[ETS/PARC List] FCC LOOKS TO RAISE VANITY CALL SIGN FEES FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

[Drew Moore]

==> FCC LOOKS TO RAISE VANITY CALL SIGN FEES FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR


The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule making and Order (NPRM) on May
14 seeking to raise fees for Amateur Radio vanity call signs
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-126A1.pdf>.
Currently, a vanity call sign costs $12.30 and is good for 10 years; the
new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $13.40 for 10
years, an increase of $1.10. 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
<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 $11.70 in 2007
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/08/31/105/> to a high of $70 (as
first proposed in the FCC's 1994 Report and Order). In 2007, the
Commission lowered the fee from $20.80 to $11.70. The FCC said it
anticipates some 15,000 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment units"
or applications during the next fiscal year, collecting $201,000 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 three 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 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
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> and clicking on the "New Users Register"
link. You must supply your Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.

The ARRL VEC <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/> will process license
renewals for vanity call sign holders for a modest fee. The service is
available to ARRL members and nonmembers, although League members pay
less. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be free for ARRL members.
Trustees of club stations with vanity call signs may renew either via
the ULS or through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator, such as ARRL
VEC.

League members should visit the "ARRL Member Instructions for License
Renewals or Changes" page
<http://www.arrl.org/fcc/memberlicenseinstructions.html>, while the
"Instructions for License Renewals or Changes" page covers general
renewal procedures for nonmembers
<http://www.arrl.org/fcc/licenseinstructions.html >. There is additional
information on the ARRL VEC's "FCC License Renewals and ARRL License
Expiration Notices" page <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/renewals.html>.

License application and renewal information and links to the required
forms are available on the ARRL Amateur Application Filing FAQ Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/application-filing-faq.htm
l>. The FCC's forms page also offers the required forms
<http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html>.