[BCVHFA] ARLB009 FCC Seeks Higher Vanity Call Sign Fee

[Carl Morgan]

ZCZC AG09
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 9  ARLB009
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 7, 2012
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB009
ARLB009 FCC Seeks Higher Vanity Call Sign Fee

The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 4, 
seeking to raise the fee for Amateur Radio vanity call signs.  The 
NPRM can be found in PDF format on the web at, 
<http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0504/FCC-12-48A1.pdf>http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0504/FCC-12-48A1.pdf.

Currently, a vanity call sign costs $14.20 and is good for 10 years; 
the new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $15 for 10 
years, an increase of 80 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 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).  The FCC said it 
anticipates some 14,300 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment 
units," or applications, during the next fiscal year, collecting 
214,500 dollars 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 six years ago.

Those holding vanity call signs issued prior to 1993 are exempt from 
having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal, as 
Congress did not authorize the FCC to collect regulatory fees until 
1996. 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 web site 
at, 
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home>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.
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