by Raleigh Stout

Created on: September 11, 2007

Morse Code is a communications technology that will work with or without electricity, with or without a radio, and is so simple that we can relate it to the use of binary digits, or bits, in electronics devices and in computers.

Probably the strongest reason for using Morse Code is social - that is, that man continues to use it around the world and if you want to understand what he is saying, or if you wish to participate, then you must learn it and use it, too.

While it is true that the United States, vis-a-vis its Federal Communications Commission, has eliminated the requirement for testing amateur radio license aspirants the Morse Code, and while it is true that the Commission did that after the International Telecommunications Union and World Amateur Radio Conferences dropped this requirement, it is still true that many amateur radio operators in virtually all the world's nations continue to use the Morse Code.

One important factor in dropping the requirement for Morse Code testing is that emergency distress signaling has been modernized to technologies well beyond the Morse Code. Automatic signaling devices, such as beacons and emergency locating transmitters, now broadcast signals to orbiting satellites for processing and resolution of emergency locations. Humans now simply respond to the electronic and computer processing of such automated signals.

Yet the Morse Code continues to flourish, for the same social reason as stated before - that people learned it was a simple and effective communications tool that culd be counted on to break through the static of radio receivers, natural phenomena such as lightning and thunderstorms, and find their social contacts on the other end of a wireless communications connection.

Additionally, the Morse Code is used around the world in much poorer regions by people who desire two-way communication without being able to pay for expensive voice transmitters. Certainly these same people are just as likely to use Morse Code for emergency communications because it will be readily available. It stands to reason that people must continue to learn and use the Morse Code in order to provide emergency response to this set of people.

Morse Code is still in use in other forums apart from amateur radio. For example, signaling with light devices between naval and other marine vessels is accomplished with Morse Code. Obviously, marine agencies who use the Morse Code will argue its utility and even train their own people to use it. Such

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