What do you think? Should amateur radio licenses be granted for life? I’m against it for several reasons, one of them being inactive hams and SKs may never be removed from the database, thus skewing the numbers. If anything, I think that the term should be reduced to five years, especially now that there is no cost for a license and renewal is quick and easy online…..Dan
ZCZC AG08
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 8 ARLB008
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 24, 2016
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB008
ARLB008 FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur
Radio Licenses
The FCC is seeking comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760 – available on the web at, http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=60001333714 ) that asks the FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio licenses. Mark F. Krotz, N7MK, of Mesa, Arizona, filed his request with the FCC last November. He wants the FCC to revise Part 97.25 of its rules to indicate that Amateur Radio licenses are granted for the holder’s lifetime, instead of for the current 10 year term. Krotz noted that the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL) already is issued on a lifetime basis, and he maintained that not having to renew licenses would lighten the FCC’s workload.
“It would be mutually beneficial for the FCC and Amateur Radio operators to update Part 97 to grant operator licenses for lifetime, Krotz said in his filing. “The FCC would benefit by reducing administrative costs.”
In 2014 the FCC granted lifetime credit for examination elements 3 and 4, but applicants seeking relicensing under that provision still must pass examination element 2.
Individuals may submit comments via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
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Yohei N8YQX says
I agree with you that without some renewal process, we’ll run out of callsigns, especially 1×2 and 2×1. However, I don’t think the ability to renew one’s license on routine basis has any bearing on one’s ability to operate properly.
So, I think the license should be valid for lifetime, but the callsign should require routine renewal. If the callsign lapses, the ham should be allowed to apply for another callsign (or his old callsign under the vanity system) without any additional testing.
Dan KB6NU says
In essence, that’s the way it works now. If someone let their license expire, all they need to do is to take the Tech test to recoup their license, even if they were an Extra Class licensee before. That should be easy enough to do.
Yohei, N8YQX says
Right, but having the candidate take the Tech test seems arbitrary. I think expired licensees should be allowed to just log into ULS, and request a new callsign. If we want to reduce waste, let’s really get rid of waste.
Todd KD0TLS says
Renewal is done online. A paper licence isn’t created nor mailed unless requested. I fail to see the onerous “burden” on the FCC. The record needs to be maintained either way, whether a licence lapses or is granted for life.
I see this as a dishonest way to prop up the numbers at a time when expirations are starting to take a noticeable bite out of growth. Make it five years, and maybe some of the self-delusion, spin, and arrogance will fade when we see the real situation.
Dan KB6NU says
Maybe someone should write a counter-proposal.
The petitioner does point out that FCC does now grant lifetime commercial radiotelephone licenses and the FAA grants lifetime pilot licenses. There aren’t any callsigns associated with those licenses, however.
Dan KB6NU says
I just did a quick scan of the comments already posted to the FCC website, and the majority support lifetime licensing. If you oppose it, you might want to make sure and file your comment soon.
John Murphy says
Dan, I agree with you to a point. I’m against itas well for several reasons, as you said, one of them being inactive hams as well as deceased licensee’s may never be removed from the database, thus skewing the numbers.
If anything, I think that the term should be reduced to five (5) years for Technician class licensee’s, ten (10) years for General class licensees, and lifetime licenses issued to Extra class licensees. Once a licensee has reached the Extra class level, they are pretty serious about being in the amateur service and should not be burdened with renewal at all. Once at the Extra class level, it should be required of an Extra class licensee to maintain some sort of contact with the Bureau in order to prove that he is not deceased and to satisfy the necessity of culling out those who have become inactive for some reason or deceased.
Paul Morse says
Paul Morse KC9MTK
I think it needs to be left alone. It works well as is. Why re-invent the wheel? If you want to change something make fishing licenses lifetime and marriage licenses renewable every year. Now that is a change I could get behind!
Scott Sauvageot, K3IVN says
Changing the current licensing structure to make Amateur Radio licenses permanent without having a process to reclaim call-signs would prevent future generations from being able to obtain 1×2 or 2×1 call signs. My wife and I have our General tickets and are slowly working toward Extra. I’d hate to think that when the time came, it would be even more difficult to get one of the coveted short call-signs than it is now.
If Amateur licenses are made permanent, there needs to be a process to recapture call-signs from Hams who have passed away or left the hobby. Perhaps the licenses can be permanent, but call-signs would need to be confirmed every five years. Since everything is now online, and we’re all using FRN’s as our unique identifier with the FCC, our license privileges could be independent of the call-sign.