[OMIK] FCC Extends License Expiration

[Lloyd Mitchell KO4L]

Yes, and when ULS is back, Licensees may file..

Lloyd M. Mitchell (KO4L)
lmitchell at gmail.com

On Thu, Nov 20, 2025, 11:43 AM Ria Jairam <rjairam at gmail.com> wrote:

> The way I read this is that your license is extended if you file a renewal
> before March 5, 2026.
>
> So if your license is expired, put in your renewal and your license will
> be valid while the renewal is pending.
>
> Ria
> N2RJ
>
> On Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM Lloyd Mitchell KO4L via OMIK <
> omik at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
>> The National Association of Amateur Radio® reports that the FCC has
>> extended the filing deadline to March 5, 2026, for amateur radio licenses
>> that otherwise were due to expire from October 1, 2025, to March 5, 2026.
>> The announcement is included in an FCC Public Notice (DA-25-943) released
>> on Monday, November 17, 2025.
>>
>> The news follows the recent reopening of the federal government on
>> November
>> 13, following a lengthy 43-day shutdown. Since reopening, many federal
>> agencies, including the FCC, have resumed activities, though reducing
>> backlogs and rebounding to full operations may take some time. This
>> includes continued delays in filing amateur radio license applications.
>>
>> The FCC Public Notice includes:
>>
>> For personal radio licensees (i.e., Amateur, Ship, Aircraft, GMRS, and
>> Commercial Operator Licenses), renewal filings originally due on October
>> 1,
>> 2025, through and including March 5, 2026, are now due on March 5, 2026.
>> Further, we confirm that licensees whose licenses have expired and whose
>> renewal filing deadlines have been extended above may rely on their timely
>> renewal filing (by the extended deadline) to support continued operation
>> pursuant to section 1.62 of the Commission’s rules.
>>
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM,
>> explained that the announcement means that amateurs whose license expired,
>> or will expire, between October 1, 2025, and March 5, 2026, may continue
>> to
>> operate upon completing a license renewal filing by March 5, 2026.
>>
>> Somma added that the FCC ULS systems are available again, which include
>> the
>> license manger system, FCC license search, and application search
>> databases, as well as the CORES system. She noted, however, that
>> Electronic
>> Batch Filing (EBF) is not yet available.
>>
>>  “The EBF system is used by ARRL VEC and all VEC organizations to file
>> exam
>> sessions, individual applications, and club license applications,” said
>> Somma. “This means that applications for new and upgraded licenses, as
>> well
>> as individual and club license filings, are not being processed at this
>> time.”
>>
>> During the shutdown, the ARRL VEC urged its Volunteer Examiners to
>> continue
>> giving ham radio exam sessions (see important information below For ARRL
>> VEC exam candidates). “We have over 2,500 license applications ready to
>> file as soon as the EBF system becomes available and fully operational,”
>> added Somma. “ARRL VEC is prepared to submit the backlog of sessions and
>> applications to FCC for issuing licenses.”
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Lloyd M. Mitchell (KO4L)
>> OMIK Secretary
>> lmitchell at gmail.com
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>