In Report and Order FCC 20-184, the FCC has set the amateur radio licensing fee at $35. It includes quite a bit of commentary on how it decided on that amount. In the R&O they noted, “We agree with commenters asserting this fee is too high to account for the minimal staff involvement in these applications and therefore adopt a reduced amount of $35 fee for all personal license application fees.”
They also addressed some other other concerns brought up by the nearly 4,000 people who commented on the amateur radio license fee. For example, they write:
Numerous commenters suggest that amateur radio licenses should be exempted or are exempt under section 8(d)(1) of the Act. We disagree and note as a starting point that the Commission has no authority to create an exemption where none presently exists. Thus, if an exemption exists, it must be contained within the wording of section 8(d)(1) of the Act.61 None of the listed exemptions apply to exempt Amateur Radio Service licenses.
Basically, what they are saying is that since Congress did not specifically exempt amateur radio, they cannot do it on their own.
The FCC also disagreed with the argument that the Amateur Radio Service should be exempt from fees because amateur radio operators provide emergency and public communications:
[The argument] that amateur radio licenses should be exempt under section 8(d)(1)(B) as they are “operating for all intents and purposes as non-profit entities” because they provide public safety and special emergency radio services in times of crisis on a volunteer basis. While we are very much aware of these laudable and important services amateur radio licensees provide to the American public, we do not agree that amateur radio licenses fit within the section 8(d)(1)(B) exemption Congress provided. These specific exemptions do not apply to the amateur radio personal licenses. Emergency communications, for example, are voluntary and are not required by our rules. Further, there is no indication that most or all amateurs solely use their license for emergency communications; even the section of our rules allowing certain amateur operators to broadcast civil defense communications limit such authorization to periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. As we have noted previously, “[w]hile the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications, is one of the underlying principles of the amateur service, the amateur service is not an emergency radio service.
How’s that for a zinger?
They also addressed the argument that it will discourage younger people and others who may not be able to afford the fee from entering the hobby:
ARRL and many individual commenters additionally claim that the proposed fee will harm the public interest by discouraging people who are younger from becoming licensed or by causing people who are older and living on fixed income to leave the service (depriving others of their skills and experience). These commenters explain that participation in the amateur radio service can be an entry point to science, technology, engineering, and math careers. They also note that amateur licensees have driven innovation in communications and other technologies. While we agree that participation in the Amateur Radio Service offers important public interest benefits, that determination does not alter our obligation under RAY BAUM’s Act to adopt cost-based fees for processing applications regarding nonexempt service.
They also addressed the argument should this fee go into effect, the FCC should then use that money to provide better enforcement. They write:
These commenters argue that if the Commission adopts application fees for the service, it should use the fees for the benefit of licensees, for example, by taking more robust enforcement actions against unlawful operators.88 While we appreciate the commenters’ diligent advocacy for their service, we remind them that the Commission does not have discretion on how to use application fees, which must be deposited in the U.S. Treasury.
To address the arguments that the FCC’s hands are tied with respect to imposing the fees and how the fees are to be used, the ARRL is going to gear up its lobbying effort. The next time a bill like this is in the works, someone is going to have to be looking out for amateur radio and ensure that specific language gets put into the bill. Unfortunately, that’s how our system works when your interests are not very high on the priority list.
The date on which the FCC will start charging the fee has not yet been set, but it will be announced at least 30 days in advance. The FCC needs time to develop the procedures detailing how and when the fees will be collected.
You can download the entire Report & Order by going to https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf
That the FCC would begin charging fees for amateur radio licensing isn’t really surprising and I think we should be grateful that it was $35 instead of $50. I was much more surprised by this comment: “the amateur service is not an emergency radio service”
Fact is, I’ve been saying that for a long time. But to see it plainly stated, without nuance, by the Federal Government is a bit jarring. It’s time to toss out all the nonsense about “when all else fails” or any notions of the amateur “service” providing emergency communications. As taxpayers we pay the salaries for those at the FCC and as licensees we now pay for those licenses. We don’t owe them anything and they owe us nothing.
Our relationship with the government has become crystal clear. We don’t have one. We shouldn’t expect or request any “special” treatment going forward.
73, Jeff KE9V
I agree, Jeff. Their callous, arrogant, heavy-handed response speaks volumes.
43. We adopt the proposal from the NPRM to assess no additional application fee for minor modifications or administrative updates, which also are highly automated. Also, consistent with our decision for site-based applications, we do not adopt a fee for amendments.
I think were in the clear for Upgrades at least.
Well .. just shows you what the governing government thinks of us .. So on that note.. better come and get me now because i Will not pay !! I have been a amateur radio operator since 1986.. over 34 years.. i was an outlaw then and will return to “That service” now.. i will get my RF fix and screw the government… KB2DNL
Mr. Peterson at FEMA, who heads AUXCOMM, said at last year’s INTEROP Conference in Traverse City, that RACES *is* on its way out and that AUXCOMM is it’s replacement. Our own Section EC Max Schneider KE8DON [SEC] confirmed this recently after one of our statewide ARPSC nets.
To be “qualified” within AUXCOMM does *not* require an Amateur Radio license, but it is preferred. AUXCOMM is basically governments way of attaining “warm bodies” to do ANY task that is needed. Case in point was the Dam breaks in the Midland/Saginaw area. Hams were NOT called out at all, however one of the county Emergency Coordinators volunteered as an AUXCOMM volunteer and proudly did a number of non-radio related tasks such as passing out ID cards, setting up a filing system, etc. At NO point in the 6 days that he was working under AUXCOMM did he ever touch a radio and provide communications.
The FCC is sadly accurate when they state that Amateur Radio is NOT an emergency radio service. Other than the Hams involved in Hurricanes in the southeast, and Wildfires in the west, Hams don’t provide very much in emergencies. And Hams no longer are at the cutting edge of technology providing new and exciting ways of communicating. Truth be told, we bastardize *other* existing commercial systems for our own uses, DMR is a good example of this.
I don’t look forward to renewing my license next year where I have to plop down a FEE for the first time, ever. As a kid that $35 would have been tough to come up with, but as a retiree I have no problem meeting the cost. But perhaps we CAN convince Congress to pass a law that the Amateur Radio Service should be free, but until we do, the fees will be paid!
— Jay Nugent WB8TKL
Assistant Section Manager for Digital Technologies
Assistant EC Washtenaw County
I will charge a $50 fee for any emergency communications. Since fees in the amateur radio service are prohibited, my station will refuse to transmit emergency communications.
One question that’s not been raised is why have a license?
Canada scrapped the license in 2000, it costs nothing to get an amateur callsign that is effectively valid for life.
What, if anything, is Canada missing out on by not having a license?
I’m not sure what you’re referring to. As far as I know, you still have to take a test and get an amateur radio license to transmit on the amateur radio bands.
I’m a firm believer in user pay systems. It costs money to process our licensing. $35.00 is not an unreasonable amount, especially since the license is good for 10 years. That amounts to a whopping $3.50 / year. My biggest concern is that the price will go up in an unreasonable amount of time, or that the duration of the license will be shortened.
These are my thoughts.
73 from KK4FQB
As one of my followers pointed out, $35 for a license that’s good for ten years is less than a penny a day.
So $35 isn’t much compared the $50 they originally proposed? That means if they had proposed $100 and brought it down to $70, that sounds reasonable? i Agree that $35 isn’t too bad. It’s the principle.
73
An amateur radio operator license should be a lifetime license, just like a pilot’s license. What’s magic about ten years?
They Cancel the license in 10 years when the Families of Silent Keys don’t report the deaths. gets the calls off the books.
Maybe all Ares and races members should not help next time there’s an emergency since we aren’t an emergency radio service. No more helping ema which rely on our trained individuals. We volunteer our time, money, equipment, etc and now we must pay? No thanks
$35 as a processing fee seems OK. Congress *did* pass a law that said they have to do this, after all. Also the FCC listened and dropped it down from $50. I just hope this doesn’t turn into an ever-ratcheting-higher scheme. Probably though, we’ll be ignored and things will motor along at $35 for decades.
I live in Alexandria VA and Las Vegas, NV. I’ve been a licensed HAM since 1957. (Old Fart)
Before COVID I would send ever other month in Alexandria, VA. I’ve lobbied for the “The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2017 on the “Hill” when in town. Senate Bill: S-1534. Unfortunately it never made it to the floor. Held up in committee by the Senator from Florida. Since voted out! I think the ARRL (I’m a life member) should pursue getting us special dispensation for Amateur Radio through Congress. Scott Hartman
In Canada an Exam Certificate is still needed but there’s no license and hence no license fee, although you can if you wish pay extra for a Vanity call sign. Other countries do similar, it’s a different approach to regulation which has lower administration costs
Yes, but it’s just a matter of semantics. You can’t get on the air in Canada if you only have an Amateur Radio Operator Certificate. Once you’ve obtained the certificate, you still have to apply for a call sign, which is issued by Industry Canada, the government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications. Here in the U.S., the volunteer examiners submit the names and addresses of those who passed the test, and the FCC issues licenses, on which are the assigned call signs.
I remember about a year ago there was mentioned a lifetime License for Amateur Radio
operators. What ever happened to that proposal? If that was brought into effect the
$35 fee becomes reasonable. By making the license lifetime the need for administrative
duties by the FCC is removed after the $35 fee is paid and they provide the operator call
sign to the operator. Since Hams police the band themselves, again the FCC only need to
nothing except look for people breaking the law which is what they already get paid for.
A Lifetime license is the approach the UK took in 2006 although in our case the license is free.
Our rural club has made significant expenditures to comply with NWS requirements for linking our repeater and conducting ARES nets regularly. My wife has had her weather reports picked up by the NWS for public broadcasts during several tornado events that occurred very near our property. How is this not considered emergency services when the NWS relies on spotters to keep the public safe? Maybe I’m just hurt that the government sees such little value in our contributions. I didn’t even touch on the communication services we provide for parades, marathons etc…
Plenty of arguments for and against this but the bottom line is that adding a fee to anything is a barrier to entry. It will inevitably lead to fewer licensed operators. Amateur radio death spiral continues…
We’re hardly in a death spiral.
Say that again in 11 years when the license numbers show 100K or less vs the 800K now. of course by them commercial groups will have gobbled up the bands VHF and above.
And you will still be dealing with jammers, music players and other idiots, only now you will have to pay to deal with them. cause you will still have NO enforcement. ain’t that just great? Not me, not going to pay, when I am up for renewal in 2027 ill just pirate. hell since a jammer can be a problem for 15 years while the FCC had all the info on the jammer for over a decade and nothing happen, I might as well just be a pirate it just ain’t worth paying.
If I became a pirate, I would probably get caught..
I don’t know what is going on, but I just filed an application to renew my amateur radio license. Application was approved. And they never asked me to pay any fees. My current license status is approved, and I am good for another 10 years. I did not pay any fees. In fact the following link say “No fee charged”. Is that right?
https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/common-amateur-filing-tasks/common-amateur-filing-task-renewing-license
73! NN1I
That’s correct. They haven’t started charging the fee just yet.
800k x $35 = $28,000,000 generated in (lets be honest) new taxes. The $35 fee amounts to a new revenue generation where none existed before. It isn’t about regulation or cost recuperation it’s about sucking every penny out of the American people they can.
Just renewed my amateur radio vanity license for another ten years. Cost me nothing, no fee.
The fee is going into effect on April 19. If you can renew before then, you can avoid paying the new fee.