FCC proposes new filing fee structure, new fees for ham radio

They want us to volunteer our time and equipment during a emergency or crisis.
Sorry, no more if you want me to pay......

 

Didn't take it as a curt comment, took it for what it was.
I guess I'm just used to using something until it absolutely has to be replaced.
Such is the case for older equipment. A lot of hams don't have the money to buy the
latest/greatest and in these times, can't afford a $50 fee.

As previously mentioned, the FCC used to charge $20 for a CB license, but all that did
was put a lot of people on the air who didn't get one.
You didn't have to show you were licensed to buy a CB.
Now you have tens of thousands of CB users many who were mobile who figured the FCC just didn't
have enough resources to catch everyone. They were right. Enforcement became a full time 24/7 job.

I don't remember what the penalty was of if anyone actually got caught.
Then, the FCC lowered the price to $4.00, and while that got a lot more people licensed,
the sheer volume of people who got licenses not only created a huge backlog of paperwork, it became
an administrative nightmare. Finally the FCC gave up and only followed up on interference complaints.
Even that was a losing battle. Nowadays with license lookup on the internet not only from here on the Zed
but many other places, it is easy to see if someone is licensed. There are frequencies where it seems
anything goes and I think I remember hearing about a repeater somewhere where the rules go out the window.

If the FCC is hurting for cash, the logical course of action would be to step up enforcement and equipment
confiscation. Instead of fining someone $10,000 and forgiving the fine when the offender almost always
claims hardship and an inability to pay, drop the fine to $1000, revoke the license, seize the equipment,
and sell it. Use the proceeds to do whatever it is the FCC needs money for. The IRS doesn't forgive your
taxes, and your landlord doesn't forgive your rent, so I don't get why the FCC forgives fines.

What was the callsign of one ham who nailed by the FCC, K1MAN (I think). How many years did that drag on?
A case shouldn't take more than 30 days. If there's proof you've intentionally broke the rules or caused
interference intentionally and with malice, then you should pay the piper.

--KD7YVV

 

Makes sense, I was just looking at it from a specific point of view, the equipment replacement.
Got it explained and learned something new. It's always a good day when I learn something new.

--KD7YVV

 

No. Hams are not notoriously cheap.
They are resourceful, and can by definition do more with less.

Some hams are kids and college students.

Many are retirees on fixed incomes.

But The Government? Well, they've never been put on a fixed income. IMAGINE if YOU could spend everything you have, AND borrow all the money you wanted with no credit limit, balance forward, or due date, AND print your own money, AND do these things ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

And All of Us? Taxed to Death and pretty much sick of it. Also, of having to have Real Jobs to support those with Rubber Stamp Jobs and excellent retirements, to boot. I'm already taxed six ways to Sunday. and on Sunday itself? Well...Taxed then, too! Every penny that they take is one less that I can save or invest (which benefits others) or spend (which benefits others) in an otherwise stagnant economy. I'm not seeing an SDR or an IC-7300 or anything else in my future here...
"Disposable" Income? I Think Not! These are really really crushing taxes we pay. We (and they) might not be here much longer because of it. It didn't seem to work out well for the Romans, and History? Well it always repeats itself. Always. Always!
73 DE W8LV BILL

 

So all those lives you would be saving aren't worth $50 to you ?

 

There are good reasons to oppose this fee. But threatening to withhold amateur radio's public service over an application fee is not one of them, and only makes the ARS look fickle. We should take the high road.

Instead of vague, internet-bravado threats of "withholding our services"; emphasize the good amateur radio can do, and make an (intelligent, not emotional) argument of how a fee could impede that (if that's what you believe will happen).

I think the proposed fees can be attacked on three main grounds:

- The $ amount is arbitrary
- Other non-commercial services are explicitely exempted, why not ARS?
- Potential degradation of the ability of the ARS to fulfill it's basis and purpose, especially with regards to youth participation, which affects the future.

 

...which is the reason for the bill of rights. And all the things you mention are no longer enough. They want more. It's human nature. The limits on federal government need to be refreshed. And they can be through https://conventionofstates.com/

 

I wouldn't mind paying $50. or even $100 for a lifetime amature Radio Licence . As long as they crack down on Quarmmers & those CB Jammers
Who like to Jam the HF & The 2m /70cm Frequencies

73 tommy KB3UFB

 

"the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson

 

I agree and sometimes when the Government is hanging in the limbs of confusion in our tree of liberty ,We the people need to prune out the rot.

I agree with a lifetime license. Pay the $50 and be done with it. Other countries have went this way

. FCC been greedy lately since they have been selling off cband frequencies to make room for 5g. No telling what they are up to with our frequencies. Rumor is the Current FCC is left leaning and very liberal. In other words, they dont like our on the frequency pow wows talking about anything possibly remotely involved with politics. Our frequencies are the last frontier that main stream media doesnt control.Whether you believe it or not, we DO have a collective voice and vote. Where is the ARRL on all this? hiding? Maybe we need to start up a new amateur radio organization that will actually do what they say. Kind of remember there was talk about this in the early 70s,and 80s.VIVA LA REVOLUTIONA !!!!!!!!

I Also believe that charging $50 for a new license will hamper growth and sustainability. Early in the 70s the novice license was free. I remember getting mine and didnt have an FCC fee. All others had one,general,advanced and extra. If we are given lifetime licenses, and allowing the newbies to get into the hobby free like they do today,,I would gladly pay the $50 or even $100 for the 1 minute of their time to type it in the computer.Allow a new licensee to obtain their tech license free. then after they want to upgrade, $50 for lifetime.

JUst my opinion and not of staff and management.

 

Here is atidbit for all you hard working patriotic amateur radio operators.

WHILE EVERYONE HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY BEING LAID OFF, JOB REDUCTION, HOURS CUT, FIRED DUE TO THE COVID, NOT ONE REPEAT NOT ONE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN LAID OFF , FIRED, OR HAD THEIR HOURS REDUCED. THIS INCLUDES YOUR LOCAL,COUNTY AND STATE EMPLOYEES.

THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY DECIDE TO RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, LICENSE FEES,ETC.VIVA LA REVOLUTIONA!!!!!!

 

I fear blood will be spilled on 4 November, or soon after. This $50 NPRM is nothing in the bigger picture of things.

 

"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."
-Thomas Jefferson

 

go to lifetime license now to keep our hobby on track

 

Not only should we consider a lifetime license, but I'm not sure that we need a Technician, General, and Extra Class three class tier. And I think Wayne Green W2NSD(sk) was right about the incentive licensing system: It was (and is) a Bad Idea to tie proficiency to bandwidth allocation. Instead? It's tied to SUNSPOTS. We could EASILY have a two-tier system, such as in the UK. Call it a "Beginner" and "Advanced", or if you will: "Technician" and "Extra". And THAT will more than suffice! We didn't need Novice, Tech, Tech Plus, General, Advanced, and Extra as we once had. We don't need to tie it to "CW" (or not) as we once did: We got OVER IT. The Upshot? More Bengali Keys and Vibroplex bugs than ever before on the air. AFTER the CW was eliminated as a barrier.

Well...LESS people drank AFTER Prohibition was repealed, too. (But I digress on Stupid Laws resulting in Opposite Behaviour...)

So there you have my proposal: Two Tiers, License for Life. Let's Fix This.

P.S. Wasn't there a time when the Commission said if it wasn't COST EFFECTIVE to collect a license fee, than it should be done away with?

Wasn't there a time, when the Commission collected a fee for CB before they tossed that?

AND wasn't there a RECENT TIME when they at least talked of getting rid of the GMRS fee? ;-) I think it's like seventy five dollars for five years(!) or something. I'll bet ALMOST NONE of those radios out there are actually licensed.

All the Best!

73 DE W8LV BILL