[SFDXA] FCC Sets Amateur License Fee at $35

[Bill]

 From Tony N2MFT:


  FCC Sets Amateur License Fee at $35

December 30, 2020 by dan kb6nu <https://www.kb6nu.com/author/dan-kb6nu/> 
1 comment 
<https://www.kb6nu.com/fcc-sets-amateur-license-fee-at-35/#comments>
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<https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/fcc-wave.png>In Report 
and Order FCC 20-184 
<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf>, the FCC has 
set the amateur radio licensing fee at $35. It includes quite a bit of 
commentary on how it decided on that amount. In the R&O they noted, “We 
agree with commenters asserting this fee is too high to account for the 
minimal staff involvement in these applications and therefore adopt a 
reduced amount of $35 fee for all personal license application fees.”

They also addressed some other other concerns brought up by the nearly 
4,000 people who commented on the amateur radio license fee. For 
example, they write:

    Numerous commenters suggest that amateur radio licenses should be
    exempted or are exempt under section 8(d)(1) of the Act. We disagree
    and note as a starting point that the Commission has no authority to
    create an exemption where none presently exists. Thus, if an
    exemption exists, it must be contained within the wording of section
    8(d)(1) of the Act.61 None of the listed exemptions apply to exempt
    Amateur Radio Service licenses.

Basically, what they are saying is that since Congress did not 
specifically exempt amateur radio, they cannot do it on their own.

The FCC also disagreed with the argument that the Amateur Radio Service 
should be exempt from fees because amateur radio operators provide 
emergency and public communications:

[The argument] that amateur radio licenses should be exempt under 
section 8(d)(1)(B) as they are “operating for all intents and purposes 
as non-profit entities” because they provide public safety and special 
emergency radio services in times of crisis on a volunteer basis. While 
we are very much aware of these laudable and important services amateur 
radio licensees provide to the American public, we do not agree that 
amateur radio licenses fit within the section 8(d)(1)(B) exemption 
Congress provided. These specific exemptions do not apply to the amateur 
radio personal licenses. Emergency communications, for example, are 
voluntary and are not required by our rules. Further, there is no 
indication that most or all amateurs solely use their license for 
emergency communications; even the section of our rules allowing certain 
amateur operators to broadcast civil defense communications limit such 
authorization to periods of local, regional or national civil 
emergencies. As we have noted previously, “[w]hile the value of the 
amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial 
communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency 
communications, is one of the underlying principles of the amateur 
service, the amateur service is not an emergency radio service.

How’s that for a zinger?

They also addressed the argument that it will discourage younger people 
and others who may not be able to afford the fee from entering the  hobby:

    ARRL and many individual commenters additionally claim that the
    proposed fee will harm the public interest by discouraging people
    who are younger from becoming licensed or by causing people who are
    older and living on fixed income to leave the service (depriving
    others of their skills and experience). These commenters explain
    that participation in the amateur radio service can be an entry
    point to science, technology, engineering, and math careers. They
    also note that amateur licensees have driven innovation in
    communications and other technologies. While we agree that
    participation in the Amateur Radio Service offers important public
    interest benefits, that determination does not alter our obligation
    under RAY BAUM’s Act to adopt cost-based fees for processing
    applications regarding nonexempt service.

They also addressed the argument should this fee go into effect, the FCC 
should then use that money to provide better enforcement. They write:

    These commenters argue that if the Commission adopts application
    fees for the service, it should use the fees for the benefit of
    licensees, for example, by taking more robust enforcement actions
    against unlawful operators.88 While we appreciate the commenters’
    diligent advocacy for their service, we remind them that the
    Commission does not have discretion on how to use application fees,
    which must be deposited in the U.S. Treasury.

To address the arguments that the FCC’s hands are tied with respect to 
imposing the fees and how the fees are to be used, the ARRL is going to 
gear up its lobbying effort. The next time a bill like this is in the 
works, someone is going to have to be looking out for amateur radio and 
ensure that specific language gets put into the bill. Unfortunately, 
that’s how our system works when your interests are not very high on the 
priority list.

You can download the entire Report & Order by going to 
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf 
<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf>


      Related Posts:

 1. FCC proposes new fees for amateur radio licenses
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/fcc-proposes-new-fees-for-amateur-radio-licenses/>
 2. ARRL seeks waiver of proposed FCC amateur application fees
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/arrl-seeks-waiver-of-proposed-fcc-amateur-application-fees/>
 3. ARRL Bulletin: FCC releases Congressionally-mandated study on
    amateur radio
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/arrl-bulletin-fcc-releases-congressionally-mandated-study-on-amateur-radio/>
 4. 21 Things to Do: Join SkyWarn, ARES, or RACES
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/21-things-to-do-join-skywarn-ares-or-races/>

filed under: rules, regulations, enforcement 
<https://www.kb6nu.com/category/rules-and-regs/> tagged with: license 
fees <https://www.kb6nu.com/tag/license-fees/>


      Comments

 1.
    Jeff, KE9V <https://ke9v.net/> says
    December 30, 2020 at 5:10 pm
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/fcc-sets-amateur-license-fee-at-35/#comment-613651>

    That the FCC would begin charging fees for amateur radio licensing
    isn’t really surprising and I think we should be grateful that it
    was $35 instead of $50. I was much more surprised by this comment:
    “the amateur service is not an emergency radio service”

    Fact is, I’ve been saying that for a long time. But to see it
    plainly stated, without nuance, by the Federal Government is a bit
    jarring. It’s time to toss out all the nonsense about “when all else
    fails” or any notions of the amateur “service” providing emergency
    communications. As taxpayers we pay the salaries for those at the
    FCC and as licensees we now pay for those licenses. We don’t owe
    them anything and they owe us nothing.

    Out relationship with the government has become crystal clear. We
    don’t have one. We shouldn’t expect or request any “special”
    treatment going forward.

    73, Jeff KE9V

    Reply
    <https://www.kb6nu.com/fcc-sets-amateur-license-fee-at-35/#comment-613651>

https://www.kb6nu.com/fcc-sets-amateur-license-fee-at-35/ 
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