FCC to Hams: That'll be $50, Please

The FCC is proposing a $50 fee for all amateur radio license applications, 

modifications and upgrades, under terms of a law passed by Congress in 2018. It would not include administrative updates such as address changes, but according to the ARRL Letter, the proposed fee would also apply to requests for printed licenses. Over a 10-year license term, the fee would be the equivalent of $5 per year. Hams have had to pay fees as high as $70 in the past for vanity licenses, but licenses with sequentially-issued call signs were exempted. The FCC eliminated all fees for amateur licenses several years ago. The fee proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in MD Docket 20-270. The full NPRM is at <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-116A1.pdf>. Comments were being accepted for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.