SB QST @ ARL $ARLB026
ARLB026 FCC Proposes to Hike Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Fee

ZCZC AG26
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 26  ARLB026
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  March 26, 2003
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB026
ARLB026 FCC Proposes to Hike Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Fee

The FCC proposed March 26 increasing the regulatory fee to apply
for, renew or reinstate an Amateur Radio vanity call sign from
$14.50 to $16.30 this fall. The Commission included the new fee in a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) "Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2003" (MD 03-83), released today.
The closing date for comments on the new fee schedule is April 25.
Reply comments are due by May 5.

"We estimate that 9800 applicants will apply for vanity call signs
in FY2003," the FCC said in its NPRM. That's up by 800 from FY2002.
It expects to collect revenues of nearly $160,000, an increase of
almost $30,000 from FY2002.

The FCC NPRM also seeks comments on its efforts to review,
streamline and modernize its fee assessment and collection processes
and procedures. "We welcome comments on a broad range of options in
this regard," the FCC said. Areas of particular interest include
suggestions for improvement in the agency's electronic payment
system.

Interested parties may comment via the FCC's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) on the web at, http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Enter "MD 03-83" in the "Proceeding" field.  Electronic comments by
e-mail also are welcome.
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