[BCVHFA] FCC CLARIFIES RENEWAL PROCEDURES FOR VANITY CALL SIGN HOLDERS

[K8CM]

Except, F.Y.I.,  from the ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 10 (Mar 10, 2006)



FCC CLARIFIES RENEWAL PROCEDURES FOR VANITY CALL SIGN HOLDERS

With the renewal window about to open for the first Amateur Radio 
licenses assigned vanity call signs in 1996, the FCC's Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has attempted to clarify filing 
procedures. The WTB says vanity call sign holders whose licenses 
expire on or after June 4, 2006, must file electronically or on paper 
via the Universal Licensing System (ULS) 
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> to renew their licenses. Amateur Radio 
renewal applications may only be filed within 90 days of the license 
expiration date.

"Licensees of stations assigned vanity call signs have the option of 
keeping the vanity call sign or requesting that it be changed to a 
sequentially assigned call sign," the WTB points out. Those opting to 
keep their vanity call signs for the new 10-year license term must 
pay the current regulatory fee, now $21.90, when renewing (the vanity 
call sign regulatory fee may change in August or September). If the 
licensee no longer wants to keep a vanity call sign, no fee is 
required, and the applicant should request a sequentially assigned 
call sign instead.

Amateur Radio licensees holding vanity call signs granted prior to 
1996 do not have to pay a regulatory fee when renewing. This is 
because Congress did not begin requiring the FCC to annually recover 
its regulatory costs until 1993. Additionally, such licensees are not 
specifically tagged as vanity call sign holders in the ULS.

To renew electronically via the ULS, licensees should log into ULS 
License Manager  <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> Online Filing (click 
on "Log In") using their FCC Registration Number (FRN) and Commission 
Registration System (CORES) password. Anyone doing business with the 
FCC must supply an FRN on any application.

To keep a vanity call sign, licensees should select "Renew" under the 
"Work on this License" option. Fees for electronically filed 
applications may be paid online or mailed to Federal Communications 
Commission, Regulatory Fees, PO Box 358835, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5835.

Online filers choosing not to renew a vanity call sign should select 
the "Systematic Call Sign Change" option from the "Work on this 
License" list.  To obtain a new call sign, licensees should answer 
"No" to the question "Your license is eligible for renewal. Renew 
call sign (vanity call sign)?"  Doing this will result in the 
issuance of a renewed license bearing a sequentially assigned call sign.

Licensees filing on paper must use FCC Form 605 (main form), and--if 
a fee is required--Form 159 (remittance advice). Licensees wishing to 
keep their vanity call signs should enter "Renew" under "Purpose" on 
Form 605 and enter the present call sign in item 5. Manual filers 
choosing not to renew their vanity call signs must file Form 605 
(main form) Schedule D in order to obtain a new systematic call sign. 
The "Purpose" on the main form must be   Renewal/Modification," and 
the "Systematic Call Sign Change" question on Schedule D must be 
answered "Yes."

If no FRN is provided on the main form, an FCC Form 160 
(registration) is also required for manual filing. All forms are 
available via the FCC Forms page <http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html>.

For more information on how to renew an Amateur Radio vanity call 
sign, visit the FCC Help & Support page 
<http://esupport.fcc.gov/index.htm> or call the ULS Customer Support 
Hotline, 877-480-3201 (TTY 717-338-2824).

The ARRL handles routine non-vanity renewals for members free of 
charge. At this time, it does not process renewal applications for 
post-1995 vanity call sign holders, but ARRL plans to add that 
capability in the near future.