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 Previous: FCC Invites Comments on Four Amateur Radio Petitions |  Next: W1YRC Appointed Rhode Island Section Manager |
NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 10, 2001--The vanity call sign logjam has begun to break up. The FCC granted 27 vanity call signs January 9, based on applications received October 15, 2001.
Earlier this week, the FCC indicated that it had all paper applications received October 15 in hand and expected to process them soon. FCC policy gives paper and electronically filed vanity applications equal priority. Mail problems due to the recent anthrax scare caused some applications filed on paper to be delayed, and vanity processing has been on hold since last fall. FCC Licensing Branch personnel have been attempting to obtain new paperwork from applicants, however.
Prior to this week, the FCC had not issued any new vanity call signs since last October 30. The FCC has a record of when it receives all vanity applications. Once the Commission has all paper and electronic applications for a given date, all submittals will be processed in chronological order.
All vanity fee payments have been recorded and deposited or charged to credit card holders' accounts. The FCC has been using vanity fee payment data from the FCC's fiscal agent, Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh to contact applicants directly to have them resubmit their applications. The Commission has asked applicants whose paper vanity filings may have arrived at Mellon Bank between October 15 and November 1 and who have not been contacted to get in touch with the FCC to find out if they need to forward a copy or facsimile of their original paperwork. The request affects only vanity applicants who filed on paper--not electronic filers.
Before contacting the FCC, however, applicants who believe their paperwork may have been waylaid were being asked to check the Universal Licensing System to see if their applications are already on file with the FCC (under "SEARCH," click "Applications," click "Continue," enter present call sign in the "Call Sign" field, and press the Enter key or click "Search"--at the bottom of the page. Click on the underlined number, if any, under "File Number" to view an application). If an application already is on file, no further action is required.
If no application is on file, or if no Web access is available, applicants should telephone the FCC Call Center, toll-free, 888-225-5322; e-mail rtaylor@fcc.gov or fax 717-338-2696.
In mid-November, the Gettysburg office began diverting mail addressed to its 1270 Fairfield Road location to another site in town for special handling. Decontamination is being handled locally now. Since October 19, the FCC has been urging all of its customers to avoid using the mails to conduct business with the agency and to use electronic means to file comments or applications.
The FCC has been acting on amateur renewals and administrative updates filed on-line via the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Universal Licensing System. As of December 3, all applicants must include an FCC Registration Number (FRN) when filing.
The US Postal Service is accepting and diverting all mail addressed to 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg--the office's physical location--to an off-site mailroom. The Gettysburg office now only accepts hand and courier deliveries at the rear entrance of 35 York St, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
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