Hi Mike –

David M. just asked a similar question.

I’m guessing he will answer the ODV shortly.

Here was my answer to his question:

The $35 fee is the application (processing) fee.

The application’s outcome, whether the request is granted or dismissed, is irrelevant.

The FCC will retain the processing fee for every application submitted.

An individual can apply for a refund but the FCC stated it would have to be extenuating circumstances for the refund to be considered.

ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT THE OLD VANITY FEE:

The prior FCC vanity call sign fees were regulatory fees and were therefore handled differently.

Refunds were allowed on the regulatory fees if requested by the applicant.

I hope you are doing well!

Sincerely,

Maria Somma, AB1FM

ARRL VEC Manager

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®

225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA

Phone: 1-888-277-5289

FAX: 1-860-594-0339

Email: msomma@arrl.org

ARRL Web: www.arrl.org

From: Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 5:33 PM
To: Somma, Maria, AB1FM <msomma@arrl.org>
Subject: Fwd: Re: [arrl-odv:32701] Re: Fwd: ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022

Maria;

Can you help clear up the question below?

Thanks!

73;

Mike

W7VO

---------- Original Message ----------

From: "Baker, Mickey, N4MB (Dir, SE)" <mbaker@arrl.org>

To: "Jairam, Ria, N2RJ (Dir, HD)" <rjairam@gmail.com>, "Ritz, Mike, W7VO, (Dir, NW)" <w7vo@comcast.net>

Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>

Date: 08/17/2021 2:25 PM

Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:32701] Re: Fwd: ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022

It was refundable if you were unsuccessful. Another form, several weeks wait…

The way I understand this is that the fee will only be presented to the applicant if the license is otherwise ready to issue. That way=, there’s no refunds.

This is “word of mouth” from another VEC. Maria Somma is the ultimate authority at ARRL.

--

Mickey Baker

Director, Southeastern Division

ARRL

Phone (561) 320-2775

Email: n4mb@arrl.org

From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> on behalf of rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 2:50 PM
To: Ritz, Mike, W7VO, (Dir, NW) <w7vo@comcast.net>
Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>
Subject: [arrl-odv:32701] Re: Fwd: ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022

That’s a good question but not uncharted territory.

When we had the $20 vanity fee, was it collected if you were unsuccessful? That may be the same scenario.

73

Ria

N2RJ/W4

On Tue, Aug 17, 2021 at 2:36 PM Michael Ritz <w7vo@comcast.net> wrote:

The below came out from the ARRL this morning, and inquiring minds want to know:

Does anybody know what happens to the $35 sent in for vanity callsign applications that are denied? Is there still a mechanism still in place for those to apply for reimbursement?

Some people apply for 1X2 or 2X1 callsigns where there is competition for those callsign. If the call(s) they want goes to somebody else they have to keep trying for new available callsigns and paying the $35 fees for each application until they win one. Will they be able to apply to get their money back for the ones they lose out on, (as it was before), or does the FCC now get to keep the money?

73;
Mike
w7VO

> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: ARRL Web site <memberlist@www.arrl.org>
> To: w7vo@comcast.net
> Date: 08/17/2021 9:47 AM
> Subject: ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022
>
>
> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB021
> ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022
>
> ZCZC AG21
> QST de W1AW
> ARRL Bulletin 21 ARLB021
> From ARRL Headquarters
> Newington CT August 17, 2021
> To all radio amateurs
>
> SB QST ARL ARLB021
> ARLB021 FCC Application Fees Unlikely to Go into Effect Until 2022
>
> The schedule of FCC amateur radio application fees likely will not
> go into effect before 2022. FCC staff confirmed during a recent
> virtual meeting with Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) that the
> agency is still working on the necessary changes to the Universal
> Licensing System (ULS) software and other processes and procedures
> that must be in place before it starts collecting fees from amateur
> applicants. Earlier this year, the FCC said it would not start
> collecting fees from amateur applicants before this Summer. The new
> estimate is that the fees won't go into effect until early next
> year.
>
> Once it's effective, the $35 application fee will apply to new,
> modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and
> vanity call sign applications. All fees will be per application.
> Administrative update applications, such as those to change a
> licensee's name, mailing, or email address, will be exempt from
> fees. ARRL VEC manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said Volunteer Examiner
> (VE) teams will not face the burden of collecting the $35 fee.
>
> "Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade
> applicants will pay the exam session fee to the VE team as usual,
> but they'll pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC using
> the FCC Pay Fees system," she explained. When the FCC receives the
> examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with
> payment instructions to each successful candidate who then will have
> 10 days from the date of the email to pay.
>
> The FCC Pay Fees system can be accessed at,
> https://apps2.fcc.gov/Batch_Filer/login.cfm .
>
> After the fee is paid and the FCC has processed an application,
> examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to
> their official license. The link will be good for 30 days. Licensees
> also will be able to view, download, and print official license
> copies by logging into their FCC ULS account. The FCC no longer
> provides printed licenses.
>
> Licensees can log into the ULS with their 10-digit FRN (FCC
> Registration Number) and password at any time to view and manage
> their license and application, print their license, and update
> anything in their FCC license record, including adding an email
> address.
>
> FEE SCHEDULE:
>
> INDIVIDUALS -
>
> $35 FEE: New, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign
> change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. All fees will
> be per application.
>
> NO FEE: Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or
> email address, or license cancellation.
>
> AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS -
>
> $35 FEE: New, renewal, trustee change, and vanity call sign
> applications. All fees will be per application.
>
> NO FEE: Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or
> email address, or license cancellation.
> NNNN
> /EX
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