Subj : ARRL VEC Services Update During Systems Disruption
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Wed Oct 30 2024 03:30 pm

10/30/2024

Updated 10/30/2024

ARRL previously reported[1] that we are responding to a serious incident
involving access to our network and headquarters-based systems. Several
services have been affected, including those administered by the ARRL Volunteer
Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC).

Exam Registrations and Materials. ARRL Volunteer Examiners (VEs) should
continue to submit exam registrations and material requests. We are able to
post new or revised exam session dates and details to the website, we continue
to ship out exam materials. Please remember that most exam materials are
available on our website (www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves[2]).

Processing Applications to the FCC�and VE Session Counts Webpage. We are
processing Amateur Radio License applications to the FCC. This includes
applications for new and upgrade licenses, individual applications, and club
license applications. The VEC exam session upload webpage was not affected by
the incident. The VE session counts webpage data entry programming had been
unavailable since May 12th. It will be updated with new data as soon as we are
able.�That part of our program's systems became operational again mid-October.
However, there is a 5 to 6 month backlog of session and VE participation data
to enter into the system. It will take some time for the session counts page to
reflect the data correctly but will be updated as quickly as we are able. We
thank you in advance for your patience and understanding, as we work our way
through the backlog.

VE Accreditations, International Radio Permits and License Class Certificates.
As of mid-October, we are able to create Volunteer Examiner (VE) badges,
certificates, and stickers. New ARRL VE applications and accreditation renewals
are also being processed at this time.�International Amateur Radio Permits and
License Class Certificates are being created and shipped.

VE Newsletter VE-List Server. The VE Newsletter email program has been
unavailable since the security incident in May. New subscribers cannot be added
and existing information cannot be updated. Please check back in with us when
we have access to that program system.

2024 - 2028 Extra Class Exam Booklets. A previous version of this story
indicated that the ARRL VEC will supply its officially appointed, field-stocked
VE team leaders with the new Extra-class exam booklet designs around mid-June.
Due to ARRL's recent system disruption, the shipment was delayed. The exam
booklets were shipped out July 8 and should be have been delivered before
August 1. VE Teams may contact the ARRL VEC to receive instructions on how to
print new Extra exams in the interim. The newly revised pool must be used for
Extra-class license exams starting July 1, 2024. Exam designs based off the
previous pool are no longer valid. The outdated versions of the Extra exams
should be destroyed or thrown away to avoid a mix-up at the testing session.

ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program | FCC Application Fee Reimbursement
Information. ARRL is continuing to accept reimbursement forms[3] to cover the
one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years
of age for tests administered under the auspices of the ARRL VEC. Reimbursement
checks may take longer than normal to be processed at this time.

We appreciate your patience as ARRL continues to work on restoring access to
affected systems and services.

This story will be updated with new developments.


[1] http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-systems-service-disruption
[2] http://www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves
[3] https://www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program

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