AG16
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 16  ARLB016
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  May 20, 2021
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB016
ARLB016 Amateurs' Email Addresses Will Continue to Be Kept Private,
FCC Says

Starting on June 29, all applications filed with the FCC must
include an email address for FCC correspondence. After receipt of
the initial announcement that all future applications would require
an email address, ARRL was concerned for the privacy of its members
and requested that amateurs' email addresses not be made public.
This week, the FCC agreed, stating in an email to ARRL counsel that
it will continue to 'mask' amateurs' email addresses from public
view in the Universal Licensing System (ULS). The FCC will use the
email address supplied by amateurs to correspond with applicants,
including to send a link to the official electronic copy of the
license when an application is granted.

The FCC is transitioning to fully electronic correspondence and no
longer mails hard-copy licenses. Amateurs are able to view,
download, and print their official license grant, using the ULS.
When a license is first granted, each applicant will receive an
email with a direct link to the license. Although the link expires
in 30 days, the license itself will remain available in the ULS and
may be downloaded at any time by signing into the licensee's account
using their FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password.

On or after June 29, a valid email address must be provided with
each application, and must be kept current by filing a modification
application as necessary. Under the amended Section 97.23, 'The
email address must be an address where the grantee can receive
electronic correspondence. Revocation of the station license or
suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence
from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the grantee failed
to provide the correct email address.'

Applicants lacking an email address should consider using the email
address of a friend or family member on their FCC applications.

Reminder: Due to changes the FCC has made to its licensing system,
starting today, Thursday, May 20, all amateur exam applicants must
provide their FRN to the Volunteer Examiners (VEs) before taking an
amateur exam. Prospective new FCC licensees will be required to
obtain an FRN before the examination and provide that number to the
VEs on the Form 605 license application. An FCC instructional video
provides step-by-step instructions on how to obtain an FRN through
the FCC's COmmission REgistration System (CORES) can be found at,
https://www.fcc.gov/rofrn .

The FRN is used afterward by the applicant to download the official
license document from the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS), to
upgrade a license, apply for a vanity call sign, and to submit
administrative updates (such as address and email changes) and
renewal applications.