[PPRAANet] QRZ, FCC and licenses

[Dennis N0ABC]

Glenn et al,

Although computers were around and used for very many of the tasks by 
the FCC back in the early '70s and before that even, it was the advent 
of the FCC Registration Number (FRN), in the late '90s and 2000 time 
frame, that allowed them to turn it into a realistic relational 
database. As they were converting records and attributing new, original 
FRNs, they did not worry about old, expired and cancelled licenses, and 
they figured on addressing any issues from any of those previous 
licenses on an as-needed basis.

As a for instance, when I look up my original call sign from 1995, 
KB0SXC, I see that it does not contain an FRN. My vanity call, N0ABC, 
was originally granted 01/07/1998. Sometime after that, probably closer 
to 2000, during probably many batch processes, I was assigned my FRN. 
When I decided to get a GMRS license, I simply used the same FRN. Now, 
if one searches for FCC licenses (of any type or flavor) via FRN, all 
under that FRN will show up in the results.

Yes, applying FRNs after the fact like that has caused quite a few 
anomalies in the ULS. There were insufficient checks to see if an entity 
already had an FRN before applying another new one. Since the early days 
of FRNs, they have certainly improved their checking! This was the case 
for PPRAA - the club has (at least) two FRNs. This is partly how/why we 
were trying to get the In Memoriam call sign of Doc, W0MCT, while 
keeping our other vanity call sign. They "caught" us trying to get a 
second vanity call and stopped it quickly. (I was also hoping that "In 
Memoriam" call signs would be considered different than standard vanity 
call signs.) (Now, QCWA Chapter 58 has W0MCT.)

There's a little history, from my albeit limited perspective.

73

Dennis
N0ABC

On 11/17/2020 10:16 AM, Glenn wrote:
> Sorry all! I thought I hit a gold mine but it turns out to be fools 
> gold! I thought it went
>
> way back but it only went back to 2000 or 2001. Evidently they didn't 
> take the time to enter
>
> everyone prior to those years. All I can say is I tried.
>
>   Evidently it would have taken a herculean task to enter all before 
> those dates, they'd probably be still
>
> typing as I type now. I guess around the 2000 mark computers made 
> their debut and a electronic form
>
> of filing/ saving was born.
>
>   Glenn n3ulw
>

-- 
73

Dennis Major, N0ABC
Laurel ARC VEC, Regional Coordinator #10 / Ø
(CO, IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD)
Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association VE Team Leader