W5YI, VEC, Inc. Amateur Radio Examining The W5Yl Group, Inc. Amateur & Commercial Radio Training Materials National Radio Examiners Commercial Radio Examining
Date: June 9, 1 999 To: All Contact VE Teams From: Fred, W5YI Dear CVE: New FCC policies and procedures became effective this Spring which revise, strearmline and modernize the way the Commission handles wireless radio station applications and licensing. All two- way radio services are affected including the Amateur Service. Basically the FCC is in the process of consolidating its licensees into one database and replacing dozens of application forms with just five The Amateur Service is one of the radio services that will be using an FCC Short Form 605 plus a Schedule "D". In addition, VECs must prepare a worksheet that will be used in conjunction with VE administered examinations. For the first time, the FCC is permitting the VEC System to collect the information required by these new rules in any manner of their choosing - including preparing their own forms. Rather than use three different forms, the W5YI-VEC is planning to consolidate all of the needed information onto a single form which we call "W5YI Form 605." While the new FCC Form 605 and Schedule "D" : do not resemble the current FCC Form 6 1 O (which will be discontinued), we have designed the W5YI Form 605 so that (in the interest of simplicity) it more or less follows the previous FCC Form 610. There will be new information collected that has not been requested in the past. For example, the applicant's Social Security Number (SSN), daytime telephone number, fax number and/or e-mail address (if any) must be transmitted to the FCC by the VEC. T^n addition, a provision has been made for VECs who meet the statutory requirements to act as a Club or Military Recreation Station Call Sign Administrator. Where an applicant does not wish to give his/her SSN to the VE, the applicant may register their SSN with the FCC and provide the VE/VEC with a comparable "Licensee ID" which will be later related to the applicant's SSN. (More information on this is posted to our Web site.) Complicating the matter is the FCC's upcoming reorganization ofthe Amateur Service. We are not sure which examinations and license classes will remain a part of the Amateur Service licensing structure after the FCC Commissioners rule on WT 98-143.. There is widespread belief that the FCC will reduce the number of Amateur Service license classes to three or four . . .and the Morse code speed requirements to one or two (a top speed of 5 wpm, or 5 and 1 2 wpm.) To make the transition from the current licensing system to the new Universal Licensing System (ULS) more efficient, the W5YI-VEC is in the process of establishing an e-mail communication system through which it will be able to quickly and easily communicate with its VE teams. As a result, we need your current e-mail address so that you may be included in any mailing that we make to our VE teams. All VECs will be traveling to Gettysburg, PA on July 9th to learn more about ULS. It is also possible (but by no means assured) that the Amateur Service restructuring Report and Order may be issued prior to this meeting. The FCC has advised us that there will be a six month transition period from the current Amateur Service licensing program to the new Universal Licensing System. The plan is to begin testing the new ULS this summer with full implementation at year end. The W5YI-VEC is also planning to have an online form through which VE teams (at their option) will be able to key in applications and session information directly into a World Wide Web browser and submit to the VEC Office in much the same way that "Vanity" call Sign applications are handled by the FCC. We will have more to say about this program later. We are attaching a copy of the initial "W5YI Form 605." Keep in mind that this form is certain to change somewhat dependent upon the revisions the FCC's incorporates in their planned restructuring of the Amateur Service. This form has been already been reviewed by the FCC's Universal Licensing System personnel and has obtained preliminary approval. The next six months will be an cxciting time for the Amateur Service . . .and the VEs/VECs in particular. The procedures that we have followed for many years will be drastically changing. It is important that you provide us with your e-mail address so that we may keep you up-to-date with these changes. We also invite you to check out our newly redesigned Web site at http://www.w5yi.org. Note that we have listed all of our VE teams, and have posted the new FCC Rules and an online VE Application Form. Please contact us at: 1-800-669-W5YI (9594) if you have any questions.) Sincerely,THE W5YI , INC. FREDERICK O. MAIA Offices: 2000 East Randol Mill Road, Suite 608-A, Arlington, Texas 76011 Tel. 8171461-6443 (I%(B Fax 8171548-9594