Kristen, I would point out that this is merely a restatement of what the FCC has said multiple times before. See, for example, the first paragraph in the attachment from 2009 – which is cited in the most recent FCC restatement. The latest restatement is nothing new and was made because some amateurs (incorrectly) argued that amateur radio is an emergency service as the term is used in the fees legislation and therefore statutorily exempt from application fees. Note that this statutory exception argument is quite different from the ARRL’s argument that the public interest in amateur emergency communications, STEM education, and other volunteer services justifies exemption from the fees. 73, Dave K3ZJ From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> on behalf of "Kristen A. McIntyre" <kristen@alum.mit.edu> Date: Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 3:25 AM To: "arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org" <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:31572] Fwd: [SEC-ARES] FCC sets amateur radio license fee to $35.00 Here’s a negative reaction to the language in paragraph 5. I can see how they are reading it that way, even though it’s an overreaction, IMO. We may have to deal with some PR fallout. Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: From: Dan Sohn <sohn@sti.net> Date: December 30, 2020 at 9:16:05 PM PST To: main@sec-ares.groups.io Cc: Dave Anderson <kg6nuo@kg6nuo.net>, Mikhael Brown <mikhael@brown.org>, Brian Carr <op_taylor@comcast.net>, Paul Dostie <PDostie@aol.com>, Calvin Fagundes <spinro1@aol.com>, Kyle Hamilton <kyle.hamilton@gmail.com>, Sam Hernandez <SamTheHam@flojobrew.com>, Chris Johnson <kj6oug@gmail.com>, Dennis Kidder <w6dq@arrl.net>, Rich Larson <wile2u@gmail.com>, john@litz.com, Jack Luoma <w6jakilo@gmail.com>, Pat Mandas <kg6jxz@charter.net>, George Overturf <n6geo@arrl.net>, Paul Owen <w6uhf@aol.com>, Dan Sohn <dansohn@gmail.com>, Ned Sudduth <ned@sudduth.org>, Lucian Thomas <kf6npg@aol.com>, Kern West ARES <WKCARES@gmail.com>, John Litz <john@litz.com>, Kristen Mcintyre <K6WX@arrl.org>, Gilbert Paul KE5ZW <ke5zw@arrl.org> Subject: Re: [SEC-ARES] FCC sets amateur radio license fee to $35.00 Reply-To: Dan Sohn <wl7coo@arrl.net> I couldn’t agree with you more Barry, With FCC-20-184<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-184A1.pdf> the FCC dropped the guillotine on any ARRL claim that the FCC along with the Nation's local EMAs view ARES as a viable Emergency Communications resource. That unnecessary comment using extremely poorly chosen language will resound negatively and have disastrous impacts on hopes for reviving ARES and renewing affiliations with EMAs & other AHJs. Reading the Order and Rule Making I found that the FCC’s attitude about Amateur radio’s value during initial disaster responses has changed 180 degrees from every Rule Making & Order I’ve read in the last 6 years of researching Part 97 Proposed Rule makings and Orders. I hope that when the dust (& the pandemic) settles, Congress comes to the rescue - otherwise ARES will soon be history, which - in the words of 'The History Guy’ - should be remembered. This sudden turn about will inevitably cause every ARES Operator to question their value to those they serve on request wrt to routine use cases and instinctively wrt immediate responses to disasters. Everyone Have a Happier New Year & 73, …dan wl7coo SJV SEC wl7coo@arrl.net<mailto:wl7coo@arrl.net> or sohn@sti.net<mailto:sohn@sti.net> 209.628.2242 On Dec 30, 2020, at 8:35 PM, Barry Porter via groups.io<http://groups.io> <barryp13=me.com@groups.io<mailto:barryp13=me.com@groups.io>> wrote: That statement is going to have real repercussions for our ability to get reasonable liability and other insurance, and recognition by other government and non government groups. Barry On Dec 30, 2020, at 10:56 PM, Pete Emmel, K4LLE <pete.emmel.k4lle@gmail.com<mailto:pete.emmel.k4lle@gmail.com>> wrote: I dont know about anybody else but I find "the amateur service is not an emergency radio service" disappointing, to say the least. Pete _._,_._,_ ________________________________ Groups.io<http://Groups.io> Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. You automatically follow any topics you start or reply to. View/Reply Online (#1555)<https://sec-ares.groups.io/g/main/message/1555> | Reply To Group<mailto:main@SEC-ARES.groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BSEC-ARES%5D%20FCC%20sets%20amateur%20radio%20license%20fee%20to%20%2435.00> | Reply To Sender<mailto:?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BSEC-ARES%5D%20FCC%20sets%20amateur%20radio%20license%20fee%20to%20%2435.00> | Mute This Topic<https://groups.io/mt/79324516/244695> | New Topic<https://sec-ares.groups.io/g/main/post> Your Subscription<https://sec-ares.groups.io/g/main/editsub/244695> | Contact Group Owner<mailto:main+owner@SEC-ARES.groups.io> | Unsubscribe<https://sec-ares.groups.io/g/main/leave/8759681/1619128490/xyzzy> [sohn@sti.net<mailto:sohn@sti.net>] _._,_._,_