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Author Topic: New license fee proposal open for comments  (Read 652 times)

WA2ISE

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New license fee proposal open for comments
« on: September 03, 2020, 08:44:49 PM »

The FCC proposal that would impose $50 application fees for amateur
radio licenses, including new licenses and renewals, is now open for
comment.  See this article with instructions on how to comment:
http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-application-fee-proposal-proceeding-is-open-for-comments


Let 'em have it.
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WW5F

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2020, 06:10:07 AM »

73 comments as of today.

Most say, "don't charge me $50 because I provide an emergency service for free."

I've already uploaded my comment.

My prediction is that after the comment period closes, they will say they appreciate all the comments and after careful review, they will start charging $50 for everything except address updates.
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W9IQ

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2020, 06:19:53 AM »

It will take much better reasoned comments in order to persuade the FCC. They were very specific as to the nature of responses they are seeking and the ground you must cover in your response.

I am quite certain that simply saying "it is too expensive", "I cannot afford it" or "we provide a service" will not be persuasive.

The ARRL response should, at the least, be compliant with what the FCC has requested.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

AB4KA

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2020, 07:25:12 AM »

Regardless of the content of the comment, a few hundred comments aren't going to accomplish much.  A few thousand might.  A couple hundred thousand should get their attention. 
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W3HF

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2020, 09:36:04 AM »

Regardless of the content of the comment, a few hundred comments aren't going to accomplish much.  A few thousand might.  A couple hundred thousand should get their attention.

It depends on the content of the comment. If it's "I don't want to pay any fees!", then tens of thousands won't make a difference. But the FCC does read every submission, and even a single well-thought out and documented comment, with relevant arguments and references (such as inconsistencies with other FCC regs) will enter into their deliberations, and perhaps even be referenced in a final R&O.
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WW5F

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2020, 12:56:52 PM »

Ya...

It's now at 209 comments and I looked at a few of them.

I worked with several GS's over the years and I'm pretty sure how many of them are going to respond when they review some of these comments.

Honestly, some of the folks writing these comments may be better off writing their congressperson and senators.  The congress folks will be able to translate your comments into something more meaningful if they're interested in keeping your vote this November.
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ND6M

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2020, 01:21:25 PM »

...edit...

Honestly, some of the folks writing these comments may be better off writing their congressperson and senators..

I read most of them.
Many were just onebigrunonsentance ::)

when I saw them, I moved on with out reading them.
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KILGORE34

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2020, 02:41:16 PM »

Why not just pay it? 
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N9LCD

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2020, 08:39:20 AM »

ND6M:

Quote
I read most of them.
Many were just onebigrunonsentance

This hobby is about technology not communicating. ::)
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WW5F

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2020, 09:22:27 AM »

ND6M:

Quote
I read most of them.
Many were just onebigrunonsentance

This hobby is about technology not communicating. ::)

Well that's debatable.

If you don't know how to communicate, no amount of technology is going to help you.  I've met a lot of people who were very smart about how the electrons flow in an electronic circuit, but they were incapable of actually talking about it.  They know how the electric states changes back and forth, how propagation delay affects it, characteristic impedance, line loss, power envelopes, efficiency and meter readings, but they are at a total loss of the basics of communication:  Sender, Message, Receiver, Feedback.

And you don't need a ham license if all you're interested in is electronics technology.
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W3WN

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2020, 09:02:11 PM »

Well, it’s “comforting” to know that the FCC thinks $50 is “nominal” fee.  Especially considering that they actually do almost no work for a new, renewed, or updated license. 

And it’s “comforting” to know that since they charge $50 for a GMRS license, that’s a good enough reason to charge the same for other ”personal” radio services, including Amateurs.

I’ll be submitting my comments soon; there are a few data points I need to double check first.  But not to worry... based on previous FCC proposed NPRMs, it’s clear that the decision has already been made, and now they are going through the legally required motions before rubber stamping it.
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WW5F

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2020, 05:51:56 AM »

..., and now they are going through the legally required motions before rubber stamping it.

Yup.
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K1VSK

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #12 on: September 06, 2020, 11:12:17 AM »

I suspect most hams paid $50 for their foot switch. Or double that for a microphone. While some may oppose it for some frivolous stated reason like emcom, it’s opponents are likely doing so only as a principle matter because it’s a government fee to which they are opposed rather than any financial consideration.
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W3WN

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #13 on: September 07, 2020, 01:10:09 PM »

I suspect most hams paid $50 for their foot switch. Or double that for a microphone. While some may oppose it for some frivolous stated reason like emcom, it’s opponents are likely doing so only as a principle matter because it’s a government fee to which they are opposed rather than any financial consideration.
The NPRM indicates that the proposed “nominal” fee is supposed to reimburse the FCC for their “costs” in administering new and renewal license processing.

OK.  What costs? 

Who does all the work for new licenses?  The VECs.

Who does all the work for renewal processing?  Either the VECs or the Amateurs themselves when directly renewing via the ULS.  How much work does the FCC do again?

The ONLY reason specifically stated in the NPRM for the proposed $50 fee is... that’s what they currently charge for GMRS licenses, so if it’s good enough for one, it’s good enough for all.  Now, I don’t know how much work the FCC actually does for GMRS tickets... if its a lot, that may justify the fee.  Amateur license processing, with as much is either automated or handled by third parties, can’t possibly cost anywhere near that.

And another $50 for a mailed license?  Really?  Talk about a rip-off.

I do not object to a reasonable license renewal fee.

I do object to being gouged.
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W3DBB

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Re: New license fee proposal open for comments
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2020, 04:53:22 AM »

I've looked over some of the information on this proposal but haven't spent the time to study it in detail. I will not be submitting comments to the ECFS. I support the proposal. It will exact a monetary toll on callsign hoarders and on those who became hams in small part because there was a one-time nominal cost (VEC test-taking fee), never intending to become active licensees. Think of it as a tax on behavior that the FCC may have realized they want to discourage.

So what has brought this to the fore? Is something similar going on in other Federal regulatory agencies overseen by the U.S. House of Representatives? If so I suspect this may be tied to a tax revenue decline due to economic downturn. The FCC doesn't get to keep monies generated. Fees collected by the FCC and possibly other Federal regulatory agencies go into the general fund.
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