The two-and-a-half week shutdown of the U.S. federal government had widespread effects on hams, but most were temporary and resolved quickly once the government re-opened.
The FCC was effectively closed
from October 1-16, and no applications for new licenses, license renewals or
vanity call signs were processed. After the shutdown ended, the Commission said
any filings due between October 1 and 6 would be extended to October 22, and
due dates on filings due between October 7 and 16 would be extended by 16 days.
Amateurs who filed renewal applications before the shutdown for licenses
expiring during the above time period were permitted to continue operating, and
the Universal Licensing System (ULS) began processing applications immediately
after the government re-opened. Vanity call applications filed or received
during the shutdown, as well as those filed between October 17 and 22, were
treated as though all had been filed on October 22. Finally, the
deadline for reply comments on the FCC's reassessment of RF exposure limits (ET
Docket #s 03-137 & 13-84) was extended to November 18.
The government shutdown also
forced postponement of the long-planned K9W DXpedition to Wake Island. At press
time, expedition leaders said they were working with the U.S. Air Force (which
controls the island) to set new dates.
In addition, organizers of the annual
National Wildlife Refuge Week amateur radio special event from October 12-20
suspended the rule requiring that operations be conducted from the grounds of a
national wildlife refuge.