How to Update your FCC License

K7EK · Jan 10, 2022

AA7BQ said: ↑

One thing that every ham in the USA has in common is the FCC. Every ham in the US is registered with the FCC, just like hams in other countries are registered with their respective governments. This article will serve as a how-to for US hams to keep their licenses updated in accordance with regulations.

FREE FREE FREE
Okay, did that get your attention? It should because everyone needs to know that updates, and at this time, renewals, are free when you help yourself at the FCC website. Congress is poised to increase amateur licensing fees; however, nothing has been voted on, and until they do, the status quo of completely free service remains in effect.

Many of us have used the services of a VEC to update our license(s). Most VEC's charge a fee for license updates and renewals. It is a clerical fee paid to full-time employees who do nothing but fill out FCC forms for people. That's what you're paying for, a service. This means that you can do it yourself for free.

Step 1 - Understand the FCC's Website
While this sounds easy, many hams have gone right off the deep end from the very first page of the FCC's website. First of all, nothing on the page says "Amateur" or "Ham Radio" anywhere. Where do you go, where do you start?

First, understand that the FCC is HUGE. They are a gigantic bureaucracy that serves multi-billion-dollar interests. They have dozens of databases, programs, and hundreds of licensing categories. Big corporations get licensed to manufacture their devices and cell phone towers. It's so large that from the front page, it seems incomprehensible. However, there is one thing that you must learn right now, even if you don't read the rest of the article. That one thing is:

Universal Licensing System or ULS

Then, when you go to the FCC's front page, at https://fcc.gov, ignore everything you see until you find a link that takes you to ULS. It shows up in a couple of places as a category, and it's the one you must use. Many hams, not knowing about ULS, registered with the FCC CORES system only to be greatly disappointed after none of their efforts resulted in an actual license update. What's worse is that while you're busy updating CORES, you aren't told of the ULS or its existence. Users are led to believe that they're making an update, such as to your FRN, using CORES when this accomplishes nothing for most hams. Stay away from CORES and everything else at the FCC. Only visit their ULS section.

Step 2 - Get a Login to the ULS system

To update your FCC Amateur radio license, you will need your FRN which is essentially your FCC user id. Logins to the FCC database are made using an FRN and a password. Right below where it asks for the password, it offers a Reset Password option. Use that to get a new password.

"What is my FRN"?
QRZ lists everybody's FRN in our call sign database. Just click on the Details tab to see it. On our pages, it is labeled as your FCC Record Number and there's even a button there to take you directly to the ULS record on the FCC website.

Step 3 - Start using ULS

Once you have your ULS login, things get a lot easier. With a login to ULS you can:

- Renew your license
- Update your mailing address
- Request a Vanity call sign
- Request a random new call sign
- Request a printed copy
- Get a PDF download of your certificate that doesn't say REFERENCE COPY across it.

Now, some FAQ's about the process.

What about a name change, such as marriage, etc. ?
You can't do that online. You must fill out additional forms and submit documents.

What about prior felony convictions?
You can't do that online. You must fill out additional forms and submit documents.

Do I need another FRN for my GMRS license?
No. That's the purpose of the FRN. The author has three FCC licenses, 1 amateur, 1 GMRS, and 1 Commercial Radiotelephone. All have the same FRN.

Why can't I log in to ULS with my call sign?
Because you may have other non-amateur-related business with the FCC and so the FRN is your universal identifier within the halls of the FCC.

I hope that many will find this a helpful guide. People have said for years that the FCC website is too complex, whereas the website is pretty simple. Their processes and procedures, nomenclature, and raw bureaucracy are the real problems. Getting people to realize that ULS is their true destination is half the battle won.

73, -fred AA7BQ

Click to expand...

How about some explicit information as to how to change the address of a club station license that has a vanity call sign? Thanks...

AA7BQ · Jan 10, 2022

K7EK said: ↑

How about some explicit information as to how to change the address of a club station license that has a vanity call sign? Thanks...
Click to expand...

One would suppose that the designated TRUSTEE must login under his call sign to make this change.

NN4RH · Jan 10, 2022

K7EK said: ↑

How about some explicit information as to how to change the address of a club station license that has a vanity call sign? Thanks...
Click to expand...

You have to go through one of the Club Station Callsign Administrators. ARRL is one, so is the W5YI VEC and the Anchorage VEC. There is one or two others.

NN4RH · Jan 10, 2022

NN4RH said: ↑

You have to go through one of the Club Station Callsign Administrators. ARRL is one, so is the W5YI VEC and the Anchorage VEC. There is one or two others.
Click to expand...

Link to FCC Club Station page, listing the official Club Station Callsign Administrators (CSCSA) with contact information. The one I left out earlier is the W4VEC.

Link to the ARRL Club Callsign page, with detailed instructions on how to file new, renew or modify (including address changes).

N8TGQ · Jan 23, 2022

Thanks, Fred! I just submitted my app for renewal with no problems, I think. How do you know when it has been completed? Do they send an email, or do you just sign in again in a few days?

I guess it would show up here after a few days also.

Thanks again!

N8TGQ · Jan 26, 2022

Just a quick update-I renewed on Sunday and it showed up in the FCC database Tuesday morning. They also emailed a notice of the update to me and included a link to print a copy of my new license.
So I beat the new fee and avoided the money the VE groups charge for their service.
I guess I'll donate it to QRZ!

KM4MA · Jan 26, 2022

Fred, what if we want to replace the email address on our file with a new email addy?

W7UUU · Jan 26, 2022

KW9W said: ↑

Fred, what if we want to replace the email address on our file with a new email addy?
Click to expand...

Just file a support ticket: https://ssl.qrz.com/support

Dave
W7UUU

KD9JZN · Jan 30, 2022

Thank you for sharing. 73

F4JHK · Feb 1, 2022

jersque je cherche mon indicatif, réponse du site, qui me éponds que je ne suis pas reconnu en tant qu F4JHK

W7UUU · Feb 1, 2022

F4JHK said: ↑

jersque je cherche mon indicatif, réponse du site, qui me éponds que je ne suis pas reconnu en tant qu F4JHK
Click to expand...

C'est simplement parce que la FCC n'a aucune juridiction pour les jambons en dehors des États-Unis. Je suppose que cela aurait dû être dans le message d'origine. Je pourrais également suggérer que vous le savez sûrement, mais que vous faites valoir votre point de vue. Quoi qu'il en soit, la FCC n'a rien à voir avec les licences françaises.

Dave
W7UUU

K7RCS · Feb 9, 2022

AA7BQ said: ↑

One thing that every ham in the USA has in common is the FCC. Every ham in the US is registered with the FCC, just like hams in other countries are registered with their respective governments. This article will serve as a how-to for US hams to keep their licenses updated in accordance with regulations.

FREE FREE FREE
Okay, did that get your attention? It should because everyone needs to know that updates, and at this time, renewals, are free when you help yourself at the FCC website. Congress is poised to increase amateur licensing fees; however, nothing has been voted on, and until they do, the status quo of completely free service remains in effect.

Many of us have used the services of a VEC to update our license(s). Most VEC's charge a fee for license updates and renewals. It is a clerical fee paid to full-time employees who do nothing but fill out FCC forms for people. That's what you're paying for, a service. This means that you can do it yourself for free.

Step 1 - Understand the FCC's Website
While this sounds easy, many hams have gone right off the deep end from the very first page of the FCC's website. First of all, nothing on the page says "Amateur" or "Ham Radio" anywhere. Where do you go, where do you start?

First, understand that the FCC is HUGE. They are a gigantic bureaucracy that serves multi-billion-dollar interests. They have dozens of databases, programs, and hundreds of licensing categories. Big corporations get licensed to manufacture their devices and cell phone towers. It's so large that from the front page, it seems incomprehensible. However, there is one thing that you must learn right now, even if you don't read the rest of the article. That one thing is:

Universal Licensing System or ULS

Then, when you go to the FCC's front page, at https://fcc.gov, ignore everything you see until you find a link that takes you to ULS. It shows up in a couple of places as a category, and it's the one you must use. Many hams, not knowing about ULS, registered with the FCC CORES system only to be greatly disappointed after none of their efforts resulted in an actual license update. What's worse is that while you're busy updating CORES, you aren't told of the ULS or its existence. Users are led to believe that they're making an update, such as to your FRN, using CORES when this accomplishes nothing for most hams. Stay away from CORES and everything else at the FCC. Only visit their ULS section.

Step 2 - Get a Login to the ULS system

To update your FCC Amateur radio license, you will need your FRN which is essentially your FCC user id. Logins to the FCC database are made using an FRN and a password. Right below where it asks for the password, it offers a Reset Password option. Use that to get a new password.

"What is my FRN"?
QRZ lists everybody's FRN in our call sign database. Just click on the Details tab to see it. On our pages, it is labeled as your FCC Record Number and there's even a button there to take you directly to the ULS record on the FCC website.

Step 3 - Start using ULS

Once you have your ULS login, things get a lot easier. With a login to ULS you can:

- Renew your license
- Update your mailing address
- Request a Vanity call sign
- Request a random new call sign
- Request a printed copy
- Get a PDF download of your certificate that doesn't say REFERENCE COPY across it.

Now, some FAQ's about the process.

What about a name change, such as marriage, etc. ?
You can't do that online. You must fill out additional forms and submit documents.

What about prior felony convictions?
You can't do that online. You must fill out additional forms and submit documents.

Do I need another FRN for my GMRS license?
No. That's the purpose of the FRN. The author has three FCC licenses, 1 amateur, 1 GMRS, and 1 Commercial Radiotelephone. All have the same FRN.

Why can't I log in to ULS with my call sign?
Because you may have other non-amateur-related business with the FCC and so the FRN is your universal identifier within the halls of the FCC.

I hope that many will find this a helpful guide. People have said for years that the FCC website is too complex, whereas the website is pretty simple. Their processes and procedures, nomenclature, and raw bureaucracy are the real problems. Getting people to realize that ULS is their true destination is half the battle won.

73, -fred AA7BQ

Click to expand...

Thanks for a helpful and timely article. I filed on Tuesday afternoon and had my renewed license waiting in my inbox Wednesday morning. 73 Rick K7RCS

N2QOJ · Feb 9, 2022

Thanks!

I wrote a guide also: https://toolsntipsbyjoe.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-to-renew-your-fcc-amateur-radio.html

KK7AWK · Mar 28, 2022

Yabbut - OK so now they've announced a fee of $35 starting next month. I'd like to change my call sign and can't find where to apply for a vanity call sign.

W7UUU · Apr 1, 2022

KK7AWK said: ↑

Yabbut - OK so now they've announced a fee of $35 starting next month. I'd like to change my call sign and can't find where to apply for a vanity call sign.
Click to expand...

Just saw your call sign.... my first call was WN7AWK in 1974 and I passed my general in 1975 to be WB7AWK

(Changed to W7UUU in 2012)

Dave
W7UUU

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