VE Test Information and FCC Changes for 2021

[KA2ODP/7]

Here is a review of the Volunteer Examiner (VE) program sponsored by the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club (GFAARC) in Great Falls, MT.

-Test sessions are held in the conference room of the Cascade County Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) building. The address is 521 1st Avenue NW. The building is across the street from the Salvation Army Thrift Store, just before the Eklund's Appliance warehouse, and next to the county fairground.

-Evening access to the conference room is from the backside of the building. Go past the building and turn right into the fenced compound behind the building. Please do not park in front of any garage doors. There is an outside entrance door into the building that goes directly into the conference room.

-The test session starts at 7:00 PM. Please arrive 15-minutes early so we can get the paperwork filled-out before the test session begins.

-The test session is held on the Tuesday evening following the monthly GFAARC meeting on Monday evening. The GFAARC monthly meeting is held on the first Monday of the month, unless it happens to be a holiday (such as Labor Day). In that case, the monthly meeting gets pushed back a week. Since the VE test session tracks the monthly meeting, in that situation it will also be pushed back a week.

-The next several VE test sessions are scheduled for: 02 February, 02 March, 06 April, and 04 May 2021.

-Please let us know in advance that you intend to come to the test session so we can prepare for the appropriate number of people and exams. The Point of Contact for the VE test session is Cameron Smith, N7NBB. Please send him an e-mail at: hamn7nbb@gmail.com and let him know you plan on coming to the test session.

-Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks are required for everyone entering the conference room. Hand sanitizer will be available. People testing will be spaced at different tables around the room to maintain social distancing.

-The cost for the VE test session is still $15. This is for the entire test session that evening. If you pass the Technician class test, we will offer you the General class test just so you can see what it is like. If you pass the General class test, we will offer you the Amateur Extra test. As long as you continue to pass the tests, you can attempt the next higher test at the same test session. We recommend folks try the General test after passing the Technician test even if they have not studied for the General test. It gives you a chance to see the type of questions the FCC asks for the next higher class of license. Since each license class builds upon the knowledge required for the previous license class, many people get 50% of the General test questions correct without having studied at all for the General test. At least you get to see what the next test is like!

-We accept payment for the $15 test session fee in cash or personal check.

-If you have any questions, please call (406) 791-8322 and leave a message with our answering service. A GFAARC representative will contact you by telephone to answer your questions.

And now for some important upcoming changes from the FCC:

-The FCC is now requiring a Federal Registration Number (FRN) on all the paperwork. The FRN is intended to replace a person's Social Security Number on the FCC documents. In fact, the FCC will NOT accept any documents containing your SSN. If someone does not already have a FRN from a previous license, they will need to obtain one BEFORE the test session. Please contact Cameron, N7NBB via e-mail to receive instructions on how to go to the FCC web site and obtain your FRN before coming to the test session.

-If you already have a paper license from the FCC, your FRN number appears on the front of the license, at the bottom.

-The FCC intends to start charging for Amateur Radio licenses in the near future, so now is a really good time to pass the test before the fee is imposed. The tentative fee is $35 for an initial license application or a renewal application. An Amateur Radio license is good for 10-years and can be renewed on-line at the FCC web site. If you are within 90-days of your license expiration date, now is also a really good time to renew it on-line for free before the FCC implements the new license fee.

-The FCC also intends to start requiring an e-mail address for official correspondence in the near future. It appears the FCC is dropping the requirement for a postal mailing address to reduce paperwork and postage costs. (Note: In the past the FCC never required your home street address. The FCC only required a “mailing address” where you could receive official correspondence. A Post Office box was perfectly acceptable.)

If you are a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), a nationwide organization for Amateur Radio operators, you can get an “alias” e-mail address. Any e-mails sent to “Your Call Sign @arrl.net” will be automatically forwarded to whatever real e-mail address you list with the ARRL. Good news for those concerned about the Feds having too much personal information.

-The FCC no longer mails out a paper copy of your license. The FCC database at their web site is now the official record source. Once your call sign appears in the database at the FCC web site, it’s official. I have posted instructions on the GFAARC Forum web site on how to download an official copy of your license from the FCC database so you can print it out. (Go to the "Elmers Corner" section and click on the "Other Elmer Discussions" topic.)

This is highly recommended since if you have Amateur Radio license plates, the DMV is now asking for proof of your valid FCC license when renewing your ham plates.

73 de
Bruce, KA2ODP/7