XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated

W2LJ QRP - When you care to send the very least!

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The bee in the bonnet of some American Hams

Posted: 25 Mar 2022 10:10 AM PDT http://w2lj.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-bee-in-bonnet-of-some-american-hams.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email


The particulars - according to the ARRL:
New Amateur Radio License Applications Fee To Become Effective April 19,
2022
03/24/2022
A Public Notice released by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on March 23, 2022, in MD Docket No. 20-270, announced that new application
fees for Wireless Telecommunications Bureau applications will become
effective on April 19, 2022. The new fees, mandated by Congress, apply to applications for Amateur Radio licenses including those associated with
filing Form 605, the Amateur Operator/Primary Station Licensee Application. Effective April 19, 2022, a $35 fee will apply to applications for a new Amateur Radio license, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign
change), renewal, and vanity call signs.
Anticipating the implementation of the fee in 2022, the ARRL Board of Directors, at its July 2021 meeting, approved the "ARRL Youth Licensing
Grant Program." Under the program, ARRL will cover a one-time $35
application fee for license candidates younger than 18 years old for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a reduced exam session fee
of $5 to the ARRL VEC. ARRL is finalizing details for administering the program.
ARRL had filed comments in opposition to imposing a fee on Amateur Radio license applications. The FCC initially proposed a higher, $50 fee. In a
Report and Order (R&O), released on December 29, 2020, the amount was
reduced -- the FCC agreeing with ARRL and other commenters that its
proposed $50 fee for certain amateur radio applications was "too high to account for the minimal staff involvement in these applications."
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, explained that all fees are per application. "There will be no fee for administrative updates, such as a change of mailing or email address. The
fees will be the responsibility of the applicant regardless of filing
method and must be paid within 10 calendar days of FCC's receipt of the application. For applications filed by a VEC, the period does not begin
until the application is received by the Commission, a ULS file number assigned, and an email sent by the FCC directly to the applicant."
VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not collect the $35 fee at
license exam sessions. New and upgrade candidates at an exam session will continue to pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and
pay the new, $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES - Login).
When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will
email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate who
then will have 10 calendar days from the date of the email to pay. After
the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license
or explanation of other action. The link will be good for 30 days.
Somma also explained that applications that are processed and dismissed
will not be entitled to a refund. This includes vanity call sign requests
where the applicant does not receive the requested call sign. "The FCC
staff has suggested that applicants for vanity call signs should first
ensure the call signs requested are available and eligible for their
operator class and area, and then request as many call signs as the form
allows to maximize their chances of receiving a call sign."
Further information and instructions about the FCC Application Fee are available from the ARRL VEC at www.arrl.org/fcc-application-fee. Details
for the ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program will be similarly posted there,
when available.


Just like anyone else, I don't enjoy paying what is in essence, just
another tax - but it is what it is. This was mandated by Congress, not the FCC, so there's no use being mad at them.
I'm happy to see that the ARRL is going out of their way to help young Hams under the age of 18. Not only covering the $35 fee; but also reducing the
cost of the test. It's a good thing to remove roadblocks preventing younger blood from joining the ranks.
As far as older Hams living on a fixed budget are concerned - this is a
great incentive for local clubs to develop a program to help defray the
cost of the fee for those who TRULY need it. But if you can afford a K4
with all the bells and whistles, an extra $35 to the FCC isn't going to
hurt that much, is it?
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

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