FCC Clarifies Renewal Procedures for Vanity Call Sign Holders
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 3, 2006--With the renewal window about
to open for the first Amateur Radio licenses assigned vanity call signs in
1996, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has released a public
notice to clarify filing procedures. The WTB says vanity call sign holders
whose licenses expire on or after June 4, 2006, must use the Universal
Licensing System (ULS) to renew
their licenses. Any Amateur Radio renewal application may only be filed within
90 days of the license expiration date.
"Licensees of stations assigned vanity call signs
have the option of keeping the vanity call sign or requesting that it be
changed to a sequentially assigned call sign," the WTB points out. Those
opting to keep their vanity call signs for the new 10-year license term must
pay the current regulatory fee, now $21.90, when renewing (the vanity call sign
regulatory fee may change in August or September). If the licensee no longer
wants to keep a vanity call sign, no fee is required, and the applicant should
request that the FCC issue a sequentially assigned call sign instead.
While the
ARRL can handle routine non-vanity renewal applications for its members free of
charge, it cannot at this time process renewal applications for post-1995
vanity call sign holders.
|
|
Amateur Radio licensees holding vanity call signs granted
prior to 1996 do not have to pay a regulatory fee when renewing. This is
because Congress did not begin requiring the FCC to annually recover its regulatory
costs until 1993. Additionally, such licensees are not specifically tagged as
vanity call sign holders in the ULS.
To renew via the ULS, licensees should log into ULS License Manager Online Filing (click
on "Log In") using their FCC Registration Number (FRN) and Commission
Registration System (CORES) password. Anyone doing
business with the FCC must supply an FRN on any application.
Licensees wishing to keep a vanity call sign should select
"Renew" under the "Work on this License" option. Fees for electronically filed
applications may be paid online or mailed to Federal Communications Commission,
Regulatory Fees, PO Box 358835, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5835.
Online filers choosing not to renew a vanity call
sign should select the "Systematic Call Sign Change" option from the "Work on
this License" list. To obtain a new call sign, licensees should answer "No" to
the question "Your license is eligible for renewal. Renew call sign (vanity
call sign)?" Doing this will result in the issuance of a renewed license
bearing a sequentially assigned call sign.
Licensees who prefer to file on paper must use FCC Form 605 (main form), and--if
a fee is required--Form 159
(remittance advice). Licensees wishing to keep their vanity call signs should
enter "Renew" under "Purpose" on Form 605 and enter the present call sign in
item 5. Manual filers choosing not to renew their vanity call signs must
file Form 605 (main form) Schedule D in order to obtain a new systematic call
sign. The "Purpose" on the main form must be "Renewal/Modification," and the
"Systematic Call Sign Change" question on Schedule D must be answered "Yes."
If no FRN is provided on the main form, an FCC Form 160
(registration) is also required for manual filing. All forms are available via
the FCC Forms page.
For more information on how to renew an Amateur Radio vanity
call sign, visit the FCC Help & Support
page or call the ULS Customer Support Hotline, 877-480-3201 (TTY 717-338-2824).
Page last modified: 03:37 PM, 03 Mar 2006 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Previous: FCC Offers Deal to California Licensee to Avoid Enforcement Action, Fines
Next: Surfin': Mailbox Surprise
