Ham radio operators have enjoyed a cheap pathway into the hobby for decades, but that may soon come to an end if the Federal Communications Commission gets their way. The FCC is proposing a $50 fee for applications submitted to the agency by amateur radio operators.
The new fee being considered for amateur radio operators stems from the “Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act” of 2018 — often called the “Ray Baum’s Act.” It was a Republican bill introduced and passed through Congress in 2018 and signed by President Donald Trump. The bill was a grab bag of provisions dealing with a wide variety of wireless issues. Buried deep in the bill is a nudge for the FCC to begin collecting more fees from those who use the wireless spectrum. Republicans in Congress believe the fees imposed needed to be “modernized” and stipulated that everyone must pay a fee — and the FCC needed to decide how much each entity pays.
“(a) General Authority; Establishment Of Schedule.—The Commission shall assess and collect application fees at such rates as the Commission shall establish in a schedule of application fees to recover the costs of the Commission to process applications.
Section 8, of the Ray Baum’s Act
What this means is the FCC says each time you file an application with them they believe it costs them $50 worth of cost (labor, server upkeep) to process your application. Amateur radio has largely been subsidized by commercial transmitters for decades — now Republicans in Congress want amateur radio operators to pay their own way.
The Act requires that the FCC switch from a Congressionally-mandated fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. In its NPRM, the FCC proposed application fees for a broad range of services that use the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the Amateur Radio Service that had been excluded by an earlier statute. The new statute excludes the Amateur Service from annual regulatory fees, but not from application fees.
FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees, ARRL 8/28/2020
This means that all ham radio operators would be assessed a $50 fee every time you:
- First become a licensed ham radio operator
- Upgrade your license (general, extra, etc.)
- Apply for a vanity call sign
- Renew your license
- Want a paper copy of your license
The proposed fee structure for GMRS and ham radio
General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) licensees were paying $70 for filing applications. Under the new proposal, their costs would decrease to $50. This means GMRS and amateur radio would be paying identical fees. See chart below.
| Type of Personal Licensing Application | Current Fee for General Mobile Radio Service | Cost-based Fee Proposed for GMRS and Amateur Radio |
| New license, modification | $70 | $50 |
| Minor modification | n/a | $50 |
| Special temporary authority | $70 | $135 |
| Rule waiver | $210 | $50 |
| Renewal | $70 | $50 |
What does this mean for new ham radio operators?
What about the new ham radio operators we’re trying to attract? How much more money can they expect to pay over the first ten years if the proposal is implemented? Let’s take a look below. (Note: The $40 under new license assumes a $15 testing fee and $25 for study materials)
| Action | Current Costs | Proposed Fee Structure + Testing Costs |
| New license | $40 | $65 |
| Upgrade to General Class license | $15 | $65 |
| Apply for vanity callsign | $0 | $50 |
| Renew license (10 year) | $0 | $50 |
| Total Cost | $55 | $230 |
Yes, a nearly 300% increase in cost given this typical scenario for new ham radio operators in their first ten years. Hey, that’s a lot of Baofeng radios!
How you can make your voice heard
This is merely a proposal and the FCC wants to hear feedback. Make sure to take 10 minutes and make your voice heard. Deadlines for comments and reply comments will be determined once the NPRM appears in the Federal Register. You can file comments by using the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), posting to MD Docket No. 20-270.
I can understand an increase but 300 percent is a bit much
This will make it more difficult for new hams just starting out no matter the age. Seasoned hams will continue to assist the public with emergency communications during times of a crisis, regardless of costs passed down by the FCC.
This is way too much! As it is, times are hard and with the pandemic, lots of hardship. Please do not increase the fees. People can’t afford it.
If they increase the fees like they’re proposing I may have to leave the hobby after 48 years please do not increase the fees or propose new fees.
Well a modest charge would be okay…..but. Hey just remember you can’t blame this one on Biden.
They’re all in on it. None of them are innocent.
Just make it a lifetime license. not a ten year license. A one time fee and done!
If you can’t afford this fee, your can’t afford to have a radio. So what is the issue?
Thomas you’re obviously not familiar with this hobby… Anyone who is familiar with it would not discount the home brew aspect of it completely out of hand this way. A five second search on ebay for HF radio kits will destroy your comment and argument.
Well i was going for my license guess I want make it now money is tight.
I think we should then get paid for our services we do also that part of ham radios communication..
This is a blatant attempt to make amateur radio less relevant and free up valuable space for cellular data. They’ve been trying for years.
This will have a bad effect on young amateurs. Many people in Amateur radio started out as teenagers. Will a parent pay $150 so his child can get an Extra license? I do not think so.
Amateur radio operators are critical assets in assuring communication redundancy to emergency response and healthcare agencies during disasters, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS. They do this voluntarily, without any compensation. We need to be recruiting more HAMS, and we certainly need to retain the more experienced, seasoned HAMS that we currently have. I understand that some fee increase may be necessary, but don’t get crazy; consider the value these dedicated individuals provide, and temper any fee increase with that consideration in mind. Please !
Doubtful that processing an application through the Universal Licensing System actually costs that much. It is totally automated.
Testing is free if done through https://www.laurelvec.com/
Study materials can be found free online.
All 3 licenses can be tested at the same time, so becoming an Extra could be as little as $50
A vanity call is not necessary.
We have had fees before.
This is uncalled for ! ! ! If the government doesn’t already get enough money out of us as it is we ALL need to stand together and SAY NO ! ! ! !
Thanks to Trump and Republican buddies!
Stop blaming elected politicians. It’s the UNELECTED ones that cause the problems. These ‘czars’ are more tyrannical because they are lifers and don’t have to worry about getting voted out. Too many people falling for the red/blue, Coke/Pepsi argument and don’t see who have the real power.
Not only do I say NO to the increased fees… but HELL NO !!!
Ham radio is not a cheap hobby even if you are in it for emergency operations.
You have to have good equipment for ham radio. Good equipment is expensive.
Though we all would like to have a lot of things free, their is a cost to good regulation.
When I hear obnoxious people on the radio, I wish the authorities would take care of them. So how can this happen without funding?
We pay taxes to support our government. Now Trump / GOP want fees to pay the cost of government operations.
So do we get to stop paying taxes? If not, where is all that personal income tax money ($1.8 TRILLION in Trump’s 2020 budget) going to go?
It goes to pay interest on debt. Has been for decades. You need to learn the truth about the Federal Reserve.
On the ECFS filing page, when I type 20-270, it goes to 16-240. ???
If the FCC would just do their jobs and enforce violations, it would increase their income by more than enough to keep us from having to pay $50 for the various things, however, if they want to start charging that $50, I expect them to justify that fee by doing their job.
The documentation put out by the FCC and Congress show we get nothing in return for the fee, just budget padding for them. I would love to see more enforcement.
Really? You cant come up with $50 every ten years?
It’s more about the new hams starting out that will be dinged with numerous fees in the first few years that’s most problematic.
THANK YOU!!! You beat me to it.
And the young ham thing. Dude, it’s not 1970. This isn’t a TON of money we’re talking about.
KB5III
So, is this already in effect? I was thinking of applying for a license this year.