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 Previous: CQ Contest Publishes Its Final Issue |  Next: ISS Expedition 3 Crew Conducts Its First School Contact |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 4, 2001--Get ready for the FRN! Starting December 3, 2001, everyone doing business with the FCC--licensed or not--must obtain and use a 10-digit FCC Registration Number--or FRN. The FCC called the move is "a first step" toward streamlining fee collection and tracking. Many amateurs registered with the Universal Licensing System (ULS) were assigned a 10-digit FRN by the Commission Registration System--or CORES--in a one-time cross-registration last year. Affected amateurs were notified by mail.
Those who did not get an FRN last year will be required to register and provide one before transacting business with the FCC, whether or not a fee is required. An individual does not have to hold an FCC license to obtain an FRN, however. The requirement to obtain one extends to applicants for an Amateur Radio license as well as to anyone required to pay a fee to the FCC, such as those applying for a vanity call sign. CORES registrants will be required to supply a Taxpayer Identification Number--or TIN--typically a Social Security Number (SSN) for an individual. The FCC says CORES information is not made public.
An FRN will not be required to file comments in rulemaking proceedings and certain other petitions and communications. Database searches also will not require an FRN.
The FCC began implementing CORES last year. The agency announced the adoption of its new CORES/FRN rules on August 31 and detailed the requirements in a Report and Order. The Commission had sought comment on the system last December. The FCC has created a new Subpart W to Part 1 of its rules that spells out the FRN requirements.
While imposing yet another set of numbers for licensees to deal with, the FCC sounded almost apologetic. "We realize that the manner in which our electronic systems have developed has results in a multiplicity of numbers, passwords and identifiers," the FCC said, acknowledging some critical comments. But, the FCC said that once various electronic filing systems--such as ULS--incorporate CORES and FRN into their application process, "the need to maintain registration information in multiple systems will be eliminated."
Details to implement CORES for the Amateur Service are still being worked out. Steve Linn of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau said just how CORES and ULS will work together remains up in the air. "CORES is not replacing the ULS database," he explained, "but there are a lot of questions as to how it is to be integrated." A final implementation with respect to Amateur Radio is "yet to be determined," he said. Under the most likely scenario, however, CORES registration will supplant ULS registration for those who do not already have an FRN.
The FCC said CORES makes provision for the registration of foreign nationals unable to obtain an SSN by providing the ability to register without one. "For foreign entities that do not yet have a TIN, the CORES will assign a nine-digit personal identification number (PIN) to the entity," the FCC explained in its R&O.
The FCC has required that club stations obtain a PIN when registering in the ULS. In an apparent about-face, the FCC now states radio clubs registering in CORES should use the TIN/SSN of the license trustee. "Unincorporated amateur radio clubs owned by United States citizens that were not converted from ULS into the CORES will be required to supply a club trustee's TIN in order to obtain an FRN," the FCC said. The ARRL has asked the FCC to clarify the seeming contradiction.
There will be no limit on the number of FRNs an entity may obtain. "This will permit members of a corporate family to obtain individual FRNs, whether or not those entities have different taxpayer identifying [sic] numbers (TINs)," the FCC said. But the Commission added that its decision means that entities will be responsible for ensuring that the proper FRN is used for a given payment to the Commission.
Filings requiring an FRN that do not include one will be rejected under the new rules. The FCC has not yet proposed replacing the ULS Licensee Identification Number with an FRN; many amateurs already have both. Once CORES is fully deployed, all Commission systems that handle financial, authorization of service, and enforcement activities will use the FRN.
The on-line filing system and further information on CORES is available by visiting the FCC CORES Web page. Manual CORES registration involves completing and filing a FCC Form 160 (CORES Registration). Mailing instructions are found on Form 160. Further information about registering for an FRN is available from the CORES Administrator or toll-free, 877-480-3201.
The ULS continues to be available to new registrants. At least for the time being, the ULS will continue to generate licensee ID numbers to replace TINs.
A copy of the FCC R&O is available.
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