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<DIV class=itemTitle><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ARRL VEC Reminds License Applicants: The FCC is Now
Paperless!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
ARRL VEC is reminding Amateur Radio license applicants that the FCC no longer
routinely prints or mails license documents. In an effort to streamline its
procedures and save money, the FCC went "paperless" in February 2015.
</FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><IMG hspace=3 alt="" vspace=3
src="http://www3.arrl.org/nl/al/image/ARRL%20VEC%20logo(1).png" width=200
align=right height=196><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Customer contact with the VEC has tripled since this
change, as many amateurs have not heard of the change or do not understand the
FCC procedures for obtaining a license copy," said ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma,
AB1FM. She said the most frequently asked question comes from Universal
Licensing System users who have applied for renewal or modification, but then
think the transaction was not completed because they did not get a new copy of
their license in the mail. </FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Once we look up the info, our answer is nearly always
that the requested transaction actually was completed and appears in the FCC
database, but they won't be getting a copy of the updated license in the mail,"
Somma said. Less frequently, her department hears from exam applicants who ask
why they did not receive a copy of their license after they passed the test.
</FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">To
help clarify things, Somma has created a web page, </FONT></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
style='href: "http://www.arrl.org/obtain-license-copy"' target=_blank><FONT
face="Times New Roman">How to Obtain an Official FCC License
Copy</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman">, devoted to explaining the various
ways a licensee can get an official license document from the FCC. An official
license displays the FCC logo and the "Official Copy" watermark across each
page. A </FONT><A
style='href: "http://www.arrl.org/files/file/VEs/Obtain%20License%20Copy%202015.pdf"'
target=_blank><FONT face="Times New Roman">printer-friendly
version</FONT></A></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> of the instructions is available on the ARRL website.
</FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Somma said the <I>easiest</I> way for a license holder
to obtain a license copy is to call the FCC at (877) 480-3201. </FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Licensees can also download and print their own official
license copy by logging into the Universal Licensing System (</FONT></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A style='href: "http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/"'
target=_blank><FONT face="Times New Roman">ULS</FONT></A></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">) using their FCC
Registration Number (FRN) and password, then clicking on "Download Electronic
Authorizations" in the menu on the left. The ULS has also added a green
informational banner that says, "Change your paper authorization preferences
<U>here</U>, or download your official electronic authorizations <U>now</U>."
Somma points out that the green banner is only temporary, and it eventually will
go away. </FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt" face="Times New Roman">At least
for now, though, clicking the "<U>here</U>" hyperlink will take you to the Paper
Authorization Preferences" page. To continue receiving paper license documents,
click "Yes." Clicking the "<U>now</U>" hyperlink will take you to the "Download
Authorizations" page. </FONT>
<TABLE style="COLOR: #000000; MARGIN: 7px 10px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0
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<TD><FONT face="Times New Roman"><IMG border=1 alt=""
src="http://www3.arrl.org/nl/al/image/ULS%20menu%20clip.JPG" width=250
height=222> </FONT>
<P class=caption><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B>Click on "Download
Electronic Authorizations" in the ULS menu on the left side of your
account page to access the </B><B>"Download Authorizations"
page.</B></FONT></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">On
the "Download Authorizations" page, scroll down to the "Filter by Radio Service"
box (remember, the ULS is <I>not</I> just for the Amateur Service). First,
<B><I>highlight your call sign</I></B> and then click "ADD>" to put your call
sign into the "Authorizations to Download" column. Scroll down a little further
and click "DOWNLOAD>" to create an official FCC license PDF document that can
be saved or printed. </FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When
modifying, renewing, or requesting a duplicate license copy, a licensee who
already has an FCC Registration Number (FRN) and provides a valid e-mail address
under "Applicant Information" while logged into the ULS system will receive an
official ULS-generated electronic authorization via e-mail. </FONT></FONT>
<P class=default><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">All
Amateur Radio exam applicants should include a valid e-mail address on their
NCVEC 605 form, in order to receive a copy of their license
electronically.</FONT></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>