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GMRS License Now Free?

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csuh13

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So, I've been wanting to get my GMRS ticket for a while now. I decided to wait until today, so it would be the lower $65 price. Well, I just went into ULS and did it and it didn't charge me anything! Did the fee drop to zero, or is this a leftover snafu from the FCC IT upgrade?
 

wa1nic

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I saw elsewhere that at least two people were able to apply for free as well. Dunno if this is a glitch or permanent. Sadly, mine isn't up for renewal yet (I tried, it would not let me).
 

zikada

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I was able to submit my ZA application without any charge/fee as well.

This is quite the surprise... :D
 

grem467

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I wonder if they will actually get issued or if they will get set aside or denied.

So far they have just allowed the application. It will be interesting to see if anyone actually gets issued the license.
 

gatekeep

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I wonder if they will actually get issued or if they will get set aside or denied.

So far they have just allowed the application. It will be interesting to see if anyone actually gets issued the license.

I doubt they will grant the applications (and if they do I somehow think they'll probably revoke them and notify the licensee that they need to reapply?). This seems like a glitch; would require another act of congress to remove the registration fee, just like they needed one to drop the regulatory fee, no?

There is no info on the FCC's site about this specifically; has anyone heard anything from an official?
 

Mrthor3232

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How long dose the license take to get approved then or when will I epext to get something?
 

zikada

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Also seeing how their system has just only come back online after a major server migration I would think it's safe to assume that the application approval process will take some time. Especially if they're being flooded with free applications for the ZA license.
 

zikada

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Here is a link to the PDF from the FCC and the fees:
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-59A1.pdf

That document says one thing about GMRS...

"We also remove amateur radio Vanity Call Signs and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) from the regulatory fee schedule. ^5"

"(5) We sought comment on eliminating these categories in our FY 2014 NPRM. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2014, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order, MD Docket No. 14 - 92, 29 FCC Rcd 6417, 6428 - 29, para. 32 (2014) (FY 2014 NPRM)."

It makes no mention of actual fee costs.
 

KevinC

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I wonder if they will actually get issued or if they will get set aside or denied.

So far they have just allowed the application. It will be interesting to see if anyone actually gets issued the license.

I'm leaning towards denied...time will tell.
 

KG7LER

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That document says one thing about GMRS...

"We also remove amateur radio Vanity Call Signs and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) from the regulatory fee schedule. ^5"

"(5) We sought comment on eliminating these categories in our FY 2014 NPRM. Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2014, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Order, MD Docket No. 14 - 92, 29 FCC Rcd 6417, 6428 - 29, para. 32 (2014) (FY 2014 NPRM)."

It makes no mention of actual fee costs.

22. The Commission will therefore eliminate the GMRS and Vanity Call Sign regulatory fee
categories after the required congressional notification is provided.
61
Once eliminated, these licensees
will no longer be financially burdened with such payments and the Commission will no longer incur these
administrative costs that exceed the fee payments. The revenue that the Commission would otherwise
collect from these regulatory fee categories will be proportionally assessed on other wireless fee
categories. This is a “permitted amendment” as defined in section 9(b)(3) of the Act, which, pursuant to
section 9(b)(4)(B, must be submitted to Congress at least 90 days before it becomes effective.62
 

grem467

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Interestingly enough, we just did a new itinerant license for a customer and were charged the normal fee.
 
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