‰  NOW 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

The schedule of FCC amateur radio application fees likely will not
go into effect before 2022. FCC staff confirmed during a recent
virtual meeting with Volunteer Examiner Coordinators that the agency
is still working on the necessary changes to the Universal Licensing
System software and other processes and procedures that must be in
place before it starts collecting fees from amateur applicants.
Earlier this year, the FCC said it would not start collecting fees
from amateur applicants before this Summer.  The new estimate is
that the fees wont go into effect until early next year.  Once its
effective, the 35 dollar application fee will apply to new,
modification, upgrade and sequential call sign change, renewal, and
vanity call sign applications. All fees will be per application.
Administrative update applications, such as those to change a
licensees name, mailing, or email address, will be exempt from fees.
ARRL VEC manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said Volunteer Examiner teams
will not face the burden of collecting the 35 dollar fee.  Once the
FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will
pay the exam session fee to the VE team as usual, but theyll pay the
35 dollar application fee directly to the FCC using the FCC Pay Fees
system, she explained. When the FCC receives the examination
information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment
instructions to each successful candidate who then will have 10 days
from the date of the email to pay.  In a statement received by ARRL
on August 14, 2021, Region 2 of the International Amateur Radio
Union, or IARU R2, has requested that radio amateurs in the Americas
keep the following frequencies clear to support emergency
communications in Haiti following the earthquake.  The frequencies
are 3750 kHz, 7150 kHz, and 14330 kHz. The statement came from IARU
R2 Emergency Coordinator Carlos Alberto Santamar Gonzalez, CO2JC.
According to preliminary information from the United States
Geological Survey, USGS, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on
August 14, 2021 at 1229 UTC, about 12 kilometers northeast of Saint
Louis du Sud and 33 kilometers to the east northeast of Les Cayes,
Haiti, located at 18.352 degrees north and 73.4801 degrees west at a
depth of 10 km.

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