Government entities using expired licenses: How I became a pseudo-detective

[celestis]

If they did you could quickly become a billionaire with 11 meters.

Back in the 90s if you had solid proof someone wasn’t using a frequency you could snitch on the incumbent licensee and get it (the “Finders’ Preference”)

 

[ecps92]

No, but you could make a fortune, licensing it and then selling it back to them

The following two points are what this post revolves around:

• Frequency: 416.9 mhz.
• Callsigns: WNYN376, KNFT47Z, KNFT477

I just found this interesting and thought I would share. Does the FCC give out rewards for being a snitch?

 

[902]

We do that at work with anything that requires renewal. Or at least a group e-mail list.

Just on a whim, and because I've been profoundly bored, I went searching for a license that's been active since 1956 for one of the old volunteer fire departments I was with prior to moving to the Midwest. Whomever took over the system since the former communications superintendent retired allowed it to expire! It was cancelled 17 days ago!

I made several heads-up notifications to some of the members I knew were still active so they could push the responsible party to act, but I doubt the Commission will resurrect the license at this point.


So, as of right now, "technically" they are not licensed to activate the alerting receivers for their volunteers. They'll probably end up with an STA sometime tomorrow, but who knows if they'll get that Kxx123 call sign back, or get some lovely tongue-twister for their announcement scripts.

 

[mmckenna]

So, as of right now, "technically" they are not licensed to activate the alerting receivers for their volunteers. They'll probably end up with an STA sometime tomorrow, but who knows if they'll get that Kxx123 call sign back, or get some lovely tongue-twister for their announcement scripts.

Our office that handles FCC licensing for some of our stuff missed my trunked system many years ago. I alerted them, they contacted the FCC and we got it all resolved in a few days and kept the same call sign.

If I recall correctly, there is a certain amount of grace period where you can keep the same call sign/setup if you renew. I want to say it's one year, but I could be wrong.

 

[celestis]

Our office that handles FCC licensing for some of our stuff missed my trunked system many years ago. I alerted them, they contacted the FCC and we got it all resolved in a few days and kept the same call sign.

If I recall correctly, there is a certain amount of grace period where you can keep the same call sign/setup if you renew. I want to say it's one year, but I could be wrong.

Up to 30 days after expiry they’re forgiving in waiving the rules

Past 30 days you have to suck it up, recoordinate and accept a new callsign

 

[902]

Up to 30 days after expiry they’re forgiving in waiving the rules

Past 30 days you have to suck it up, recoordinate and accept a new callsign

This was past expiration and a couple of weeks past cancelled. (This is why IT people shouldn't play with radios...)

We'll see what happens. I don't think someone will have a drama-free Monday morning, though.

 

[celestis]

This was past expiration and a couple of weeks past cancelled. (This is why IT people shouldn't play with radios...)

We'll see what happens. I don't think someone will have a drama-free Monday morning, though.

In 2019 I ratted on my old school district for operating on a license that expired in 2015, they immediately filed a late RO application that was tossed out, didn’t bother asking for an STA and only relicensed their system (thankfully for them they didn’t need different frequencies) in 2022

 

[902]

In 2019 I ratted on my old school district for operating on a license that expired in 2015, they immediately filed a late RO application that was tossed out, didn’t bother asking for an STA and only relicensed their system (thankfully for them they didn’t need different frequencies) in 2022

They're solidly entrenched on the frequencies they use, but to my knowledge, the original license goes back to 1956 (or more) and the first use of FM radio for the agency. The two proponents who were alive when I was much younger must be spinning right now. Worse are the 'spatchers who are going to have to learn a new call sign and stumble over it just because an IT man had no clue about managing a radio system.

 

[wa8pyr]

Worse are the 'spatchers who are going to have to learn a new call sign and stumble over it just because an IT man had no clue about managing a radio system.

In many cases you can't even lay the blame on the IT guys. They just had the radio system stuff handed to them by a clueless municipal administrator who saw an opportunity to "rationalize" things.

 

[chrismol1]

It happens. I've seen more than a few times for county radio systems you'd think have responsible individuals. New guy or whatever happens. Suddenly "please renew this lapsed license we accidentally forgot". I suppose they don't go online to FCC and audit the entire counties licenses by name or FRN to see what they've got. I seen a few over the years upcoming to reach expired then the begging letter. Now for business? Naw, they're expired for a decade or more and still using. I always click License Type: ALL including expired when searching because businesses often license once and then...thats it forever