Friday, June 21, 2013

FCC Shorts


The FCC has set September 3 as the comment deadline for its Notice of Inquiry regarding possible changes in RF exposure rules, including the elimination of some current exemptions for amateurs. See ET Dockets 13-84 and 03-137 on the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) website at <http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs//>. 
 
The cost of requesting or renewing a vanity call sign is likely to go up by 20 cents when the new federal fiscal year begins on September 1. In a Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued in May, the Commission proposed raising the current $15 fee for a ten-year license term to $15.20.

The FCC has ordered a Nebraska-based online retailer to stop advertising, marketing and selling modified CB sets and non-certified RF amplifiers for the 12- and 10-meter amateur bands. The ARRL Letter says ePowerAmps of Omaha was given 30 days to confirm compliance with the order or face possible fines or equipment seizure.