Dear VE:
FCC recently announced that they will stop accepting "FCC Form 605" applications on pre-December 2003 forms--these are forms that non-examinees mail directly to FCC.
This FCC announcement has nothing to do with "NCVEC Form 605" used by VEs at test sessions, or NCVEC forms submitted directly to VECs!
VEs and VE test Sessions are unaffected! SSNs can still be written on NCVEC Form 605 at test sessions and will still result in automatic CORES registration.
For applicants doing business with FCC by mail, this will mean that amateurs without an FRN who send FCC an application for renewal, address or other changes by mail can no longer use the simple March 2001 form that allowed them to write an SSN in box 9a on that earlier form to accomplish automatic registration. Under the new form situation, filing an FCC Form 160 by mail, waiting for FCC to mail back an FRN, and then filing FCC Form 605 would be required. Yes, this all can be done simply, via the internet at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ (step 1 is CORES/Call Sign Registration, then step 2 is ONLINE FILING).
The ARRL previously supplied a 6-page FCC form package using the March 2001 form to assist amateurs in their interaction by mail with FCC. With the removal of the March 2001 from use, the ARRL has needed to revamp our package. Shortly the new package, in its 9-page layout (since FCC Form 160 must now be included for non-registered {non internet} applicants to first get an FRN by mail before they turn around and apply using a December 2003 or newer FCC Form 605 by mail to FCC).
73,
Bart
J. Jahnke, W9JJ
Manager
ARRL
VEC
The following was run in ARRL News...
Web Article: FCC to Stop Accepting Applications on Pre-December 2003 Form 605
Dear VE:
FCC announced last week that they are proposing several changes to the amateur
rules. These do not include, however, the substantive changes in license
requirements -- either Morse code or restructuring -- that are currently being
widely discussed.
There are a few matters that could directly affect the VE community. These include:
The
remaining affect would be residual changes to pool questions as necessary.
Interested amateurs are invited to submit comments on the this NPRM by Tuesday,
June 15, with reply comments by Wednesday, June 30.
See below
for more information.
73,
Bart J. Jahnke, W9JJ
Manager
ARRL VEC
Web Article: FCC Proposes Wide-Ranging Changes to Amateur Service Rules--Not Restructuring
Dear VE:
Once again, we have an impending pool update that will take effect on July 1st. This year it is the General Element 3 pool that will change as of 12:01 am local time, July 1, 2004.
Field Stocked ARRL VE teams, active in the past 18 months, will receive a test booklet update in June. Non-Stocked ARRL VE teams with July 1 or thereafter exams will receive the new tests with their test registrations and material requests as supplied to ARRL VEC.
To register a test session (and to request materials for ARRL VE teams), download and complete the form template at http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/regisfrm.txt and then return it to ARRL VEC. VE teams with other VECs can use the first half of this form to register their exams as well, for posting on the ARRLWeb.
ARRL VEs using ExamWin (or any new equivalent software update that is being developed as this is being written) will be able to obtain the update from the ARRL Web at http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examwin/, and a copy will be sent directly to VE Team Liaisons who are flagged as software users. An Instructor version will also be made available.
To review the question pools (or withdrawn questions) see http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html.
----------------------
July 21, 2004, marks the 20th Anniversary of the ARRL's VEC program. A July QST article is in the works to reflect on this momentous occasion. All ARRL VEs are to be congratulated on helping us continue to be the premier VEC program. More on this occasion will be reported as the anniversary approaches.
73,
Bart J. Jahnke, W9JJ
Manager
ARRL VEC