[FARC] Possible FCC Change

[Brian Rozelle]

I received an email from the Laurel VEC coordinator today and he asked that this be shared with all hams.



SB QST @ ARL $ARLB008
ARLB008 FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur Radio Licenses
 
ZCZC AG08
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 8  ARLB008
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 24, 2016
To all radio amateurs 
 
SB QST ARL ARLB008
ARLB008 FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur Radio Licenses
 
The FCC is seeking comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760 - available on the web at, http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60001333714) that asks the FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio licenses. Mark F. Krotz, N7MK, of Mesa, Arizona, filed his request with the FCC last November. He wants the FCC to revise Part 97.25 of its rules to indicate that Amateur Radio licenses are granted for the holder's lifetime, instead of for the current 10 year term. Krotz noted that the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) already is issued on a lifetime basis, and he maintained that not having to renew licenses would lighten the FCC's workload.
 
"It would be mutually beneficial for the FCC and Amateur Radio operators to update Part 97 to grant operator licenses for lifetime, Krotz said in his filing. "The FCC would benefit by reducing administrative costs."
 
In 2014 the FCC granted lifetime credit for examination elements 3 and 4, but applicants seeking relicensing under that provision still must pass examination element 2.
 
Individuals may submit comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) (http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=RM-11760).

73 
Brian
AB3RW