SB QST @ ARL $ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC proposes, ARRL opposes vanity license fee hike

ZCZC AG22
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 22  ARLB022
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  May 2, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB022
ARLB022 FCC proposes, ARRL opposes vanity license fee hike

Last month, the FCC proposed effectively raising the fee for a
vanity call sign from 30 dollars to 50 dollars for the 10-year
license term.  Now, the ARRL has asked the Commission to postpone
the higher fee until after all four vanity call sign gates have been
opened.  In comments filed April 23, the ARRL told the FCC that it
does not object to the fee increase per se but said that it wants
all hams to have an opportunity to request a specific call sign
under the current fee schedule.

The fee increase was among those included for all FCC-regulated
services--including broadcasters and commercial satellite
services--in the NPRM in MD Docket No. 96-186.  Under the proposal,
the FCC ''rounded up'' all FCC-imposed 3 dollar annual fees to 5
dollars per year--the lowest fee in the new schedule.  The ARRL
noted in its comments to the Commission that because projected
revenue from the vanity fee increase ''significantly exceeds'' the
revenue needed to cover the costs of administering the program, a
delay would be reasonable.  The ARRL also asked the FCC to limit the
vanity call sign fee to the minimum it needs to recoup its costs to
administer the vanity program but ''without rounding to a
significantly higher fee.''  The FCC adjusts its fee schedule every
year.
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