Subj : ARRL/VEC VE Newsletter To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Wed Apr 27 2022 00:54:53 ======================================================================== Inside this VE E-Newsletter: New Technician Class (Element 2) Pool will take Effect on July 1, 2022 NEW ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program Reminder: FCC $35 Amateur Application Fees Effective April 19, 2022 Additional Reminders ======================================================================== New Technician Class (Element 2) Pool will take Effect on July 1, 2022 The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee released the 2022 - 2026 Technician Class Element 2 Question Pool into the public domain in January 2022 (updated and re-released on 03/07/2022). The new pool is effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026, and must be used for Technician-class license exams administered on or after July 1, 2022. There are three graphics required for this pool. To view all three question pools, visit the NCVEC website. NEW TECHNICIAN EXAMS COMING: On July 1, 2022, the new Element 2 Technician-class question pool will take effect for examinations. VECs and VEs must have new test designs available for use at exam sessions effective that date. ARRL VEC will be supplying all active field stocked VE teams (near 1,000) with 12 new exam booklet designs about the 3rd week in June. All current ARRL VEC printed exam booklets are listed on our web site at www.arrl.org/vec-exam-booklets. Field stocked VEs should check this page periodically to make sure they have valid exam designs. Previous ARRL VEC supplied 2018 Technician class exam booklet versions (2-1-2018, 2-2-2018, 2-3-2018 2-4-2018, 2-5-2018, 2-6-2018, 2-7-2018, 2-8-2018, 2-9-2018, 2-10-2018, 2-11-2018, and 2-12-2018) and computer-generated Technician-class exams created from the 2018 question pool are only valid until midnight June 30, 2022. At that time, VE Team leaders should destroy, or throw away the older versions of the Technician exams (do not return them to VEC). To avoid a mix-up at the session, do not save outdated exam versions. As a reminder, if you are not officially field stocked (box of supplies) by the VEC, the team must return all unused exams and supplies after each session to ensure the most up to date materials are being used. ======================================================================== ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program The ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program went into effect on April 19, 2022. ARRL will cover the one-time $35 application fee for new license candidates younger than 18-years old for tests administered under the ARRL VEC program. The $35 FCC application fee will be reimbursed after the ARRL VEC receives the completed reimbursement form and the new license has been issued by the FCC. The reimbursement check will be mailed to the fee payer. Also, candidates younger than 18-years old would pay a reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC VE team at the time of the exam. The $5 fee is for all candidates under the age of 18 regardless of the exam level taken. Proof of under 18 status is required at the session. Visit the ARRL website for the program instructions and reimbursement form at www.arrl.org/youth-licensing-grant-program. The ARRL Board approved the "Youth Licensing Grant Program" at its July 2021 meeting in Hartford, Connecticut, expanding on the scope of the original motion proposed by ARRL Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB. The new program will cover the $35 FCC license application fee for candidates younger than 18-years old. The Board believes that "the recruitment and training of young amateur radio operators is a necessary and proper mission of the ARRL, and that subsidization of the $35 fee will reduce the number of new amateurs that otherwise would be lost from these groups," the Board said. Initially, the new program would serve up to 1,000 new license applicants under 18 years old. The program length is indefinite; it may be renewed or terminated by the Administration and Finance Committee, or by the Board of Directors. The motion carried with applause from Board members. ======================================================================== Reminder: FCC $35 Amateur Application Fees Effective April 19, 2022 Amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, became effective April 19, 2022. The $35 FCC application fee applies to new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application. Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, and modification applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee's operator class, or to request a sequentially issued call sign, are exempt from fees. VECs and Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams do not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions. VEC and VE team licensing procedures are unchanged. New applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual, and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC. VE teams can point candidates to our FCC Application Fee webpage for the detailed instructions and information about the FCC fees. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FCC APPLICATION FEE FILING GUIDE EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2022 INDIVIDUALS $35 FEE: new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application. NO FEE: administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, modification applications to upgrade an amateur radio licensee's operator class, or to request a sequentially issued call sign and license cancellation. AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS $35 FEE: new, renewal, rule waiver, and modification applications that request a new vanity call sign. The fee will be per application. NO FEE: administrative updates, such as a change of name, change of trustee, mailing or email address, modification applications to request a sequentially issued call sign and license cancellation. ======================================================================== Additional Reminders The ARRL VEC VE Resources webpage offers all the information you will need to help conduct exam session business. Our support page offers easy access to session forms and information, online examinations, and remote video session instructions, VE Manual supplemental information, FCC rules, basic qualification question procedures, and much more. There is also some helpful information for the community, such as preparation resources for candidates, in-person and remote video exam session search, vanity call sign information, and more. VE team leaders can register exam sessions and order supplies via our easy-to-use online form: http://www.arrl.org/arrl-exam-session-form Field stocked team leaders can request a restock of session materials on the ARRL website, using our online re-stock form: www.arrl.org/field-stocked-ve-teams ======================================================================== 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: (860) 594-0300 (leave message after regular business hours) 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 O'Brien, N1NHL, Assistant Manager Stephanie Borden W2MAU, Service Representative Lisa Riendeau, Service Representative Joshua Nance, Service Representative Ann Brinius, Service Representative We thank you for your support of 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 ARRL VEC. ARRL VEC 225 Main Street Newington CT 06111 USA Sincerely, Maria Somma, AB1FM - VEC Manager / Editor ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 USA msomma@arrl.org ======================================================================== --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (618:250/33) .