UPDATE March 19, 2020 - When will the new FCC license fees take effect? Read here for details.
The FCC has just approved new license fees for Amateur Radio and the GMRS. These fees are actually lower than the original fees proposed in August, which were highly contested by hams, but welcomed by GMRS licensees. While the new FCC license fees may alleviate some of the sticker shock from the original fees proposed by the Commission, it is welcome news for fans of the GMRS.
According to the FCC Report and Order released December 29, 2020, Amateur Radio license fees will now cost $35. This same fee will apply to new licenses, renewal licenses, and vanity call signs. Previously, no fees were collected for ham licenses or vanity call signs issued to amateur radio operators, so technically it is a significant change. However, it is considerably less than the $50 fees originally proposed by the Commission, so it should be of some comfort to hams.
On the brighter side, a GMRS license will now cost significantly less than before. Up to now the application fee for a GMRS license was $70. With this Report and Order, the new GMRS license fee will be only $35, which is $15 less than the proposed fee and half the cost of the fees previously charged by the FCC. The license is still valid for 10 years and covers an entire family.
The amendment to the proposed fees was largely due to the comments and feedback the Commission received in response to the proposal in August. While the FCC disagreed with many of the assertions from hams and the ARRL why the original proposed $50 fees should not be charged at all, it did acknowledge on important point brought up by many that the fees did not fairly represent the amount of effort required to process the license applications, ,which is largely automated.
As the FCC put it, "We agree that the applications for amateur licenses, and other personal licenses, are largely automated, and for that reason the cost-based fee we adopt is only $35. With respect to the amateur licenses, while review is highly automated, staff must maintain the processing system to ensure applicants are qualified, vanity call sign procedures are followed, and off-lined applications are individually reviewed. Therefore, we cannot conclude that there are no costs involved in processing the applications and we do not have the discretion to exempt this service from application fees."
Since the same is true with the processing of GMRS licenses, the Commission amended the proposed $50 fee for that as well, bringing the cost of a GMRS license down to $35.
The new fees will take affect after the Report and Order is published in the Federal Register and is sent to Congress.
The exam might cost up to $50, and the study materials can cost up to $75.
I now several preppers. None are licensed. Some have GMRS equipment and others heavily invested in ham radio transceivers and portable antenna packages.
Until congress gets their heads out of their butts most won't get their GMRS license until the price reduction. As of Feb 2022 they have rejected it. Look guys, what's better, 100,000 licenses at $35 or 1000 at $70? I also will wait for the price drop and just use the unlicensed frequencies.
The GMRS License Fee will never drop to $35 the FCC is making sure of that!!
Report & Order FCC 20-184 – Amendment of Application Fees
Less
System: Universal Licensing System (ULS)
Good ol' congress nixed the lower GMRS Fee.... I just applied today.
Report & Order FCC 20-184 – Amendment of Application Fees - On December 29, 2020 the Commission released a Report and Order in MD Docket 20-270 “Amendment of the Schedule of Application Fees Set Forth in Sections 1.1102 through 1.1109 of the Commission’s Rules”. The fee changes outlined in this order will not take effect until the requisite notice has been provided to Congress, the FCC’s information technology systems and internal procedures have been updated, and the Commission publishes notice(s) in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of such rules. Please continue to use the current Wireless Telecommunications Fee Guide for fees related to applications filed in ULS.
Dec 27 and still $70 on the FCC website. I'll keep waiting....
As of October 4th 2021, the GMRS license fee is still $70.
Does anyone know when the $35 fee takes affect?
Mr Jackson, you have another option, there are unlicensed FRS frequencies you can use
Roland from FCC says "We are waiting on the Wireless Bureau to let us know when the ULS System will be upgraded to accept the new fee rates. The last I heard was that the new fee rates will become effective sometime in January 2022. That is the only information I have, Tim."
I just got my amateur Technician's license a week ago and it was only $15 but that was through a local amateur radio club. We were told vanity applications were free until June, 2021 and the amateur fees would also go up after that date.
I assume the GMRS reduction takes place the month of June?
GMRS license fee is $70 for 10 years. I just got mine 2 weeks ago.
March came and went, April came and went, now we are in May. Any word on when the new license fees will be active? Jeesh
I renewed my Amateur License two years ago on the FCC website and it was very simple.I am a low tech Redneck and even I had Zero issues.It’s all common sense so just do it.
You can avoid the fees if you study all three levels because they will ask you if you want to take the general class right after you pass the technician class. The same holds true if you pass the general class you have the option to take the extra class without extra fees.
Just paid $70 for GMRS license application. So much for fee going into effect in March of this year.....
I quit! I've been a hamster for around 50 years, but upon atempting to renew again I have discovered that it's impossible. I was an electronic engineer for over 40 years, and my wife (a former attorney) was also a licencee. Bye!
The reason for studying and tests for Amateur Radio is because it is a hobby Radio service where experimental equipment is built and used. It is not strictly intended for just communication like Business Bands, GMRS and Land Mobile.
Most of the users on those bands and Radio services just buy commercially manufactured equipment. They are primarily interested in communication and not a hobby. They just want to "push the button on the microphone and talk ".
Illegal users destroyed Citizens Band (27 Mhz) which was originally a licensed service. Those who operated illegally didn't self police the same way Amateur Radio does.
The FCC needs to get their heads out their butts and drop the fee like they said that said they were going to instead of waiting which will be probably 10 years before they do it..
I just got my Technician License on March 16, I tried to pay the fee online but it would not let me. I called and after a few minutes on the phone going over the process which I had done correctly, I was told there is no fee for amateur ham license. I asked if she was sure and the reply was you would not have received your license if there was a fee that was not paid.
As mentioned in previous comments, the fees will not take effect until thirty days after the notice has been published in the Federal Register. The notice was just published today, March 19, 2021.
drivers can use cell phones just hands free I use a headset. I was just told that the Ham and GMRS fee reductions won't be until July