SB QST @ ARL $ARLB048
ARLB048 FCC Seeks to Require FCC Registration Number
ZCZC AG48
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 48 ARLB048
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT December 7, 2000
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB048
ARLB048 FCC Seeks to Require FCC Registration Number
The FCC has proposed requiring everyone it does business with obtain
and use an FCC Registration Number--or FRN. Many amateurs registered
with the Universal Licensing System already have been assigned a
10-digit FRN by the Commission Registration System--or CORES. The
FCC has not made its use mandatory, however.
The FCC says requiring individuals and entities to obtain an FRN
will help it to better track and manage the collection of fees. The
FCC proposes requiring that FRNs be provided with any filings that
require payment of a fee, such as the vanity fee for amateurs. FCC
Form 159 has been modified to accommodate this requirement, the FCC
says.
The FCC is proposing to reject filings requiring an FRN that do not
include the number. ''These proposed rules would make the use of the
FRN mandatory in certain circumstances so that anyone not yet
assigned an FRN or who has not yet obtained one must obtain one,''
the FCC said in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (MD Docket
00-205), released December 1.
An individual does not have to hold an FCC license to obtain an FRN.
The FCC says the information collected by CORES includes the ''entity
name and type,'' Taxpayer Identification Number or TIN--typically a
Social Security Number for an individual, contact address and e-mail
address. CORES information is not made public.
Comments on the FCC rulemaking notice are due 30 days from the date
of publication in The Federal Register. Reply comments are due by 45
days from the date of publication.
The FCC began implementing CORES earlier this year. CORES
registration eventually will replace Universal Licensing System, or
ULS, registration. More information on CORES is available by
visiting the FCC Web site, http://www.fcc.gov and clicking on the
CORES registration link.
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