ULS to Cores Transition Smooth: FCC

CHANGEOVER TO CORES REGISTRATION TO BE TRANSPARENT

When the FCC moves its Taxpayer Information Number/Social Security Number registration system for amateurs from the Universal Licensing System to the new FCC Commission Registration System, the changeover will be largely transparent to users.

Steve Linn of the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau says once the changeover is in effect, the CORES/FRN system will be linked from the ULS home page. In addition, those already registered in the ULS will--in most cases--still be able to use their ULS password to access CORES.

Amateurs will not have to start signing up in CORES until sometime next year, however, and those already registered in ULS won’t have to do a thing. For now, Linn says hams should simply stick with ULS "TIN/Call Sign" registration until CORES registration becomes mandatory.

"Don’t even worry about CORES," Linn said. "If you have a letter from CORES, hang onto it for your FCC Registration Number." The FCC recently sent letters to every licensee who was registered in the ULS as of June 22, 2000. The letter contains the individual’s new FCC Registration Number--or FRN--and a few words about CORES. Linn says the FCC has suspended mailing out CORES/FRN letters for now.

Described as an agency-wide registration system for anyone filing applications with or making payments to the FCC, CORES assigns registrants a unique 10-digit FCC Registration Number. The FCC says it will modify its licensing and filing systems--including ULS--over the next several months to accept and use the FRN. The FCC says use of the FRN will allow it to more rapidly verify fee payment.

Until CORES assumes the registration function, Linn encouraged hams to register in ULS, which will continue to house the FCC’s Amateur Service database even after CORES registration is implemented. Just when in 2001 that will happen Linn was not able to say. "There are a lot of factors involved," he said.

Individuals who register in CORES are not automatically registered in the ULS database (an individual does not have to be licensed to register in CORES). ULS TIN/Call Sign registration is eventually reflected in the CORES database, however, Linn confirmed.

The CORES on-line filing system and further information on CORES is available by visiting the FCC Web site and clicking on the CORES registration link.

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