Subj : ARRL/VEC VE Newsletter To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Mar 19 2021 22:24:32 ================================================================== ARRL VE Newsletter March 2021 ================================================================== Inside this VE E-Newsletter: $35 Application Fee – does NOT take effect yet FRNs at Exam Sessions Remote Video-supervised Online Examinations Session Documents Upload Webpage Resources For VEs ================================================================== $35 FCC application fee in the Federal Register - does NOT take effect yet. The final rule change was published in the Federal Register today March 19, 2021: Federal Register - schedule-of-application-fees-of-the-commissions-rules Even though the document has an effective date of April 19, the Amateur Radio fees will not yet be required. The fee changes outlined in this order 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. This will most likely be in the summer. The following application types will be subjected to the fee when the rule finally takes effect. New, Modification (Upgrade and Sequential call sign change), Renewal, and Vanity callsign requests will be subjected to the $35 application fee. There will be no fee for Administrative Updates (email or mailing address changes, name changes). The instructions on the FCC Fee Schedule are for the applicant to pay application fees directly to FCC via the License Manager System or Fee Filer System. VECs and VE teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at the session. The ARRL VEC exam fee will remain at $15. When the FCC application fee eventually takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the VE team as usual, and then pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC. ================================================================== FRNs Only at Exam Sessions The FCC has indicated VECs/VE teams should no longer be accepting social security numbers at exam sessions. Examinees should register in the FCC CORES registration system and receive an FRN before exam day. FCC CORES User Account and Registration: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do ================================================================== Remotely administered Online Examinations The remote video exam session is conducted using an online video conferencing platform and a web-based examination system with on-screen tests. ARRL VE teams must meet the following criteria and adhere to the following rules/policies to participate in the Remote video sessions program. Long-standing, well established teams with a history of adhering to the highest degree of examination integrity, and that consistently submit accurate exam documents consistent with ARRL VEC standards will be selected to participate. Time and experience with in-person exam sessions is invaluable when transitioning to video-supervised online exam sessions. Team leader experience at in-person sessions and/or training with an established team as a team leader for video sessions is required. VE teams have been using the Exam.Tools online exams for the remote video sessions. Interested ARRL VE team leaders must contact the VEC department (VEC@arrl.org) to receive the remote video sessions procedures and ExamTools instructions. ================================================================== Session Documents Upload Webpage The US Postal Service has been slow and unreliable with moving mail and packages through their system. Some exam session packages have been unexpectedly delayed. Uploading completed sessions as a PDF file (scanned documents) via the web allows for quicker processing to FCC. Please contact the VEC department (VEC@arrl.org) for the information on e-filing exam session documents through our secure upload page. Authorized VEs will be sent the upload page URL which is hidden from the public. The VE team must only accept FRNs (Federal Registration Numbers) at the session. Social security numbers are not permitted on any exam documents or session files that are uploaded. Candidates will have to be registered in the FCC system and have FRNs already issued. Refer to the FRNs at Exam Sessions item above for the examinee registration instructions. ================================================================== Resources for ARRL VEs The ARRL VEC VE Resources page (www.arrl.org/resources-for-ves) offers information you will need to help conduct exam session business. Our support page offers easy access to exam forms and session information, online exams and remote video sessions, question pools, FCC Rules, basic qualification question information, and much more! ================================================================== The ARRL VEC Staff is Ready to Serve You As always, the dedicated VEC staff are here to answer any questions you may have. ARRL VEC: 1-860-594-0300 Address: ARRL VEC, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111 Email: VEC@arrl.org Web: www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners ARRL VEC Fax: 860-594-0339 Maria Somma, AB1FM, Manager Amanda Grimaldi, N1NHL, Assistant Manager Stephanie Borden W2MAU, Service Representative Ann Brinius, Service Representative Lisa Riendeau, Service Representative Joshua Nance, Service Representative We thank you for your efforts and interest in the ARRL VEC program. ================================================================== ARRL VEC VE Newsletter is published by the American Radio Relay League, Inc. - the national association for Amateur Radio (R). Material from the ARRL VE E-Newsletter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The American Radio Relay League VEC. ARRL VEC 225 Main Street Newington CT 06111 USA Sincerely, Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (R) 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 USA msomma@arrl.org ================================================================== --- SBBSecho 3.13-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - tbolt.synchro.net (454:1/33) .