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FCC Changes “Lockbox Bank” for Vanity Call Sign Payments
As of February 14, 2008, U.S. Bank has replaced Mellon Bank as the lockbox bank for all FCC programs (with the exception of auction-related payments). Applicants who manually file FCC paper applications via mail -- usually for new vanity call signs or for renewal of vanity call signs -- will need to send payments to U.S. Bank. Amateurs filing paper applications for a new Vanity Call Sign Applications need to submit FCC Payment Form 159 and the FCC Regulatory Fee < http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/vanityfee.html>, along with the FCC Form605 and FCC Form 605 Schedule D. After completing all required forms, mail them along with the payment to the address of the Commission's new lockbox bank: Federal Communications Commission, PO Box 979097, St Louis, MO 63197-9000. When submitting fees, payments or applications to the lockbox bank, filers should specifically reference the Government Lockbox number - 979097 -- on the 159 payment form. U.S. Bank will accept hand-delivered filings or courier deliveries at their office located at U.S. Bank, attn: FCC Government Lockbox Number 979097, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St Louis, MO 63101. According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, "The FCC has also established a 45-day transition period that began on February 14 to mitigate the transition's impact and to provide time to resolve any reconciliation and change-over discrepancies." The FCC strongly encourages the use of their electronic filing and payment options. Electronic payments can be submitted through their secure Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/fees/feefiler.html>. Electronic payments allow for faster processing of applications. Further info can be found on FCC Web Site <http://www.fcc.gov/fees/lockbox.html>.
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0215/
ARRL to Offer Award for 6 Meter Operations
Attention 6 meter operators — there’s a new award to work toward! The ARRL Board of Directors approved a new award honoring the late Fred Fish, W5FF, the only amateur who worked and confirmed all 488 grid squares in the 48 contiguous United States on 6 meters. The Fred Fish Memorial Award will be granted to any amateur who duplicates Fish’s accomplishment. Fish was a mainstay on the VHF+ bands for many years, having achieved Worked All States (WAS) on 6 meters through 432 MHz, as well as DXCC for 6 meters. He is widely regarded as a gentleman operator and one of the finest amateurs in the VHF+ community. ARRL Contest Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, will oversee this award. Kutzko, an avid VHF+ operator himself, said, “We hope the new award will increase 6 meter activity throughout the US and the world. We also hope it will lead to the activation of rare grid squares in the US by encouraging the native ham population of a rare grid square to give 6 meters a try, as well as through so-called ‘Grid DXpeditions.’ We actively call on the 6 meter community to help educate VHF+ newcomers to the fun that is available on 6 meters.” Complete details on the Fred Fish Memorial Award will be available soon.
European Reciprocal Licenses Now Limited to Advanced and Extra Class
The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has revised its table of equivalence between FCC amateur licenses and the CEPT license. Effective February 4, 2008, Recommendation T/R 61-01 (as amended) now grants full CEPT privileges only to those US citizens who hold an FCC-issued Amateur Extra or Advanced class license. This means that those US licensees who hold an FCC-issued General or Technician license are no longer eligible for full operating privileges in countries where CEPT-reciprocal operation had previously been permitted. US Novice class licensees have had no reciprocal operating privileges under the CEPT provisions. These changes are the result of a re-evaluation of US and CEPT license classes equivalence by the CEPT’s Radio Regulatory Working Group at its meeting January 29-February 1, 2008 in Basel, Switzerland. The Working Group deals with numerous areas of concern including Amateur Radio, and is responsible for applications from countries to participate in T/R 61-01, as well as other Amateur Radio related issues. “Changes in the US license structures and examinations often have ancillary implications beyond the immediate impact upon the US licensees,” said Dan Henderson, N1ND, ARRL Regulatory Information Manager. “While this CEPT change affects several classes of US licensees when they visit Europe and other CEPT signatory countries, it has no effect on their operating privileges at home.”
FCC Denies Petitions to Bring Back Morse Code Testing
In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MOO) released today, the FCC denied two petitions calling for General or Amateur Extra license applicants to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code. In December 2006, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O) in the “Morse code proceeding,” WT Docket 05-235, that eliminated Morse code testing as of February 23, 2007.
| March, 2008 | |
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