SB QST @ ARL $ARLB019
ARLB019 Instant license opposed

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ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 15, 1994
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB019
ARLB019 Instant license opposed

Instant license opposed

In reply comments to the FCC on a proposal for instant operating
authority for new amateur operators, PR Docket 93-267, the ARRL said
that, ''almost without exception,'' groups and individuals who had
responded to the proposal agreed with the League that the idea
should be shelved in favor of electronic filing of license
applications with the FCC.

The ARRL said that the mechanisms for such electronic filing of Form
610s ''cannot be more than a few months away at worst.''

The League said that the FCC plan would invite abuse because, among
other reasons, ''The Commission itself suffers an inability to stem
the tide of unlicensed operators in any radio service, because of
limited enforcement resources.''

In response to a counter proposal by the W5YI-VEC, that the FCC's
plan be modified to avoid abuse by having volunteer examiners assign
temporary call signs from blocks allocated to them by the FCC, the
League said this would be an unbearable burden and responsibility on
the VEs.

The League said that, at any rate, the Communications Act gives no
basis for the FCC to delegate call sign assignment authority,
including determining a licensee's basic qualifications, which VEs
would have no way of doing.

The League once again asked that the proceeding be terminated in
favor of electronic filing as soon as feasible.
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