Tag: anchorage vec

Anchorage VEC Remote Testing results in a new Extra; Remote Testing Working Group Underway

First remote exam due to COVID-19 complete. 94% on my Extra. Thanks to Anchorage VEC! from amateurradio

Good news! Remote VE Testing is happening and people are getting licensed and upgraded! Woohoo!

I spoke with Brandin Hess, AL6I, Anchorage ARC VEC chairman on the phone shortly after this test session was complete. He told me that remote testing is well underway. At the current rate, they can handle between 5 and 10 candidates a day, possibly up to 20 if everyone was operating at full tilt. Only 40 applications are in process right now (and many more are sure to come). Several applications have been rejected, in part due to the an in-person proctor not being available because of shelter-in-place requirements.

I want to publicly thank Brandin and the Anchorage VEC for their efforts. He says it’s using up 110% of his time, and taking an impact on his health, but if he wasn’t working on it, ham radio licensing would come to a screeching halt.

The process at Anchorage still requires an in-person proctor, who is essentially a trusted individual, to verify that the test taker is following all the rules and not cheating, and to – without a shadow of a doubt – validate the integrity of the test session per Part 97 regulations.

But what if it’s okay to perform testing entirely online? A working group is currently underway solving that problem.

In the last few hours a group of about 30 people has coalesced from across the country, all working towards defining specific goals and requirements for 100% online amateur radio examinations, performing proofs of concept, and creating a standard operating procedure that any VEC can adopt and modify for their needs. No software is being written, yet, as it may very well be possible this can be done with off-the-shelf components like video conferencing, Docusign, ExamTools, and even mirrors!

The effort got quite a massive signal boost with the help of Sam Hulick, renowned composer and software developer, and verified “blue checkmark” Twitter user, sent a tweet to Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman. Yes. The Ajit Pai. And he responded:

I eagerly await to see the results of this tweet, but at the end of the day, there’s no need for any FCC action, besides maybe a 👍 and a vote of confidence that VECs can reliably perform 100% remote testing.

This clearly isn’t an effort that will result in immediate adoption (although theoretically the capability is already available), but it will – within the next few months or less – result in a framework and/or set of tools that VECs and their VE teams can use to perform remote testing reliably and be confident that it is FCC compliant.

But is it really FCC compliant? By that I mean, does a 100% online synchronous exam with several angles of surveillance of the test taker by 3 or more VEs meet all subparts of Part 97.509? I think so. What do you think?

I will keep the updates flowing and those interested informed as progress is made. If you want to be added to the conversation, reach out to me.

PSA: Limited Remote VE Testing Available from Anchorage VEC during COVID-19

In-Person VE testing is effectively shut down. Remote VE testing is available from Anchorage VEC but delays of up to 60 days may be encountered by applicants.

With COVID-19, nearly every VEC is or is about to be shut down. Then we have the Anchorage ARC VEC. They are the only VEC that actively performs remote testing and thereby are the ONLY VEC still offering exams at least through May 1, assuming all other VECs cancel their regularly scheduled in-person VE sessions due to social distancing guidelines.

Anchorage ARC VEC is taking on more remote test sessions to help during the pandemic, but despite their best efforts, and due to unprecedented circumstances, they’re not able to effectively manage testing for basically the entire country (which is usually distributed between 14 other VECs), remotely, at high levels.

While they are accepting applications for remote testing, Anchorage ARC VEC Chairman Brandin Hess, AL6I warns applicants that delays of up to 60 days may be encountered. Please visit https://kl7aa.org/vec/remote-testing/ for more information.

I’m currently trying to look for ways help expand their testing and promote remote testing to other VECs, but what’s normally not a significant burden has turned into a full time volunteer job for those guys overnight.

You might think their operation is scalable by adding more VEs, but that is not the case. Anchorage VEC is not processing applications for new remote testing VEs at this time. Chairman Hess indicates that the Anchorage ARC VEC will re-evaluate the situation on or around May 1st and a decision to resume in-person testing sessions will be made at that time, via blog post on the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club web site.

All of this is subject to change as the situation materializes.