[OMIK] FCC Extends License Expiration

[Richard Bell]

Everyone, 

I just completed the process of submitting an application for renewal of my license which expires in January. The FCC servers seem to be rather slow in responding at this point (imagine that), so don’t be in a hurry to complete the task. 

73 W5BXE Richard 
(501) 258-5850 text/voice


> On Nov 20, 2025, at 2:16 PM, Ria Jairam via OMIK <omik at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> It’s back already. People have been filing with success.
> 
> They had problems accepting payments but I believe that has been resolved.
> 
> Ria
> N2RJ
> 
>> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM Lloyd Mitchell KO4L <lmitchell at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> 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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>>> 
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