This is an official ARRL Bulletin. Do you think this is a big deal? I really don’t….Dan
SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 FCC “Paperless” Amateur Radio License Policy Goes into Effect on February 17
Starting February 17, the FCC no longer will routinely issue paper license documents to Amateur Radio applicants and licensees. The Commission has maintained for some time now that the official Amateur Radio license authorization is the electronic record that exists in its Universal Licensing System (ULS), although the FCC has continued to print and mail hard copy licenses. In mid-December the FCC adopted final procedures to provide access to official electronic authorizations, as it had proposed in WT Docket 14-161 as part of its “process reform” initiatives.
Under the new procedures, licensees will access their current official authorization (“Active” status only) via the ULS License Manager. The FCC will continue to provide paper license documents to all licensees who notify the Commission that they prefer to receive one. Licensees also will be able to print out an official authorization – as well as an unofficial “reference copy” – from the ULS License Manager.
“We find this electronic process will improve efficiency by simplifying access to official authorizations in ULS, shortening the time period between grant of an application and access to the official authorization, and reducing regulatory costs,” the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) said. According to the WTB, the new procedures will save at least $304,000 a year, including the cost of staff resources.
In comments filed November 5, the ARRL had strongly recommended that the FCC “give serious consideration to continuing a default provision for sending an initial paper license document to new licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, along with detailed, simple instructions for how to make the elections set forth in the notice relative to future modified or renewed licenses.”
The FCC said that applicants or licensees who include a valid e-mail address under “Applicant Information” in the ULS will receive an official electronic authorization via e-mail. New license applicants who do not provide a FCC Registration Number at the examination point will receive a printed license as well as an FRN and a temporary password to access the Commission Registration System (CORES).
The ARRL and other Amateur Radio commenters also worried that unless a license document is printed on distinctive paper stock, its authenticity could be questioned in such situations as obtaining vanity call sign license plates. To address this, the FCC said the watermark “Official Copy” will be printed on each page of an official authorization that a licensee prints out from the ULS. The WTB recently stopped using distinctive paper stock to produce hard copy licenses and has been printing these on “standard, white recycled paper.” The Bureau noted that the distinctive paper stock it had used was six times more expensive than the plain recycled paper it now uses.
The ULS License Manager now includes settings that allow licensees to notify the WTB that they prefer to receive official authorizations on paper. Once the final procedures go into effect designating electronic access as the default, licensees can change the ULS License Manager setting so that the Bureau will print and mail a license document. Licensees also may contact FCC Support via the web, telephone or mail to request paper licenses.
The FCC rejected as “outside the scope of this proceeding” an ARRL argument that Section 97.23 of the Amateur Service rules be amended to replace “licensee mailing address” with other alternatives, including e-mail, for use in Commission correspondence. The rule, which requires that any licensee mailing address be in an area where the licensee has US Postal Service access, has precluded FCC issuance of location-specific call signs in such areas as Navassa Island (KP1) and some Pacific islands.
N6GMH says
Earlier this month I received approval for my application for a vanity call sign. When my new licence came earlier this week, it was simply printed out on a stand piece of printer paper. My past licenses had been slightly heavier stock and decorative. Honestly, no hard copy is better than what I received from the FCC this week.
KC9TNH says
Nice they left a paper option in there. I like to have one in my car because, in neighboring MN, they actually have a prohibition against scanners in vehicles – UNLESS you’re a licensed amateur. (I know it makes no sense because the license isn’t one to listen; just some nanny-state idiot got something passed, but nice to have a copy in the glovebox just in case.)
Dan KB6NU says
Well, as I understand it, the scanner laws are meant to protect people from “ambulance chasers,” or people who prey on accident victims. There is, or at least there used to be, a similar law here in Michigan. I think the intent was good. It’s hard to say.
Yohei, N8YQX says
You are correct, mobile scanning used to be illegal in Michigan, with the usual exceptions. My understanding is that it got overturned because too many racing fans got busted with their scanners, and they started complaining.
Whatever the intentions were, mobile scanner laws are rather silly today, since its perfectly legal to listen to the same content with your smart phone.
Bob, KG6AF says
Nope, not a big deal. I suspect we’ll have more currently-licensed folks showing up at our VE sessions without a paper license, but we’ve been dealing with that for quite a while, anyway.
By the way, the following statement is incorrect: “New license applicants who do not provide a FCC Registration Number at the examination point will receive a printed license as well as an FRN and a temporary password to access the Commission Registration System (CORES).” The part about the FRN and temporary password is accurate, but the FCC won’t be issuing a paper license to people in this situation. The ARRL has revised and reposted its announcement.
Yohei, N8YQX says
How would this affect upcoming VE sessions? Traditionally, I think the requirement was to bring the original license and a photocopy. Would this requirement still stand after 2/14?
Bob, KG6AF says
I can’t speak for all VECs, but the ARRL has allowed VEs to verify licenses with online call servers for years now. If we can’t verify someone’s current license, we have a way of letting the ARRL verify the license (it involves creating two certificates of completion).
Because VE groups have a fair amount of discretion in how they run sessions, it’s best to ask the group you want to test with for their license verification requirements beforehand.