[W5SFA] Government Shutdown Impacts Amateur Radio License Applications

[robert ferguson]

Today's Topics:
Summary:  Government Shutdown Impacts Amateur Radio License Applications


According to the FCC public notice statement:  Aside from a few emergency and auction filing systems, all other Commission electronic filing systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations resume.



Therefore, the FCC is not processing any Amateur license applications during the shutdown which includes individual, club, and exam session (new and upgrade) applications.



The FCC CORES registration system is one of the few systems that remains available to the public and is not affected by the shutdown. Applicants can still register in CORES and be assigned an FCC Registration Number (FRN). https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do



Additionally, information included in the FCC public notice outlined how licenses that will expire while the FCC is closed will be handled. If a license has just expired or is about to expire, the ham can file the renewal application and continue to operate while the FCC is closed. The filed application will remain in limbo until the FCC is back to work. If the Amateur waits until the FCC reopens, then they will have two days to submit the renewal before their license is considered expired in the FCC database.


The FCC public notice did not specifically address licenses that had expired and were near the end of the 2-year grace period other than to state, "We are not automatically extending the deadlines, but we will consider whether it is appropriate to do so once normal operations resume."


Web News Story:  Amateur Radio Applications in Limbo as Partial Shutdown Continues
The FCC is not processing any Amateur Radio applications as the partial government shutdown approaches its fourth week. The FCC suspended "most operations" at mid-day on Thursday, January 3, although an appearance of activity continues. For radio amateurs, the shutdown means that, while the Universal Licensing System (ULS<http://www.fcc.gov/wireless/systems-utilities/universal-licensing-system>) continues to accept applications for all valid purposes, the FCC will not review or act upon them until the funding stalemate is resolved. This includes Volunteer Examiner Coordinator test session batch files as well as modification, renewal, and vanity call sign applications filed by individual licensees. Amateur Radio newcomers who have passed the required examinations will have to wait until the shutdown concludes to receive a call sign and authorization to operate. License upgrades are also on hold.
"Due to a lapse in funding, the operations of the Federal Communications Commission will be limited with no system support. We regret any inconvenience," the FCC says on the ULS home page. This means very limited human intervention while the shutdown continues, and if a system breaks down, it will not be repaired until after employees are back on the payroll. At this point, 262 of 1,437 FCC employees (excepting contractors) remain on the job, as are FCC Commissioners.
The Antideficiency Act<https://www.gao.gov/legal/appropriations-law-decisions/resources> prohibits FCC and other federal employees from working until funds are available to pay them; they may not even volunteer, check their email, or attend meetings. While the law doesn't directly affect FCC automated filing databases, some of these cannot operate without regular human intervention.
The Commission has emphasized that it will undertake any activities necessary for the protection of life and property during the funding lapse. That includes the High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) Center in Maryland, considered essential.
The FCC website remains up, and the FCC Daily Digest of its activity continues to be posted, but the website is not being updated, and the only items it contains are those related to spectrum auctions, activity that is funded through auction proceeds, not government funds. The Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS<https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/>) will also accept posts, but filings will not be reviewed or processed until after normal operations return.
The FCC spelled out the overall impact of the funding lapse in a January 2 Public Notice<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-10A1.pdf>. Using available funds, the agency was able to maintain a business-as-usual posture until that date. The FCC released an updated Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-355868A1.pdf> on January 9. The resumption of normal operations will also be announced on the FCC's website.

For further information, please see the ARRL news items on the website:
01/10/2019  http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-applications-in-limbo-as-partial-shutdown-continues

01/02/2019  http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-outlines-impact-on-its-operations-of-potential-funding-lapse


Now silence. What we say is poison to some and nourishing to others.
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