To the editor:

I read with interest the letter on associations for licensing legislation in your January 1995 issue (page 4). Although I think R. Craig Thomasmeyer has a valid point in not wanting more government bureaucracy, I think it is this bureaucracy that is forcing us to turn to licensing.

I understand that even more, now that I have had a chance to hear Jeffrey Deckman`s story (see "Licensing--has its time come?" and "Licensing," November 1994, pages 3 and 4). We asked Deckman to visit with us and with interested telecommunications professionals in our area. He made it clear that he pursued licensing in Rhode Island to protect the telecommunications industry. Political forces in Rhode Island had passed a law that excluded all but licensed electricians from installing cable, including telecommunications cable.

Deckman and his association only did what they had to do to save their businesses and protect their jobs. Licensing was the only way to ensure politicians would not try again to legislate telecommunications professionals out of jobs.

I would encourage anyone who feels that licensing is not necessary for telecommunications installers to listen to the whole story.

George M. Fewell

Pro-Tel International

Lynnwood, WA