FCC to Stop Accepting Applications on Pre-December 2003 Form 605

NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 12, 2004--Effective with mail received on or after Monday, May 3, 2004, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will dismiss any applications filed on an FCC Form 605 bearing an edition date earlier than December 2003. Form 605, Quick-Form Application for Authorization in the Ship, Aircraft, Amateur, Restricted and Commercial Operator, and General Mobile Radio Service, is the hard-copy version of the Amateur Service application. The change does not affect applicants filing on-line with the Universal Licensing System (ULS), the FCC said.

"Ultimately, the FCC wants to have all persons doing business with the agency electronically," said ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. He says the Form 605 announcement also will affect the way ARRL has been making FCC Form 605 available.

"As a convenience to the amateur community, the ARRL has widely distributed at hamfests and conventions the March 2001 Form 605 in a three-sheet ivory/buff-colored package with perforated pages," Jahnke explained. "That ARRL-supplied three-sheet package becomes obsolete for applications received by the FCC on or after May 3."

Jahnke says the ARRL is developing a replacement package in the wake of the FCC's unexpected announcement this week. The ARRL hopes to have it ready in time for Hamvention 2004 May 14-16.

"This new package may require several more pages of forms and instructions," he said. The FCC has been accepting both older and current Form 605 applications that included a line (Item 9a) for a Taxpayer Identification Number--a Social Security number for an individual. The FCC would then issue the applicant an FCC Registration Number (FRN) without additional paperwork.

All amateur applicants must have and use an FRN when filing an application such as Form 605 with the FCC, but it is not required for filing comments in public proceedings. Applicants attending VEC test sessions can still supply a Social Security number, which will result in automatic Commission Registration System (CORES) registration.

Under the system going into effect in May, applicants not yet registered in CORES and filing on paper will need to file FCC Form 160, CORES Registration to obtain a FCC Registration Number (FRN). After the FCC has issued an FRN, applicants also might want to file FCC Form 606 to associate the FRN with an individual's license record(s) and call sign(s). CORES registration data and FCC license data are maintained in separate FCC databases.

The completed Form 160 goes to a unique Washington, DC, FCC address to obtain the applicant's FRN. Once the FCC issues an FRN to the applicant, this number must be used when filing FCC Form 605, which goes to the FCC's Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, office.

"The two forms may not be mailed to Gettysburg together," Jahnke says. "Applicants need to have obtained an FRN via Form 160 before they can file a Form 605."

ARRL recommends that all amateurs file an on-line or paper Form 606 to associate their FRN with their license record(s) and call sign(s) in the FCC license database. The easiest way is to do this electronically, Jahnke says.

"Electronic CORES registration and electronic license application on-line filing via the FCC Web site has become fairly straightforward in the past year, and can be done via the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) page," Jahnke said. For CORES registration, choose "CORES/CALL SIGN." Once the FCC issues an FRN, on that same page follow the link at the bottom of the page to associate your call sign(s) with your FRN. Applicants also can do this via the FCC's secure Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Web site. Select "Update Call Sign/ASR Information."

Registered applicants may file on-line via the ULS by entering their FRN and password, then selecting "ONLINE FILING." This would include such routine tasks as license renewal (no earlier than 90 days before license expiration), change of address or name or filing for a vanity call sign.

Jahnke says the FCC action will have no effect on NCVEC Form 605, which Volunteer Examiner Coordinators such as ARRL VEC use at VE test sessions. "The NCVEC Form 605 will continue to be the required license application form at test sessions," he said.

If you already are registered in CORES but have forgotten your password, the FCC has a password assistance tool on its "Forgot Your Password?" Web page.

The current edition of Form 605, dated December 2003, is available on the FCC forms page.

The form also is available via the FCC's Fax Information System, 202-418-0177. You can also obtain paper copies of Form 605 from the FCC Forms Distribution Center by phone, toll-free, 800-418-3676.

For more information or assistance, contact the Federal Communications Commission, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245, call the FCC Consumer Center, toll-free, 888-CALLFCC (888-225-5322) and select option 2, or e-mail FCCDMD@fcc.gov.

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