HAM’S LIFE

Wednesday, 07/14/2010 the FCC released, in a Report and Order (R&O) release, their intent to change the restriction on government-sponsored disaster preparedness drill restrictions that required employees  from participating without a waver.  The new rule change will also affect employee participation in non-government drills and exercises.  

The FCC contends that the new ruling does not conflict with the non-commercial principles of Amateur Radio.  Basically it is a way to make it easier for such drills to involve all Amateur Radio operators whether employed by those conducting the drill or not.  There are some time restrictions so no one will be hired to run the ham radio station 40 hours a week and claim it is an emergency drill.  The rule will also reduce the paper work for the FCC but they didn’t mention that. 

The effective date has net yet been determined but new rules will not take effect until after it appears in the Federal Register.

The cost of a vanity call sign was $13.40 upon application and again $13.40 every 10 years at renewal.  As of April 13, 2010 the cost was reduced to $13.30 thus it now costs one penny less per year to have a vanity call sign.  

Those holding a vanity call sign prior to 1996 will not have a reduction in their renewal application fee because it was not until 1996 that congress authorized the FCC to charge for vanity call signs. 

Recently the ARRL sent an email to its members stating in part, “Late last year, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) — WT Docket 09-209 — seeking to amend the Commission’s Amateur Radio Service rules to clarify certain rules and codify existing procedures governing the vanity call sign system, as well as revise certain rules applicable to club stations.”

I saw nothing in the email that indicated the ARRL’s official position on the proposed changes just a statement of fact that the FCC has proposed to amend the vanity call sign program and make changes to certain rules about club stations licenses.

After reading the comments made on the official FCC comment page it appeared to me  that some people are objecting to the changes but have no idea what the proposed changes are.  Possibly or maybe I should say probably they did not bother to find out what changes the FCC wants to make and why. Well informed comments are of great value to all concerned but uninformed comments are of little value to the FCC or to the Amateur radio community. 

If you are interested in what the FCC has proposed you can read the information at: http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2009/db1124/FCC-09-102A1.pdf

If you are interested in making a comment about the release you have until March 26, 2010.  Comments can be submitted via the FCC’s Web site at, http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/.  One thing I would recommend, before you comment read the document you are commenting about. 

To see comments made by others go to: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding_search/input?z=cp5su enter “09-209”  in the block marked “proceeding number?”  and click “Search For Proceedings”  button at the bottom of the page. Click on the blue circle with the “i” in it under “Filed On Behalf Of.”  Click on  “View 1” following “”View Filing.”