Fw: ARLB013 FCC Seeks to Raise the Fee for Vanity Call Signs

[Joseph Pirkle]

For those of you who do not get ARRL bulletins:

Joe

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <joe.pirkle at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 6:52 PM
Subject: ARLB013 FCC Seeks to Raise the Fee for Vanity Call Signs


> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB013
> ARLB013 FCC Seeks to Raise the Fee for Vanity Call Signs
> 
> ZCZC AG13
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  May 5, 2011
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB013
> ARLB013 FCC Seeks to Raise the Fee for Vanity Call Signs
> 
> The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM) on
> May 3, seeking to raise the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs.
> Currently, a vanity call sign costs $13.30 and is good for 10 years.
> 
> The new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $14.20 for
> 10 years, an increase of 90 cents. The FCC is authorized by the
> Communications Act of 1934 (as amended) to collect vanity call sign
> fees to recover the costs associated with that program.
> 
> The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when
> applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity
> call sign for a new term. Instructions on how to comment on this
> NPRM are available on the FCC Web site at,
> http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/howtocomment.html.
> 
> The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 14 years of the
> current program -- from a low of $11.70 in 2007 to a high of $70 (as
> first proposed in the FCC's 1994 Report and Order).  In 2007, the
> Commission lowered the fee from $20.80 to $11.70. The FCC said it
> anticipates some 14,600 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment
> units" or applications during the next fiscal year.
> 
> The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when
> applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity
> call sign for a new term. The first vanity call sign licenses issued
> under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that began
> in 1996 came up for renewal five years ago.
> 
> Those holding vanity call signs issued prior to 1996 are exempt from
> having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal,
> however. That's because Congress did not authorize the FCC to
> collect regulatory fees until 1993. Such "heritage" vanity call sign
> holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio
> database.
> 
> Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of
> their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC
> Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the
> Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the ULS at,
> http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home, and clicking on the
> "New Users Register" link. You must supply your Social Security
> Number to obtain an FRN.
> NNNN
> /EX