Subj : Other Ham Radio News (1)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Sep 10 2019 10:53 am
FCC Proposes to Make All Universal Licensing System Filings Electronic
09/09/2019
The FCC is seeking comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that
is part of an overall plan to transition completely to electronic filing,
licenses, authorizations, and correspondence. The notice proposes to make
all filings to the Universal Licensing System (ULS) completely electronic,
expand electronic filing and correspondence elements for related systems,
and require applicants to provide an email address on the FCC Forms related
to these systems. Although much of the FCC's ULS filings are already
electronic, the changes suggested in the NPRM (in WT Docket No. 19-212)
would require all Amateur Radio Service applications to be filed
electronically. Under current rules, Amateur Radio applications may still
be filed manually, with the exception of those filed by Volunteer Examiner
Coordinators (VECs).
"Given the drastic changes that have occurred with regard to the ubiquity
of the internet and increased personal computer access, we find it unlikely
that electronic filing remains infeasible or cost-prohibitive for the
previously exempted types of filers, or that they lack resources to file
electronically," the FCC said in the NPRM, which was released on September
6. "We therefore propose to eliminate Section 1.913's exemptions to
mandatory electronic filing."
The FCC said that while the vast majority of ULS applications today are
submitted electronically, some are still manually filed, largely from
exempted filers, such as radio amateurs. Last year, the FCC received some
5,000 manually filed applications out of a total of some 425,000
applications. Among other aspects, the FCC is seeking comment on whether
its underlying assumptions about the ease of electronic filing for
previously exempted filers are valid.
This NPRM also seeks comment on additional rule changes that would further
expand the use of electronic filing and electronic service.
"Together, these proposals will facilitate the remaining steps to
transition these systems from paper to electronic, reducing regulatory
burdens and environmental waste, and making interaction with these systems
more accessible and efficient for those who rely on them," the FCC said.
Comments are due within 30 days of the NPRM's release.
***
As a side note, eventually ONLY a Federal Registration Number (FRN) will
be accepted at a ham radio license exam session. At that point, examinees
that have never had an amateur radio license, will be REQUIRED to obtain
an FRN *BEFORE* going to the exam session. The FRN, once granted, is the
individuals', FOR LIFE...even if their ham radio license lapses (expired
over 2 years).
Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
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