In 1991, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) proposed the creation of a code-free Technician license, granting access to amateur radio bands above 30 MHz. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed to this proposal, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for new amateur radio operators by eliminating the Morse code requirement for this license class. This change spurred a substantial growth in amateur radio licensing, as it attracted a new generation of operators interested in VHF and UHF communication. By the end of the 1990s, the number of licensed amateur radio operators in the United States surged to over 700,000. This expansion fostered increased innovation, experimentation, and community engagement within the amateur radio hobby, ensuring its continued relevance and vitality.
