Lower Amateur Radio Vanity Fees

From the ARRL...


NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 31, 2001--The FCC says the fee for a new or renewed Amateur Radio vanity call sign will drop to $12 on September 10. Applications received on or after that date will be subject to the new fee. The current vanity call sign fee is $14.



The FCC proposed the lower fee last March in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for FY 2001 (MD Docket No. 01-76). The FCC has estimated that 8000 applicants will apply for vanity call signs in the current fiscal year.



Earlier this year, the FCC also put paper and electronic vanity call sign applications on an equal footing in terms of processing priority. The FCC used to give priority to electronic applications for vanity call signs.



FCC rules stipulate refunds for applicants who inadvertently overpay a regulatory fee. Applicants who determine that they overpaid a vanity fee may request a refund in writing. Requests seeking a "Vanity Fee Overpayment Refund" go to FCC, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg PA 17325-7245. Refund requests should indicate the date of application, the total fee paid, and the total refund owed.