FCC NPRM MD Docket No. 20-270 changing FCC fee structure, including Amateur Radio. $50 for new licenses and renewals and Vanity License Applications

[robertwbob]

I just laminate them cards, odd about not valid if laminated because my d.o.t. Medical card says not valid unless laminated. First year they required putting dot physical on license no laminate but required it. Now you take your
Dot physical its in a peelable laiminate kit.

 

[K9DWB]

Good thing big Bro. Gov't knows what it's doing. If it weren't for conflicting ideas or plans, they might not have any.

 

[robertwbob]

Good thing big Bro. Gov't knows what it's doing. If it weren't for conflicting ideas or plans, they might not have any.

yes i belive they wake up in a new world every day,and the right hand never communicates with the other hand,not saying partys either

 

[GearJammersc]

For 50 bucks they should go back to the old style paper they used to print out a license. Not note book paper.

 

[K9DWB]

I was thinking of printing mine on flash paper...

 

[alcahuete]

FCC Amateur Radio License Reference Copy Card : Ham Crazy!, Ham Radio Gifts and Fun Stuff Amateur Radio Operators!

Ham Crazy! FCC Amateur Radio License Reference Copy Card - Your Reference Copy - Our Printer! This convenient little card has your ACTUAL FCC License Reference Card! Its just like the one you would print at home - only printed on one of our card printers! Instead of printing and folding... we...

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A little spendy, but they do a good job.

 

[twotoejoe]

I find it difficult to believe that it costs anything near $50 for printing and mailing a paper copy of the license.

They don't print and mail a license now. It is emailed to you and you have to print it out.

I just got my ticket in July. I would have gladly paid the $50 for 10 years; at 66 now I'll be lucky to be alive in 10 years.

 

[robertwbob]

They don't print and mail a license now. It is emailed to you and you have to print it out.

I just got my ticket in July. I would have gladly paid the $50 for 10 years; at 66 now I'll be lucky to be alive in 10 years.

i took my email from fcc to local library,they downsized mine to the "just rite" size. Charged me a dollar left $5 n thanked the 2 women who were working.

Id bet now be hard to do with this virus,mot everthing is open in our town but the library as of last week

 

[kv5e]

If you can't afford one cheap lunch a year for your Part 97 operator license.....you do not value it.

If you want to play.....you have to pay.

 

[TailGator911]

I go to Office Max or Office Depot to get anything laminated. They will do that for a nominal fee in their copier/fax dept. I have my FCC license on a PVC credit card type thing I got online somewhere a couple of years ago. Better than laminate, IMO

 

[W5lz]

It used to be about $6 dollars in the '60s. I figure with inflation/economy/etc, $50 is certainly reasonable. I also figure that this hobby is worth it. If you don't, don't apply for a license. Simple!

 

[k6cpo]

It's not so much the younger adult hams that are just starting out in the hobby and have gainful employment that will have serious issues with the new fee, it's the senior hams on fixed incomes that already have the equipment and time to chat that the fee will really hurt and may force them out of the hobby. Also the youth hams that are really needed in the hobby to keep it alive that probably can pay the current 14 or 15 for the exam but not the new $50. This additional fee will scare them off quickly and will most likely never look back after finding other things to do with their time.

I look at it this way: I'm an Extra with a vanity call so the only time this would affect me is when I renew. If it goes into effect before December of 2021 (my next renewal) I'll pay it because it's possible it will be my last renewal. I'll be 85 the next time my renewal rolls around in 2031 (if I live that long.)

 

[K9DWB]

I'm checking next week with the VE I used before to see if they're testing this month. If so, I'm taking my General exam.

 

[wwhitby]

Considering the VE's do the work and put the entry in via computer, there's very little the FCC actually does.

And that's what sticks in my craw. Unlike other services, the FCC delegated testing and applications to the VECs. Now, they want to charge us $50, while nearly all the actual work is done by VE's and submitted to the FCC electronically.

 

[robertwbob]

And that's what sticks in my craw. Unlike other services, the FCC delegated testing and applications to the VECs. Now, they want to charge us $50, while nearly all the actual work is done by VE's and submitted to the FCC electronically.

well,you see it as i see it.
I belive we paid for fcc equipment via taxes

 

[ts1000]

I would oppose even 1$ fee for Amateur License.
My reasoning is the following:

This license is special. Federal government *incentivizes* citizens to get this license. Adding any non-zero fee sends a message that Federal Government no longer looks at the citizens obtaining this license, with encouragement.

Having citizens, trained communication in operations, especially in the time of natural disasters and war time -- has always being viewed as a strategic advantage.

For example,

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"...
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is an emergency radio service authorized in Part 97.407 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations governing amateur radio in the United States.[1]
.."

Federal legislation through the years, always had in mind, incentivizing the citizens to study, take exams and acquire the Amateur radio license.
In 1964, the FCC and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) developed a program known as "Incentive Licensing
Amateur radio licensing in the United States - Wikipedia

To summarize
This license is expressly non-commercial, requires a non-trivial examination, and historically the Government encouraged folks to study to get it, for the purposes of emergency response and civil defense.
Which is why it should not have a fee.

Certainly, a vanity call signs can have fees.
Also a small correction: GMRS license today is 70$ per 10 years, not 85 per 5 years.

As far as the fees, other personal radio services like GMRS have much higher fees- $85 for a 5 year license versus $50 for a 10 year isn't unreasonable when one puts it in perspective, and that fee has been in place for years.

 

[robertwbob]

Domain For Sale: southgatearc.org

And read this while we are asked for fees,the table gets turned around.
Makes me wonder if they are expecting trouble n want hams as we can communicate when its bad?
Just my theory n opinion

 

[russbrill]

It used to be about $6 dollars in the '60s. I figure with inflation/economy/etc, $50 is certainly reasonable. I also figure that this hobby is worth it. If you don't, don't apply for a license. Simple!

I don't have a problem with the $50 fee, it's reasonable...

 

[nd5y]

It looks like the FCC approved this.
The license fees for amateur radio and GMRS will be $35.

Amendment of the Schedule of Application Fees

Pursuant to the RAY BAUM'S Act, the Commission Amends the Schedule of Applications Fees

www.fcc.gov

Here is the Report and Order.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf

 

[Chronic]

Me thinks a side "benefit" from these fees could be to clean out some of these jokers that like to ride the fence of FCC rules. I'm sure that in the next 10 years, I can scrape the $50 to renew, so I'm staying in if/when this fee does apply.

Those people wont pay to renew and will just become pirates . Just think how bad there antics will be when there is no threat of losing there license