Get your Amateur Radio License in just one day!
Sponsored by the: Kent County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
No Techno-Babble needed, this class is for anyone who wants their amateur radio license. Since 2006 more than 500 people have taken this class and passed! Read the rest of this entry »
The Forest Hills Adult Community Band invites all to their first concert of the 2009-2010 series.
“October”, featuring music of the season will take place on October 18, 2009.
Click here to view the flier.
Grand Rapids has become a gathering place and art gallery for artists the world round. Both professional and amateur artists have their creations on display all around town.
What was I thinking?
Since it’s been a long while, I thought I’d update all my loyal readers further on where I’ve been, what I’ve been up to, and such. Read the rest of this entry »
Please stand by. We are experiencing some technical computer difficulties. Be assured, these difficulties are only temporary and we should be able to return to normal soon. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you due to lack of sleep, stress, anxiety, or news deprivation.
The FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (NPRM) on May 14 seeking to raise fees for Amateur Radio vanity call signs. Currently, a vanity call sign costs $12.30 and is good for 10 years; the new fee, if the FCC plan goes through, will go up to $13.40 for 10 years, an increase of $1.10.
The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended) to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new term. Instructions on how to comment on this NPRM are available on the FCC Web site.
The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 12 years of the current program — from a low of $11.70 in 2007 to a high of $70 (as first proposed in the FCC’s 1994 Report and Order). In 2007, the Commission lowered the fee from $20.80 to $11.70. The FCC said it anticipates some 15,000 Amateur Radio vanity call sign “payment units” or applications during the next fiscal year, collecting $201,000 in fees from the program.
The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity
call sign for a new term. The first vanity call sign licenses issued under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that began in 1996 came up for renewal three years ago.Those holding vanity call signs issued prior to 1996 are exempt from having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal,
however. That’s because Congress did not authorize the FCC to collect regulatory fees until 1993. Such “heritage” vanity call sign
holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio database.Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the ULS and clicking on the “New Users Register” link. You must supply your Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.
The ARRL VEC will process license renewals for vanity call sign holders for a modest fee. The service is available to ARRL members and nonmembers, although League members pay less. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be free for ARRL members. Trustees of club stations with vanity call signs may renew either via the ULS or through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator, such as ARRL VEC.
League members should visit the “ARRL Member Instructions for License Renewals or Changes” page, while the “Instructions for
License Renewals or Changes” page covers general renewal procedures for nonmembers. There is additional information on the ARRL VEC’s “FCC License Renewals and ARRL License Expiration Notices” page.License application and renewal information and links to the required forms are available on the ARRL Amateur Application Filing
FAQ Web page. The FCC’s forms page also offers the required forms.
(SOURCE: ARRL News Bulletin, May 18, 2009)
I am posting a story that came from my boss at work a few weeks back. I am sure this is available out in cyberspace someplace but for your entertainment and perusal here is “The Monkey Cage”. Read the rest of this entry »
In my laziness on Sunday evenings I have happened across WGN out of Chicago running reruns of the old sitcom “WKRP in Cincinatti.” An inquisitive mind like mine wanted to know why WKRP was chosen and if stations had used the call sign previously or since the series led me to several articles on the call sign. It turns out that it was used both before and after the series by various broadcast stations. Here is a link to some information on the history of the show as well as what stations have used WKRP as their call. There’s even some other trivia information for all those trivia heads that read my blog. Enjoy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRP_in_Cincinnati#The_.22real.22_WKRP_stations
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