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:
Thanks for the suggestion. Let me look into this—stay tuned.
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.
TL;DR: There’s little to no hope that amateur radio license testing will go fully remote and online to meet demand from candidates displaced by cancelled VE sessions due to COVID-19. That may or may not be a big deal for ham radio, but if you’re a VEC looking to rapidly and responsibly bring your teams up to a modern remote, online-only testing capability to meet this new demand for prospective hams, let me know immediately.
In a nutshell, besides Anchorage, there is zero interest, or even anti-interest in remote VE testing.
First of all, I sent an email to the NCVEC, and all VECs a few days ago. I’ve had one reply so far.
To all VECs.
It is my intention over the course of my enjoyment of amateur radio to generate, develop, proliferate, and execute ideas which will modernize amateur radio, including VE testing, but with the COVID-19 epidemic it has rapidly become a necessity to continue the testing issuance of amateur radio licenses.
I am more than certain that at least a few of you have fielded questions regarding the continuity of VEC testing throughout the COVID-19 epidemic. I’m also sure I’m not the first one to ask this question: are any VECs (besides the Anchorage VEC) addressing the closure of numerous, if not ALL in-person VE test sessions during COVID-19 by performing remote testing?
I am aware and working with Anchorage VEC to explore the possibility of rapidly expanding their remote testing capabilities. As far as I can tell, they are the only VEC who regularly performs remote testing. Based on comments from them and other VECs, some VECs are in fact quite adamant against remote testing despite it’s approval per Part 97.509(c) and explanation in FCC R&O 14-74. This is certainly a time of extraordinary circumstances where social isolation presents a verifiable hardship for all prospective test candidates, and remote, online-only testing is the only solution that meets the need.
I’m not sure of the impact to amateur radio without the proliferation of remote testing during the pandemic; after all it’s a relatively insignificant concern compared to the pandemic itself. I’m also not certain of FCC processing during levels of low staffing. However, I do think this is a good opportunity to discover new norms, improve the image of amateur radio, continue testing and issuance of amateur radio licenses, and bring a new hobby to people in a time where solitary hobbies are in high demand.
I have addressed this email to the NCVEC but no response has been received, so I am reaching out to all VECs for answers. Thank you for your consideration,
Sterling Mann, N0SSC
My email to the NCVEC and VECs
Thanks Tom. But you didn’t answer my question.
Meanwhile, the current ARRL CEO Barry Shelley, along with Maria Somma (ARRL’s VEC Chair) had nothing to say regarding remote testing.
The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) has been dealing with a higher-than-normal volume of emails and phone calls and is asking for members’ patience as they attempt to answer everyone’s questions as promptly as possible. “There has been some significant disruption to VE exam session schedules, given the restrictions imposed on gatherings in many locales,” Shelley pointed out. “As with our employees, the health and safety of our Volunteer Examiners is a top priority, and we have informed our VEs that they need to follow their local community’s guidelines and then use their best judgement when deciding whether to conduct, postpone, or cancel an exam session.”
Meanwhile, the answers are either me, either a resounding “no,” or a wholly negative response, often rationalizing that a ham radio license exam rivals that of lawyers, doctors, and other professionals.
It was a BIG surprise to me to see Laurel VEC’s response. Laurel is commonly touted as the “best VEC” due to their free testing and extremely fast turnaround compared to most VEC’s $15 fees and 2-week or greater processing delays.
These screenshots represent a tiny fraction of the online debate going on regarding remote testing. The opposition seems to be blissfully ignorant of the advances in remote testing software, and very anxious over various ways of circumventing, exploiting, and generally cheating on remote amateur radio exams. Numerous opponents are quick to take a “back in my day” approach, referring to their own personal experiences of driving several hundreds of miles to get to a FCC field office, meeting ominous G-men, and nervously taking a far more difficult exam with those scary men breathing down their neck.
Proponents are quick to address claims of cheating and weakening of the technical base of radio amateurs, but it’s futile. It’s not going to help. It might be fun to debate, but it won’t fix the problem.
The problem is that no VECs are giving license exams, or they are doing it at an extremely reduced pace. There’s a big demand for exams, and the legal framework allows online testing. We still need 3 VEs to monitor the test takers, and to ensure the integrity of the test session. So here’s what needs to happen:
Adopt an existing VEC or create a new VEC to lead a remote testing effort. Ideally leverage their current work and processes, and current VE teams to perform remote testing. The latter has been attempted, but I have it on good faith that it’s not easy to start a new VEC, along with the fact that the FCC is probably very reluctant to do this. However, any VEC can perform remote testing and remain compliant per Part 97.509(c).
Create a list of requirements for a candidate: webcam requirements, preferably two video sources (or the use of a smartphone to be used as a second vantage point), PC software requirements, bandwidth requirements
Create rules during the exam process: what happens if connection drops, what happens if your view looks away from the test screen, calculator, or scratch pad, what happens if there’s a fault in the monitoring software, proper VE/proctor to test taker ratio, etc.
Recruit and train new VEs to bolster current VE ranks to monitor and perform test administration using conferencing/screenshare software such as Zoom. More VEs means a higher likelyhood of finding 3 VEs at any given moment, and offers flexibility to both VEs and applicants with busy schedules and interruptions.
Perform a few mock exams, thinking of ways to, and ways of mitigating cheating.
Keep detailed logs and records of actions that prove all sections of Part 97.509 are being met.
Publish application process, screen applicants, run exams, submit electronic paperwork, and follow up with new licensees as usual.
That’s it! If this was my VEC, we’d have been already giving out tests. In fact, I attempted to send Anchorage VEC a list of extra-class licensees, and he even got many of them accredited with Anchorage in a matter of hours! Because – SURPRISE – the VE Accrediation exam is online, and open-book. Imagine that.
Despite this, it turns out the process of training and approving remote VEs is not in Anchorage’s capabilities at this time. The only problem I have with that, is that the team I put together are extraordinarily savvy with modern software technologies. It would not take very much effort for them at all.
If you’re a VEC looking to rapidly bring yourself up to online testing capability, let me know immediately.
Overall, I think we’re going to be dealing with a lull in new and upgraded Amateur Radio licenses. The impact will probably be small. Still, it just disappoints me that this is the course we hams must sail.
It doesn’t have to be that way, so I’m blowing as much air into these sails as I can!
