FCC - GMDSS Renewal - FYI

[todd.harter]

After a lengthy and frustrating journey through the FCC web-site trying to renew my GMDSS - I finally stumbled across this - Hope this saves someone else the aggravation I went through.

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU REMINDS HOLDERS OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL RADIO OPERATOR LICENSES THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO FILE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS<O

In the Third Report and Order in WT Docket No. 00-48, the Commission amended Section 13.15 of its Rules to extend the license terms of certain commercial radio operator licenses from five years to the lifetime of the holder. Specifically, it extended the terms of GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses (Operator Class Code DO), Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses (RG), GMDSS Radio Maintainer’s Licenses (DM), GMDSS Operator/Maintainer Licenses (DB), and Marine Radio Operator Permits (MP) to the lifetime of the holder. This rule change took effect on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com</st1:date><st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3">March 25, 2008</st1:date><O
Accordingly, GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses, Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses, GMDSS Radio Maintainer’s Licenses, GMDSS Operator/Maintainer Licenses, and Marine Radio Operator Permits with expiration dates of <st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3"><st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3"><st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3">March 25, 2008</st1:date></st1:date></st1:date> or later no longer need to be renewed. Even if there is an expiration date on the face of the license, the license is valid for the holder’s lifetime, without filing a renewal application (unless the license is subsequently suspended or canceled). If the license expired prior to <st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3"><st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3"><st1:date Year="2008" Day="25" Month="3">March 25, 2008</st1:date></st1:date></st1:date>, however, the licensee must file an application to renew the license within the five-year grace period for the license term to be extended to the lifetime of the holder. A licensee who fails to renew his or her license within the five-year grace period must apply for a new license and retake the required examination element(s). Holders of GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses, Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator’s Licenses, GMDSS Radio Maintainer’s Licenses, GMDSS Operator/Maintainer Licenses, and Marine Radio Operator Permits are encouraged to verify the status of their licenses in the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) database before filing an application to renew the license. If a licensee desires a hard copy of the license that bears no expiration date, the licensee may simply print out a Reference Copy of the license in ULS. Alternatively, licensees may request a replacement license by filing FCC Form 605, subject to payment of the appropriate filing fee.This rule change does not affect holders of First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificates (T1), Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificates (T2), and Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificates (T3). As before, these Radiotelegraph Operator’s Certificates are normally valid for a term of five years from the date of issuance. The rule change also does not affect holders of General Radiotelephone Operator Licenses (PG), Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permits (RP), and Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permits-Limited Use (RL), which already were valid for the lifetime of the holder. For technical assistance in renewing a license or applying for a replacement license, please contact the ULS Technical Support Hotline at (877) 480-3201, option 2, (717) 338-2888, or (717) 338-2824 (TTY). The ULS Technical Support Hotline is available Monday through Friday from <st1:time Minute="0" Hour="8"><st1:time Minute="0" Hour="8"><st1:time Minute="0" Hour="8">8:00 a.m.</st1:time></st1:time></st1:time> to <st1:time Minute="0" Hour="18"><st1:time Minute="0" Hour="18"><st1:time Minute="0" Hour="18">6:00 p.m. ET</st1:time></st1:time></st1:time>. There are no weekend hours, and the hotline is closed on all Federal holidays. To provide quality service and ensure security, all telephone calls are recorded<O.<O</O

[Towbiz]

This did help me thanks a million

[dougpine]

That's great! Please share with us how it helped, you may help others too!

[GOMariner]

If you login and change a address on your FCC license, you dont have to pay the fee and its good for life

[jdcavo]

The FCC statement for this is at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...A-09-658A1.pdf