By: Kent Petty, KL5T, Chairman, Anchorage ARC VEC
Written: April 27, 2022
The FCC continues to struggle to successfully implement the new $35 amateur radio license fee assessment after nine days of trying.
Today, April 27, 2022, the FCC again requested that all Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) hold all license applications. In an e-mail sent to the VECs, the FCC advised, “We are currently experiencing technical issues with ULS EBF filings, we ask you refrain from submitting additional EBF files until the issues are resolved. We are urgently working to resolve the issues and will notify you when you can resume filing. Thank you for your cooperation.”
There appear to be a number of issues present. One of which is that applicants who have paid are not actually getting their callsigns issued. The issue is frustrating applicants and VECs alike. After more than two years of planning since the announcement made in the FCC Report and Order 20-184 on December 29, 2020, implementation of the fees on April 19, 2022, has unfortunately been more challenging than anyone anticipated.
We wait with bated breath for filing to resume and for callsigns to start flowing to new applicants from the FCC.
