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N6TGK Renews His License
Stephen Mitchell (N6TGK)
on
March 17, 2004
View comments about this article!
My license expires on March 15, 2004. When a notice came from the ARRL reminding me of this fact and notifying me of the option to renew my license at no charge as a member, I jumped at it. On December 18th I went to the ARRL's web-site and went through the process to renew.
Having recently moved to Florida, I decided to request a new callsign. Because of the holidays, I didn't expect much action to be taken and this turned out to be the case. Finally, on Tuesday, January 6th, the FCC web-site showed they had received the application. Having been through the process before, I expected everything do be done by the end of the week. Not even close. I checked the application status everyday and it took just over a week for the FCC to process the application…just to renew it! They still hadn't issued a new callsign.
So I finally broke down and called the FCC around January 23rd to find out what was going on. I was told that the issue would be investigated and that someone from the FCC would call me back once it was resolved. On Thursday, January 29th, I got a call from the FCC stating the issue had been resolved and I had been issued the new call AI4DY. I wasn't sure if I liked the sound of it or not, but the FCC wasn't done yet. I got the new license in the mail on February 3rd, with an expiration date of March 15th, 2024. But I didn't think anything of it until I got a certified letter dated February 7th advising me that my renewal had been cancelled because of an error on the FCC's behalf that issued me a twenty year term license instead of the required ten year term. No big deal, I thought, a new license will be in the mail within the week.
It is now February 26th and my application STILL shows pending. I called the FCC to inquire about it and they had to do another investigation as to why it wasn't handled. To my surprise they called me back within two hours. I was told that because of all the screw ups in the past, they were going to process my application manually. However, the person that does the processing is out of the office and won't be back until Monday. At the rate I'm going my license will be expired before I ever get it renewed! No wonder the FCC gives you a 90 day window for renewal…but it sounds like they should change it to 120.
This article has expired. No more comments may be added.
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by K5DVW on March 17, 2004
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Wow, that sounds like a mess. Maybe things are hectic at the FCC these days, or you're one of those unfortunate isolated special cases. I've moved all over the country in the past 15 years and changed call signs a couple of times and never had a problem. I've usually gone directly to the FCC website to do my changes and never through a third party. Not sure if that makes a difference.
I guess the interesting question is what call sign should you use now? Your old one which is expired, or the new one that was issued in error? Yuck!
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by K0BG on March 17, 2004
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I don't need to renew for several years, but I can say this. In the last 18 months, I've had reason to call the FCC several times and have found their personnel both professional and helpful. When they needed to call me back, they did.
Now if I could just get Riley to return my e-mail about www.davemade.com, I'd be delighted.
Alan, KØBG
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by KB3KKT on March 17, 2004
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Just went through a number of changes on my license upgrade and callsign change to vanity. I had no problems what so ever the system worked well for me. I did it all through the fcc system myself and I wonder if that isn't the best way to proceed with the FCC. I know that Vanityhq.com is the way to go if you want a vanity call there advise and database are the best avalible and made the process very easy.
As a note the fcc site is pretty easy to use. I'm no computer guru and it was pretty easy to fillout the form and pay the fee on line.
Hope you get this all worked out as I can imagine it could be stressful worrying about your callsign.
73
Lynn
N3YE
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by N6TGK on March 17, 2004
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Update: I wrote this article way back in February. The FCC has since come through with a new license.. AI4EG. I'm not sure if I like it..I thought about a vanity call but that could take a long time.
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by N6TGK on March 17, 2004
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Oh, and each time I had to call the FCC they were professional and helpful. This article by no means was meant to be a slam against the FCC. I just thought I would share a humorous experience.
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by KC8VWM on March 17, 2004
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Interesting story...
However, It is not the first of it's kind for public administration agencies.
It would seem that the economy is affecting all governmental and public service agencies lately.
Restructuring, layoffs, and people doing the same amount of work with less staff seems to be the way of doing things at these places lately.
Of course, while the lights at these places might remain in the ON position, this does have an adverse effect on how things are handled at the administrative level.
Simply put, you can't expect to downsize a public service and still expect to recieve the same level of administrative efficiency for the general public.
This is apparent even if you are paying the same amount of tax dollars for these same services as previous years.
With all the clerical and other related administrative errors this presents for public service agencies - It might be less costly to taxpayers in the long run to simply leave the system working as it has worked in the past.
73
Charles - KC8VWM
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by WA8QNN on March 18, 2004
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And just think, these guys are going to be riding herd on BPL. Happy days are here again.
Larry
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by KE2IV on March 18, 2004
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THIS IS B.S. IN ALL ITS GLORY! IF THIS GUY HAD PROBLEMS RENEWING IT'S BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE HE'S NOT TELLING US!
My license also came up for renewal last year.
As a League member I received a notice from them with the requisite paper work and simple instuctions on what to do.
I followed same and had my renewal within TWO (yes 2) weeks!!!
If this guy has been "hung up" perhaps there is another reason?
Ah yes, the eHam site. Where it's easy to bitch about everyone else when, in fact, it is YOU yourself who is the problem.
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by AD5GX on March 18, 2004
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When I upgraded from Tech Plus to General things almost got interesting.
Somewhere, a hiccup in the system resulted in my being awarded an upgrade to Extra instead of General!
Fortunately, I had passed the Extra exam a week after passing the General exam. Because of this, the FCC let the "error" go.
It sounded like it would have been a bit of a hassle otherwise. (Also I like my callsign! I didn't want to get a different one.)
73!
Matt
AD5GX
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by K8LEA on March 18, 2004
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Don't you just love bureaucracies?
My guess is that Stephen's call sign change _plus_ renewal mucked up the ritual, but I'm still not sure they're entirely up to snuff there yet.
I'm going to do a Tech+ upgrade to General as soon as I can nail a VE's shoes to the floor - that could get interesting.... But, it occurs to me that there's little reason the FCC's computer couldn't handle this by itself - just send a new license to anybody who's stilll alive. They claim they don't know who had a license way back when, but those tapes that they sold to the callbook people should be _someplace_. 'Course, the only place to find a computer that can read 'em may be the Smithsonian....
I guess the good news is that they don't just tell you to go to the next window and go out to lunch.
Or, do what a kid at Sears did here a few years back - two customers at the counter waving money (so to speak) and he took a phone call that involved walking out into the shop area to check on something. One customer left. I should have....
Stu K8LEA
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by JN3XCV on March 18, 2004
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Callsign: AI4EG Class: Extra Codes: HAI USA
Name: Stephen P Mitchell
Addr1: 5239 Bon Vivant Dr 118
Addr2: Tampa, FL 33603
Country: USA
Effective: 01 Mar 2004 Expires: 15 Mar 2014
FRN: 0001905736 What's this?
FCC: ULS Listing
Lookups: 16
Update / Renew License
Previously: N6TGK
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by KB5LPA on March 19, 2004
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The expiration date on my license is 5/31/04. I went to the FCC site once the 90 day renewal window opened. I was able to renew online in about 5 minutes or less. No problem. No fees to anyone either. My new information was in the FCC database within 24 hours and I received my new printed license in 5 days. Sorry you had difficulties.
(I did not have any changes,nor did I have a vanity call. Just a renewal.)
73
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by KD5OWO on March 19, 2004
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If I moved, say out to california, would I have to change my call.. or could I keep KD5OWO?
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by KQ6EA on March 20, 2004
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You can keep your current callsign. Just inform the FCC of your new address, and you'll be fine.
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by N8MMZ on March 20, 2004
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KD5OWO:
A long time ago, the FCC had a requirement for systemic call sign changes when an amateur moved from one area to another. They no longer require that you change calls anymore.
If you want to keep your callsign when you make the move, you need to make sure that your 610 application DOES NOT have the systemic call sign change box checked, or you will be getting a new callsign.
I moved from 8 to 5 land some number of years back and have held on to my yankee call. Now I'm in 4 land and need to get things updated again.
73s de N8MMZ
-Jonathan
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by KD5OWO on March 20, 2004
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I don't plan on moving, but if I do I will keep all that in mind..
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by KC8WUC on March 20, 2004
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I recently tried to add an endorsement to a Commercial FCC license (GMDSS), however, was told that I had to have an original Proof of Passing Certificate. While this may seem like a reasonable request, they were already in possession of the Proof of Passing Certificate. I hold the GMDSS Operator/Maintainer, a license allowing use and maintenance of Marine HF/VHF/UHF and satelite communications equipment at sea. Originally, I got the General Radiotelephone Operator license (GROL), however, as my needs changed, I obtained the GMDSS licenses to operate at sea. I have since added the Radar endorsement, which would allow me operate and repair tunable types of radar. The COLEM (comm'l version of the VEC) completed the paperwork to process my application for the radar endorsement and added it to my GROL. All this is very well and fine, however, I wanted it added to the GMDSS. When I filed another application (on my own), the FCC insisted that my application wasn't complete because I needed the original certificate (which they already had).
To make matters worse, they lost my original Proof of Passing Certificate for the T2 license (2nd Class Radiotelegraph Operator License). The COLEM is equally worthless because they won't issue another one. GRRR!
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by WA2JJH on March 22, 2004
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I have a few years left on my ticket. After hearing your story, I wish I could renew a year in advance(hi-hi)
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by N7NRA on March 25, 2004
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Sorry you ran into a glitch. This happens frequently enough with government agencies that I have adopted an approach that seems to work, at least so far (knock on wood).
While I served in the Navy, I rubbed shoulders with enough Marines to learn KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). I am not, by any means, calling the FCC or other government agencies "stupid". I'm suggesting that those requesting services from the government not act stupidly by overloading the system.
For whatever reason, I seem to attract situations where Murphy (of Murphy's Law fame) is in charge. If a government worker can be momentarily distracted from his/her work for a second or two, it will happen while processing my job. In order to prevent this from causing undue damage, I've found it best to keep my requests simple when dealing with the government. If at all possible, I only ask them to do one task at a time.
The most important item Stephen had to deal with was the urgency of renewing his license before it expired. I'd have made this a single request and would have saved the call sign change and testing the ARRL's renewal system for other times, once I was sure the renewal had been completed in the FCC database.
Almost all government workers can accurately process a single task in a timely manner (though there are exceptions). Make their job easy and reduce your frustration by KISSing your next request. It requires a little extra work on your part, but may well save you a LOT of hassle later.
Regards,
Stew
N7NRA
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by KC5FCK on March 26, 2004
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I didn't have a problem renewing either but due to a mistake by a VE I ended up with *two* callsigns!
I took my test and had to wait for several weeks for my license. This was back in the days when all licenses were manually processed--remember those?
Anyway, during the time between the test and the arrival of my license I decided to learn CW and take the 5 WPM test to qualify as a Tech Plus. When I took the code test one of the VE's asked me to fill out another license application. When I explained that I had already done it before and that I just needed to take the code test he gave me some reason about just needing "some paperwork." So, I filled it out, then I took and passed the test and got my certificate.
I got my license, KC5FCK, a week or so later and I was on the air!
A few weeks later, I received another license with a different callsign. The VE had sent in the second application even though I told him he didn't need to. Since I was not allowed by FCC regulations to have more than one amateur radio license I had to send one back but I didn't know which one. So I called the FCC.
The person at the FCC confirmed that I did need to return one of the licenses but that she would check to see which one and contact me at a later time but I should use my second callsign in the meantime. Now that confused several of my new ham buddies but I went along with it.
The FCC finally got back in contact with me about a month or so later and said I could keep whichever I chose. So I stuck with the first.
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by W8BBS on March 29, 2004
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KC8WUC,
Part of your problem is that you used 2 different COLEM's. I got my GROL with radar, then a couple of months later I took elements 7 and 9 through the same COLEM. I called the COLEM to remind them that I should receive Radar endorsement on my GMDSS operator/maintainer license. By the way, I thought that when you get a GMDSS operator/maintainer license you were suppose to give up your GMDSS maintainer license. You have a restricted permit, GROL, GMDSS maintainer, and GMDSS operator/maintainer. What a mess!
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N6TGK Renews His License
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by NS6Y on March 29, 2004
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I've done an upgrade (advanced to extra) and 2 (TWO) callsign changed in quick succession, and had no problems once I figured out that there's such things as the W5YI VEC for the vanity call...
I had to get my password from the FCC and they call you on the fone for this, they called and I had like 10 seconds on my cellfone, guess what? FCC ppl use ITU phonetics and we got a LOT done in about 7 sec!
Hats off to the FCC!
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by KC8WUC on March 29, 2004
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W8BBS:
I believe that you are correct, in that the GMDSS Maintainer or Operator license gets cancelled when you upgrade or combine the two licenses; this is clearly something that the FCC should have taken care of. As for the Restricted Radiotelephone License, this is something that is for life, just as the GROL is, although one would think that because the GROL "eclipses" the Restricted, that they would cancel the Restricted License. I went through two different COLEM's because of problems with the software associated with administering the Radar endorsement. After being unable to take it on computer with a certain COLEM, I scheduled an exam with another COLEM (Nat'l Radio Examiners/W5YI). It seems to me that it wouldn't be that difficult (on the part of the FCC) to determine that I had passed the Radar endorsement and add it to my GMDSS license. I'll probably have to take it again if I want it added, just as I'll have to take the telegraphy exam for the T2 again.
73 and good health to all,
Michael
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RE: N6TGK Renews His License
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by N3GWG on May 9, 2007
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N6TGK, et alia:
A friend of mine whom holds a PG (GROL), explained the FCC Commercial Operator licensure system to me as follows hereupon:
The Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Permit is now issued for a lifetime term. Thus, the FCC will not go and cancel this license, even if the FCC issues a license afterwards that provides the same authority than this one does (such as a GMDSS/DO or GMDSS/DB). Therefore, the FCC should have not canceled the RR on this man. I would bet that in fact the RR was canceled by the licensee not the FCC.
The GROL as well is a lifetime license, and the FCC will not cancel it absent a request from the licensee, just as the RR is handled.
Having a GMDSS/DM and a GMDSS/DB is a bit duplicitous to say the least, and one would think that the COLEM or the FCC would have cancelled the GMDSS/DM once the GMDSS/DB was issued, as it is very unlikely that the licensee would be desirous of paying the renewal fee for the GMDSS/DM when it is covered by the GMDSS/DB.
Remember that most government agencies are going to operate in more of a reactive vice proactive mode. In the end, we ought not be in the business of waiting for the FCC to do something if we are completely capable of doing it ourselves (such as canceling the GMDSS/DM license, or waiting for it to expire and not renewing it in the case of Mr. Stranathan.
V/R,
Stuart, N3GWG
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