963, CB’ers outnumber hams.
Mid-1960s. The “WA” prefix was exhausted in the second, fourth and sixth call districts. FCC started reissuing vacant “WA” call signs.
Late-1960s to 1978. FCC informally permitted, when available, preferential 1x3 call signs to Novices who upgraded, i.e. a Novice who was WN4AAA might be able to get W4AAA.
1967. November 22. FCC introduced a new incentive licensing system. Novices lost 2 meter phone privileges for Novices were talking on 2 meters phone, not increasing their code speed and upgrading only to Technician. FCC restated that the next step for Novices is the General class license. The Technician class license is for VHF/UHF experimentation. It is not the next step up for Novices. FCC revoked the privilege of hams being able to simultaneously hold both the Novice and Technician. FCC extended the Novice license to 2 years. This license could not be renewed.
1969. In QST magazine, the American Radio Relay League published its new policy which recognized the fact that large numbers of new Technicians were communicators and not experimenters. ARRL called on the FCC to allow hams to simultaneously hold both Technician and Novice licenses, give Technicians full 2 meter privileges as well as 29.5 to 29.7 mc.
