UPDATE March 23, 2022: The FCC license fees will take effect on April 19, 2022. Read more.
UPDATE: The original article posted a specific date for activation, which turned out to be in error. We have since updated the article to correct the error and clarify the implementation process. We apologize for the error.
Last year the FCC announced new license application fees for various radio services, including the Amateur Radio Service and the GMRS. While the announcement received mixed response from the users of these services, it also created some confusion as to exactly when these new fees would begin to be enforced.
On December 29, 2020 the FCC issued a FCC Report and Order announcing the new fees. According to the document, the fee for an amateur radio technician, general or extra license, which previously was without charge, will now cost $35. The fee will apply to vanity call signs as well. The cost of a GMRS license will decrease from $70 to only $35. The licenses for both services are valid for 10 years.
When we first reported the FCC approval of the new ham and GMRS license fees back in December, there was no official date set for their implementation. This Report and Order would become effective after it was to be published in the Federal Register. However, some parts of it, including the applications fees, would not become effective until it is approved by Congress.
The Schedule of Application Fees of the Commission's Rules was published in the Federal Register March 19, 2021. According to the notice, the fees officially take effect once it is sent to Congress and the FCC's systems have been updated. The FCC will then publish a notice of the actual effective date. Update: Amateur and GMRS license fees change to $35 on April 19, 2022. Read for details.
If you are planning to obtain a ham radio license or vanity call sign, you still have time to do so without incurring the new $35 fee. If you want to buy a GMRS license and pay the lower fee, you may want to wait little awhile longer. Either way, we'll be here at Buy Two Way Radios to help you save on your ham, GMRS, and any other business or personal radios and radio accessories you may need.
I have a feeling that the fee will still be $70 two years from now.
As of 10/14/2021 the fee still shows to be $70... was going to pay for the license... but I will wait.
Oct 13 - Still $70, going hunting in a few days, not happy paying an extra $35 that should have changed by now!
ANDDDD ITS STILL $70 ... as of 10/6/2021 ... get it together guys
Still $70 as of 9/16/2021
Still $70 as of 9/9/2021. The politicians in Washington DC can spend trillions on "human infrastructure" - social justice and social equity but can't do their job and pass needed legislation.
Hello Ham Operators. I'm looking to get a pair of GMRS radios but I'm in no rush I prefer to pay the lower $35 dollar fee. Today is September 6, 2021. Any updates on the FCC and the lower fee? TIA for any replies.
The fees are scheduled to go into effect approximately 30 days after notice is published in the Federal Register. As of September 7th, 2021, the fee has not yet been published.
DA-21-442
Released: April 19, 2021
OFFICE OF MANAGIING DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES EFFECTIVE DATE OF
FY 2021 APPLICATION FEES ORDER
On March 19, 2021, the Commission published the Application Fee Report and Order in the Federal
Register.
While the Application Fee Report and Order will generally become effective thirty days (30)
from publication in the Federal Register (April 19, 2021), as explained in the Application Fee Report and
Order, the new fee rates, sections 1.1102, 1.1103, 1.1104, 1.1105, 1.1106, 1.1107, and 1.1109 of the
Commission’s rules, “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.”2
The Commission will publish notices in the Federal Register that will identify when each application fee
category will become effective. Please continue to monitor the FCC website for updates.
For additional information on this proceeding, contact Roland Helvajian at [email protected] of
the Office of Managing Director.
This is copied and pasted straight from FCC document DA-21-442
Translation? Five simple words. "Whenever we feel like it." Advice? Pay the $70, skip Starbucks for the next two weeks, and your license is paid for. That's what I'm doing. It's either get the license now and use GMRS, or wait for the government.
Still $70 as of today and will be $70 or higher ten years from now. and If do pay the 70 damn dollars I'm not buying a GMRS only radio I will use Motorola XTS5000 hand Held and my Motorola XPR4550 Mobile/Base the Motorola's have the correct bandwidth.
I just paid the $70 tem minutes ago.
The Wireless Bureau needs to get their "Heads out of their Asses and get it done instead of waiting a year or two to get it done,
As of July 3, 2021 still $70.
I corresponded with Roland from FCC and he 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." so forget about it this year.
It is 6/30/2021 and the fee on application remains $70.
Payment Type Quantity Purpose Subtotal
PAZM 1 NE $70.00
Total Due $70.00
Still $70 as of June 19th. and it may be late into next year before the fee drops to $35..
June 10th Still $70
June 3rd and still $70!
Considering the US Fiscal year begins on July 1st, I don't think it will change before then.
May 16, still $70. Holding your breath waiting for the Federal Government to lower a fee will result in a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. Repeated holding of your breath waiting for the Federal Government to lower a fee will result in repeated sudden and temporary loss of consciousness. Conversely, the Federal Government can and will raise fees at lightning speed, often before the ink is dry on the proposal. They move quick when it's in their favor, not so quick when it's in our favor.
May 16th, still $70