A lot of things have happened over the past several months and there will be more to come.
On April 19, the FCC $35 application fee went into effect.
Unfortunately, things have not gone well. The latest information available is:
On Wednesday, April 27, in a notice to all VECs, the FCC again asked them to refrain from submitting any amateur radio exam session or license application files while the Commission works to resolve an issue with the Universal Licensing System (ULS) application filing system. The ULS application filing system was not functioning properly last week and then the FCC indicated the problem was resolved, as previously reported by ARRL.
However, this was not the case, as no new amateur radio call signs and licenses have been issued since Monday, April 18, 2022.
Tuesday, April 19 is the day the FCC application fees became effective for amateur radio.
Amateur radio license filings are currently on hold until further notice and FCC did not estimate how long the system would be down. View the entire news story on the ARRL website: http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-not-processing-new-license-applications.
The ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program went into effect on April 19, 2022.
ARRL will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program.
The $35 FCC application fee will be reimbursed after the ARRL VEC receives the completed reimbursement form and the new license has been issued by the FCC.
The reimbursement check will be mailed to the fee payer.
Also, candidates younger than 18-years old would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. The $5 fee is for all candidates under the age of 18 regardless of the exam level taken. Proof of under 18 status is required at the session. Visit the ARRL website for the program instructions and reimbursement form at www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program.
For those of you who have been waiting for the Club Grant program, there is good news:
The ARRL is holding a webinar Wednesday May 4 at 8p.m. Eastern. You need to register in advance for this webinar . Here is the link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4lhqvUdzS1S34tT1u8ZC4Q. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The website has been created that will be used to convey info on the program at: www.arrl.org/club-grant-program. A new mailbox here at ARRL has also been created for correspondence concerning the program: clubgrants@arrl.org.
The official launch of the program is Wednesday May 4 and clubs can apply after that date. The latest word I know is there is $500,000 available for the grants. So get your application in early before the money is gone!
The new arrl.org website is up and running and yes, there are still a few bugs. That’s to be expected where is a complete overhaul of an IT system.
One thing you do need to do is log in with a new password.
Follow these steps to sign in and access ARRL features and services:
Go to arrl.org and click “Login”.
If you had an existing account and have not logged into the new system yet, you can do one of the following steps:
1. If you know your username, click “Reset Password”.
Check your email. You will receive an email from “Personify Identity Provider” with a subject of “ARRL Reset Password Request”. Follow the instructions in the email.
If you do not receive an email to reset your password, click on “Forgot Username” and proceed from there.
OR
1. When you get to the Login Screen, Click on Register. Enter the main e-mail address we have on file and click “Next.” *
You will be prompted to create a username and new password.
Your password must contain at least eight characters, a number, an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, and a non-alphanumeric character.
*Note, if the email address is not on file, then you will need to fill out all the fields (first name, last name, address, etc).
OR
1. If you have logged into the new system, please enter your username and password.
OR
1. If you never had an ARRL account, click “Register” and follow the prompts. This will log you in to arrl.org, which now allows you to renew, donate, and shop all in one transaction.
It’s great to see our hamfest season is in full swing. I’m listing below the current hamfests on the schedule.
It has been sometime since the ARRL Illinois Section has held the Illinois Section Convention. I’m happy to report it will be held in Peoria in connection with the PAARC Superfest. Please plan to attend.
The Central Division Convention is back at HRO Milwaukee on September 23-24, 2022. I am looking forward to both the Illinois Section and Central Division Conventions and saving my pennies to buy lots of goodies.
Although I don’t have all the information for the Belvidere Hamfest yet, I know it is being held on Sunday September 25, 2022. It will make an easy stop on the way back from the Central Division Convention.
Here are the hamfests as I know them now. Remember to check into the arrl.org page for the latest information.
April 30,2022 – Sullivan Hamfest
Location: Sullivan, IL
Website: https://www.qsl.net/mark/
May 1, 2022 – The DeKalb Hamfest
Location: Sandwich, IL
Website: http://karc-club.org.
June 5, 2022 – Starved Rock Radio Club Hamfest
Location: Mendota, IL
Website: http://www.w9mks.org
June 12, 2022 – Egyptianfest
Location: Granite City, IL
Website: hamfest@w9aiu.net
July 17, 2022 – Karsfest
Location: Peotone, IL
Website: http://w9az.com/karsfest.html
August 7, 2022 – Hamfesters Radio Club Hamfest
Location: Peotone, IL
Website: http://ham-ham.org
August 13, 2022 – West Central Illinois Hamfest
Location: Carlinville, IL
Website: https://wcilhamfest.com/
September 16& 17, 2022 – 2022 W9DXCC Convention
Location: Naperville, IL
Website: http://www.w9dxcc.com
September 17-18, 2022 – Midwest Superfest 2022, ARRL Illinois State Convention
Location: East Peoria, IL
Website: http://www.w9uvi.org
September 23-24, 2022 – HRO Superfest, ARRL Central Division Convention
Location: Milwaukee, WI
September 25, 2022 – Radio Expo Hamfest
Location: Belvidere, IL
Website:: http://chicagofmclub.org
January 28, 2023 – Winterfest
Location: Collinsville, IL
Website: http://winterfest.slsrc.org
By now you have probably heard that the April 30 SET has been canceled until a later date. Right now there is discussion of possible holding it in conjunction with Field Day 2022. More to follow as more is learned.
73 until next time and good propagation.
Thom