Hi,

At first, a lifetime amateur radio license sounded like a good idea to me.

The problem I have with it though is that it may have some real negative consequences for the vanity callsign program.

We all know how many people want to get a short callsign of their choice, such as their initials, and with lifetime licenses, this would become much more difficult.

Most relatives of a deceased ham would never think to notify the FCC, so I am afraid that many coveted vanity callsigns would languish in the FCC'S database for long periods of time.

John



----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Behler  <[log in to unmask]>
#a;tocb-ds;c [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016 4:03 pm
Subject: Re: The proposal or lifetime amateur radio licenses?

>
>
> Thanks for posting the notice, Maurice.
> 
> I'm going to have to give it some more thought, but right now, I can see =
> the merits of arguments on both sides of the issue.
> 
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maurice mines [mailto:[log in to unmask]]=20
> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 1:03 PM
> To: tom behler
> Subject: The proposal or lifetime amateur radio licenses?
> 
> Good morning Tom, and the next part of this email, I will paste the full =
> text of yesterday=Ebleb=80=99s American radio relay league announcement of =
> the proposed rule making proceeding that has been initiated by the =
> Federal Communications Commission. I believe what they are seeking is =
> comments on the proposal to amend part 97 of the federal regulations =
> that govern amateur radio, the amateur radio service. And the amending =
> of part 97 what effectively make amateur radio licenses lifetime.
> 
> I should tell you that I=Ebleb=80=99m personally in favor of this, because =
> I think it would indeed reduce the amount of paperwork that the =
> commission has to do. The only slight reservation, that I have, is bad =
> for operators that have violations of the commission=Ebleb=80=99s rules, or =
> have been de-license because of the commission, probably should still =
> remain under some kind of probation, and/or sunset provision. But I =
> think this sort of special situation would probably apply to a tiny =
> fraction of the more than 700,000 licensed US radio amateurs. The other =
> reason that I=Ebleb=80=99m in favor of this proposal, as I believe that in =
> many other countries, the license is already a lifetime license grant. =
> What I=Ebleb=80=99m really getting at here is that I think that the FCC is =
> just trying to bring the United States into agreement with many other =
> countries in the world. So please see the following text up =
> yesterday=Ebleb=80=99s announcement, email.
> 
> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB008
> ARLB008 FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur Radio =
> Licenses
> 
> ZCZC AG08
> QST de W1AW
> ARRL Bulletin 8  ARLB008
> From ARRL Headquarters
> Newington CT  February 24, 2016
> To all radio amateurs=20
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB008
> ARLB008 FCC Seeks Comments on Petition to Grant Lifetime Amateur Radio =
> Licenses
> 
> The FCC is seeking comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM 11760
> - available on the web at,
> http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=3D60001333714 were that asks the =
> FCC to grant lifetime Amateur Radio licenses. Mark F. Krotz, N7MK, of =
> Mesa, Arizona, filed his request with the FCC last November. He wants =
> the FCC to revise Part 97.25 of its rules to indicate that Amateur Radio =
> licenses are granted for the holder's lifetime, instead of for the =
> current 10 year term. Krotz noted that the General Radiotelephone =
> Operator License (GROL) already is issued on a lifetime basis, and he =
> maintained that not having to renew licenses would lighten the FCC's =
> workload.
> 
> "It would be mutually beneficial for the FCC and Amateur Radio operators =
> to update Part 97 to grant operator licenses for lifetime, Krotz said in =
> his filing. "The FCC would benefit by reducing administrative costs."
> 
> In 2014 the FCC granted lifetime credit for examination elements 3 and =
> 4, but applicants seeking relicensing under that provision still must =
> pass examination element 2.
> 
> Individuals may submit comments
> (http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=3DRM-11760) via the FCC's =
> Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
> NNNN
> /EX
> 
> Sincerely Maurice mines.
> iPhone, 505-507-9792.
> Amateur radio call sign, kd0iko.
> board member, national Federation of the blind of New Mexico Albuquerque =
> chapter.