On December 23, 2020, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a reduced Amateur Radio application fee of $35. This new fee is part of the application fee schedule published in Report and Order FCC 20-184 (R&O).
ARRL News reported on December 21, 2020, “The FCC is encouraging users of the Universal Licensing Service (ULS) to have an e-mail address on file with the FCC.” 1
This is to ensure that ULS users are ready for the FCC’s upcoming transition to electronic-only licensing correspondence.
Sometime in mid-2021 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will complete their transition to “electronic correspondence and will no longer print or provide wireless licensees with hard-copy authorizations or registrations by mail.” 1
This transition will require all Amateur Radio licensees—both existing and applicants—to provide a valid e-mail address on license applications. Licensees will also be required to maintain a valid e-mail address in their ULS record in the same way that they must maintain a valid mailing address.
Many months have passed since RRRA members were forced by the COVID-19 pandemic to replace face to face club meetings with a monthly directed net. Fortunately this isolation will be somewhat ameliorated at 7pm on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, with the first RRRA Virtual Club Meeting which will be conducted through the Zoom teleconferencing service.
The fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in [the October 15, 2020] Federal Register. The deadline for comments is November 16, and the Reply comment deadline is November 30.
With this in mind, I am extending the following suggestions you might consider using in writing to the FCC in response to the NPRM. Our thanks to Dave Siddall K3ZJ, ARRL Counsel, for these guidelines. Be sure to carefully review the paragraphs “Some Suggestions” as the information therein will assist with much of the applicable background.
This subject is critical, the timing is critical. I urge you to contact the FCC. Address and related information is contained in the article referenced in the Federal Register. Please use your own words to express your objections to the proposed fees.
