[ARRL-OK] ARLB009 FCC Looks to Raise Vanity Call Sign Fees

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

First attempt deleted the links.  Here's another try.

Mac

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ZCZC AG09 
QST de W1AW 
ARRL Bulletin 9 ARLB009 
>From ARRL Headquarters 
Newington CT May 9, 2008 
To all radio amateurs 
 
SB QST ARL ARLB009 
ARLB009 FCC Looks to Raise Vanity Call Sign Fees 
 
The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM) 
on May 8 seeking to raise fees for Amateur Radio vanity call signs. 
Currently, a vanity call sign costs $11.70 and is good for 10 years; 
the new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $12.30 for 
10 years, an increase of $.60. 
 
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 12 years of the 
current program -- from a low of $12 to a high of $50; the current 
fee of $11.70 is the lowest the fee has been since the inception of 
the vanity call sign program. The FCC said it anticipates some 
15,000 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment units" or 
applications during the next fiscal year, collecting $184,500 in 
fees from the 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. The first vanity call sign licenses issued 
under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that 
began in 1996 came up for renewal two 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 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 site 
at: http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls and clicking on the "New Users 
Register" link.  You must supply your Social Security Number to 
obtain an FRN. 
 
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