[BC] radio engineering not a profession

[nakayle at gmail.com]

In the earlier days of radio and even as late as the 1970s many station
engineers/technicians (whatever you call them) designed and built equipment
the station used. I think it was a major mistake to abolish the First-Class
ticket- it was some assurance a person had a basic understanding of
electricity, radio theory and FCC rules and regulations and the perils of
high voltage (re: the "transmitter safety" thread) and knew how to run
annual proofs to insure the station was performing well- another thing which
should have never have been eliminated. It is indeed strange that the FCC
requires a person to pass a test to operate a 2-watt ham handi-talkie but
not a 50-KW transmitter on the broadcast band. Where is the logic to this??

 - Nat Kayle