New US Ham Licenses Again Exceed 30,000 in 2016

For the third year in a row, the FCC in 2016 issued more than 30,000 new amateur licenses, with 32,552 new hams joining the hobby. According to ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, just over 32,000 new licenses were issued in 2015 and more than 33,000 were granted in 2014. Over the three-year period, nearly 100,000 new amateurs joined our ranks. 

The ARRL Letter also reports that the total number of US amateurs at the end of 2016 was 742,787, up nearly 7400 from the end of 2015, although down slightly (by 216) from the all-time record of 743,003 as of November 30, 2016.