[AMRadio] Proposed License Fees

[Rob Atkinson]

There are two reasons:

1.  Ham licenses are not just operator licenses.  They are also
station licenses.  There are a number of problems with having a
station license for life.  It was proposed by a ham a few years ago
and was defeated in the FCC comment system by numerous filings against
it, including one from me if I remember correctly.

2.  Unlike the commercial phone tickets, ham licenses are an
international treaty requirement.   So FCC can't just collapse them
into a GROL -like wallet card and call it a day.

73

Rob
K5UJ

On Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 6:53 PM Michael D. Harmon <mharmon at att.net> wrote:
>
> Why doesn't the FCC do what they did with the commercial operator
> licenses -- back in 1984, the FCC went from a renewal program to just
> issuing the licenses for life.  A one-time fee of $50 for processing,
> etc. wouldn't be so bad if it meant that licensees would only have to go
> through the renewal process once.  My General Radiotelephone License
> with Ship Radar Endorsement has no expiration date.  I'm not happy that
> the First Phone license was "dumbed down" back in 1984, but I've gotten
> over the sour grapes phase.  At lease I don't have to remember to renew
> it every 5/10 years.
>
> BTW, NO broadcast, business or public service radio system requires an
> FCC  license to maintain, adjust or certify transmitters any more.  It's
> perfectly legal for anyone with a screwdriver to climb in there and
> start tweaking!  The GROL is only required for maintenance and
> adjustment of aviation, maritime or international fixed station
> equipment.  As far as I know, anyone is legally qualified by the FCC to
> work as chief engineer for any radio or TV broadcast station in the US,
> even 50 kW AM directional antenna clear channel stations.  Sad, but true.
>