april 19th it begins

[kb2idx]

new fees to start 4/19/22 !
sigh
de kb2idx

 

[drdispatch]

Yeah, I expire July 22, so they *just* got me!

 

[kb2idx]

I'm June. Can't remember how much it will cost.
was it $50

 

[drdispatch]

I'm June. Can't remember how much it will cost.
was it $50

It's $35.
You can renew up to 90 days prior to your expiration date.

 

[k6cpo]

Yeah, I expire in July, so they *just* got me!

You can renew up 90 days ahead of time. Depending on your renewal date, you might be able to get in under the wire.

I'm June. Can't remember how much it will cost.
was it $50

The FCC wanted $50 originally, but reduced it to $35.

 

[AK9R]

There are 226 posts discussing this fee at FCC NPRM MD Docket No. 20-270 changing FCC fee structure, including Amateur Radio. $50 for new licenses and renewals and Vanity License Applications

I'm going to keep this thread on a short leash.

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

So ..... today is the 20th.... did it all start ?
I have a bet going that the roll-out was not without clitches and confusion.


Lauri

 

[drdispatch]

So ..... today is the 20th.... did it all start ?
I have a bet going that the roll-out was not without clitches and confusion.


Lauri View attachment 120033

It's a federal government operation, Lauri. What could possibly go wrong??????

 

[mtindor]

They could have raised it to $200 / 10 years and I certainly would have paid for it. They should have required this new fee for all license modifications too, such as callsign changes -- in fact they should charge $200 for callsign changes.

Way too many people changing callsigns more than their underwear. 2x1 and 1x2 callsigns have all been gobbled up, more often by people outside of the call area of the callsign. What a fiasco.

I feel the leash choking me now

 

[nd5y]

I think the FCC should allow me to auction my 2x1 callsign and keep all or almost all the money.

 

[drdispatch]

They could have raised it to $200 / 10 years and I certainly would have paid for it. They should have required this new fee for all license modifications too, such as callsign changes -- in fact they should charge $200 for callsign changes.

Way too many people changing callsigns more than their underwear. 2x1 and 1x2 callsigns have all been gobbled up, more often by people outside of the call area of the callsign. What a fiasco.

You're not wrong....

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

Only $200 to change a callsign ? Why so cheap ? Lets make it market rates... ---> those that can, are those that get-
The pedestrians can just get by with 2 by 3 calls until they can cough up a couple hundred-- maybe thousands ?- for a vanity call.... and tie all renewal fees to whatever the bloody market will bear- no more of this free-loading poop.

I am being sarcastic in case some people don't appreciate my twisted sense of humour.

This 'fee' stuff is just one more tax - on an economy that is seeing rampant inflation that is the highest in +40 years. What was the justification for any fee for ham licenses ? For crying out loud !....VE's and VEC's do the heavy hauling for ham licenses gratis to the government.... the FCC just administers the data base ---on a general budget, already.

And what is this new fee going for you ask?...
Why, its going into general revenue---nothing to do with amateur radio.

I need a drink....................


Lauri



.

 

[6079smithw]

So ..... today is the 20th.... did it all start ?
I have a bet going that the roll-out was not without clitches and confusion.


Lauri View attachment 120033

Think: "Two-Car Funeral"... They can, and they will. (Actually, they probably have by now.)

 

[AK9R]

I have a bet going that the roll-out was not without clitches and confusion.

Confusion? Possibly for some. Glitches? Not in my experience.

I applied for a GMRS license yesterday afternoon. At the end of the application process, the FC ULS links you to the pay.gov site where you pay the application fee. They will accept bank transfer, credit card, checks, etc. I used an electronic payment method to pay my $35 and have my GMRS license this morning. No glitches.

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

It wasn't a gripe about the mechanism of paying for existing on-line "services" like license renewals. Goodness know the FCC has that down to a science. I should have clarified my rant by being more specific--- things like; What is the mechanism for an applicant without a license showing up at a test session with money in hand. Do they pay the VE's first ? I'll assume they have an FRN already. Who collects the money and how does the government get it ? Little details .....

This may seem like a tempest in a teapot- and in the over-all scheme of things its nothing. I do think the reasoning behind why the government needs theses taxes from innocent hams, 'fee's' which will go into the general budget and not for anything radio related should have been answered. I am sure this was run thru (cough) - The Office of Management and Budget and green-lighted - but I just spent two years in the belly of the beast (DC) and my view of the up-close workings leave me very jaded.

Anyway, having vented my spleen, I'll go fight other windmills now



Lauri




.

 

[AK9R]

Dear Ms. Windmill Fighter:

According to the ARRL VEC, the procedure is that the VE team does their normal paperwork which includes recording the applicant's email address. The paperwork gets sent to the VEC who prepares an upload for the FCC. The FCC will then email the successful applicant with a link to the site where they can pay the fee.

I assume the other VECs have provided similar instructions to their teams.

I'm not sure how this works if the applicant doesn't have an email address.

73 de AK9R

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

And I am sure it will run just like a fine Swiss watch !......

 

[marcotor]

Confusion? Possibly for some. Glitches? Not in my experience.

Shhhhhh! That doesn't fit here. This thread is obviously to complain about government, not seek real work examples. My renewal went without a hitch 2 weeks ago.

 

[w2xq]

If $35 is too much for a license renewal, put that in perspective of the amount of change one spends on amateur radio "stuff."

Or... three meals from a fast food restaurant... a bit more than a half tank of gasoline for your vehicle... part of one month's cell phone bill... a small percentage of your tax accountant's annual bill... seven toll charges for crossing most Interstate toll bridges... etc.

Who cares when the year-over-year consumer price index in March 2021 is running at an annual rate of 11%? Looked at your weekly grocery store food bill lately? $35?

Bah.

 

[ai8o]

snip.

I'm not sure how this works if the applicant doesn't have an email address.

73 de AK9R

Applicants are now required to submit an email address with their application for an FRN.
My FRN Email address is SPAM@xxxx.net

AI8O