FCC - Changes Afoot

[KE5MC]

GMRS is in the news the last couple of weeks and got me to thinking about license application.

1. FCC doing database updates today.

2. My FRN # as username got me in to make and complete application.

3. Next they jumped me to payment page. FRN # 'no workie'

4. I needed to create new account. They want valid email address along with other info.

5. Logged in with new account. Up front they tell you to link your FRN to this new account.

6 I got to the payment page for the $35 pound of flesh for GMRS.

I'm not sure if going from application completed to payment was perfect time for FRN # to work for the last time.

As always YMMV when working with the FCC 'mothership'.

Mike

 

[K2RNI]

I haven't seen anything in news about GMRS.

 

[mmckenna]

I haven't seen anything in news about GMRS.

No, not the 'news', but a big dustup here:

FCC Notice of Violation for NGGMRS’s linked repeater system

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-821A1.pdf

forums.radioreference.com

 

[GlobalNorth]

The FCC is just being the FCC.

 

[ecps92]

GMRS is in the news the last couple of weeks and got me to thinking about license application.

1. FCC doing database updates today.

2. My FRN # as username got me in to make and complete application.

3. Next they jumped me to payment page. FRN # 'no workie'

4. I needed to create new account. They want valid email address along with other info.

5. Logged in with new account. Up front they tell you to link your FRN to this new account.

6 I got to the payment page for the $35 pound of flesh for GMRS.

I'm not sure if going from application completed to payment was perfect time for FRN # to work for the last time.

As always YMMV when working with the FCC 'mothership'.

Mike

Yes, you need both an FRN account and a CORES account - nothing new

 

[KE5MC]

Yes, you need both an FRN account and a CORES account - nothing new

For those working for a living in/with the RF Communication community likely "nothing new" for them. Years back when I got my ham license all I had was a FRN login. Vanity callsign update which I think was 3rd party done and two renews I did and not sure if the last one a few years back required fee payment. All access was with FRN until the end of the GMRS application last week when it was "green light". I think a hot button was displayed to take me to payment which likely was the trip to the CORES system. At that point it was username by email and I successfully created account and made the payment.

Verified payment and linked my FRN to this new username email account. Today checked back only finding/using the CORES username email account login. Navigating around I see my FRN, but unable to get to the details like I have in the past. System popup said, " I don't have permission/authority to edit" or words to that effect. I suspect the FCC update has not sorted out all the linking or I missed a step and don't realize it. Also the data I could edit not directly related to my FRN was the original street address for my original ham license. That address had been changed 10 years ago when I moved and was checked during subsequent renewals.

Nothing new for some... Played out very different than past access and not seeing what I expected. I'll give it a week or two if overnight process on their end changes anything. Maybe someone else will post something I missed or an email/phone call to the 'mothership' will get this corrected.

For those of us at the bottom of the FCC agency database I thought this might be useful. If you have checked your ham license data a couple of years back try it now and report back.

 

[KE5MC]

Closing this thread out... Hats off to those that have to work with ULS & CORES and FCC in general.

One problem was my PASSWORD manager truncates the URL saved with the UserName/PW for ULS & CORES. Work around is to copy/save the entry login URL in the notes field of the appropriate record. My memory not what it use to be...

Another issue is recognizing the ULS & CORES has some crossover information, but very unique functions.

Lastly a small lack of patience and an expectation that it should work this way (my way) and the world is coming to an end if it doesn't. 😬

Looking at my history I see my renewal for the ham license likely did not require a fee so access to CORES not needed at that time. The GMRS application and fee dragged me into the CORES account I don't expect.

All ending well, with radio station authorization and printed Official Copy of license (WSNZ968). About as catchy as my original ham callsign of KE5VYU.