[AMRadio] Fw: ARLB021 FCC Application Fee Proposal Proceeding is Open for Comments

[w5jo at brightok.net]

Good arguments Rob, however, some hams are or may be on a fixed income and a 
one time  $50 fee at renewal every 10 years could cause a bit of trouble.  I 
am advocating from that perspective and the fact it is a voluntary 
organization even though I can afford the fee.  Many hams may be inactive 
most of the time, but in the event of a major catastrophe would come out of 
the woodwork to help.

Jim
W5JO


-----Original Message----- 
From: Rob Atkinson
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2020 4:03 PM
To: Jim Wilhite
Cc: AM Radio List
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Fw: ARLB021 FCC Application Fee Proposal Proceeding 
is Open for Comments

I don't have a problem with it.   If it happens okay.  If not, okay.
I used to pay $8 just to take the license exam.  If I failed, the fee
was not refundable.  I therefore made sure I'd pass.  No memorizing
for me.  That was back in the early 1970s.  50 dollars is probably the
same adjusted for inflation.  In fact, if they charged $50 to take the
test it would cut down on frivolous applicants and people testing
again and again until they pass, and not learning anything.   By
frivolous I mean people who want to get a ticket just to see if they
can, with no intention of ever getting on the air.  I run into "hams"
like that around here often.   It will also curb vanity call sign
hoarders. A license is good for 10 years.  $50 is $5 / year.  I have a
hard time believing an active ham will balk at that.  It will also cut
down the bloated bogus ham population.   Does anyone think all 700,000
hams in the U.S. are active?  We're all inactive for one reason or
another at times, but judging by ham band activity I estimate
liberally, that there are 50K active hams.

The ARRL is against it.  I have heard off the record that they, or
some of them, fear hams will drop their membership to pay the fee.
That's ridiculous.  It's NOT $50 every year.

73
Rob
K5UJ