Contrary to what you may have heard or read,
the collection of application fees for the amateur radio
service and certain other services will NOT begin on April
19, 2021.
Although April 19, 2021 is the date the rules
in the FCC Report and Order adopted last December generally
take effect – i.e., one month after the R&O was
published in the March 19, 2021 Federal Register – certain
parts of those rules, including collection of the
application fees for the amateur radio service, will NOT
begin on that date.
The effective date for new amateur radio fees
has not yet been established. The FCC explicitly states in
the published Notice that the fees will not take effect
until:
* the requisite notice has been provided
to Congress; AND
* the FCC’s information technology
systems and internal procedures have been updated; AND
* the Commission publishes [FUTURE]
notice(s) in the Federal Register announcing the effective
date of such rules.
The League’s counsel for FCC matters estimates
that the effective start date for collecting the fees will
be some time this summer, but regardless of the exact timing
we will have advance notice.
Bud Hippisley, W2RU
Director, Roanoke Division
* * * * *
Bud, W2RU
Dave Minster tells me that
Dave Siddall and Becky are working on an article
about the fees issue. Dave Minster can provide an
update when he checks in here.
In the meantime, Directors
might consider a Division email using Mr.
Siddall’s information in ODV:32148 stating that
the date for the fees has not been established
yet. I believe some Dirs and SM’s have already
done so.
73,
Rick – K5UR
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