FCC Ham Radio license database

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 48
ARRL Headquarters Newington CT

The FCC begins phasing in the Universal Licensing System for the Amateur Service August 8 at 4 PM Eastern Time. That's when the FCC will stop accepting batch files that contain new or upgraded licensee data from Volunteer Examiner Coordinators under the current amateur licensing system.

Being phased out under ULS is the familiar paper FCC Form 610 series. A new "universal" Form 605, primarily designed for electronic use but also available on paper, will take its place.

An FCC Public Notice issued July 23, 1999 says the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will begin use of the ULS for the Amateur Service on August 16. The existing Amateur Radio licensing data will be transferred into the ULS database during a weeklong phase-in period. During the phase-in period, the FCC will not process new or upgraded licenses.

Electronic filing of Amateur Radio license renewals using FCC Form 900 ends August 9, 1999 at 9 AM Eastern Time. Electronic filing of vanity call sign application Form 610V terminates August 13, 1999 at 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Hams should not attempt to file renewal or vanity applications until the ULS becomes operational on August 16, 1999.

Starting August 16, 1999, hams registered in the ULS may file the new FCC Form 605 electronically at any time of day, seven days a week. FCC Form 605 will be used for license renewals, modifications, cancellations, vanity call sign application, application withdrawals and amendments, as well as requests for duplicate licenses and administrative updates (ie, a change of address or other clerical license modification). Applications for new or upgraded licenses will continue to be filed through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator.

Automated processing of electronically filed applications will occur nightly each business day, but only five days a week instead of seven. There will be no weekend processing under the ULS.

The FCC has warned applicants should anticipate processing delays during the first couple of weeks the ULS is in effect.

The FCC will stop accepting most Form 610 applications next February 16, 1999, but club station Form 610B will continue to be valid beyond the six-month transition window to allow time for the FCC to implement new handling procedures.

One feature of the new ULS is a renewal reminder sent 90 days prior to a license's expiration date. ULS also will simplify the process of submitting fees to the FCC, and the FCC said it anticipates that the ULS will be capable of accepting credit card payments on-line in the near future.

Registration in the ULS is required.

Applicants should use FCC Form 606 for both electronic or manual filing.

To register online, visit:
and click on "TIN/Call Sign Registration."

A paper FCC Form 606 is available at:
or from the FCC's Forms Distribution Center, 800-418-3676.

The FCC will not process future license grants, upgrades, modifications or renewals for any applicant not registered in the ULS. Individuals eligible to hold a Social Security Number must provide this number to the FCC in order to be registered in the ULS.

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 51
ARRL Headquarters Newington CT
August 13, 1999

ULS Opens for Business

The FCC's Universal Licensing System opens its doors to Amateur Radio Monday, August 16. The FCC reported August 13 that the ULS would be out of service until then to prepare for implementation. Amateurs should wait until the ULS is back on-line August 16 to register.

The ULS ushers in an era of electronic, interactive filing and handling of Amateur Radio applications and marks a major change in the way Amateur Radio applicants will deal with the FCC. It also means the demise of the familiar paper FCC Form 610 series in favor of the "universal" Form 605-primarily designed for electronic use but also available on paper. Amateurs filing applications with the FCC under the ULS will use Form 605 for all purposes except-at least for now-club station applications.

The FCC began a weeklong ULS phase-in period for the Amateur Service August 8 and has been converting existing Amateur Radio licensing data into the ULS database. Electronic Amateur Radio renewal using FCC Form 900 was scheduled to end August 9. Electronic vanity call sign application using Form 610V was to terminate August 13 at 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Hams should not try to file renewal or vanity applications until the ULS comes up August 16.

Before using the ULS to file an application, renew or modify a license, or apply for a vanity call sign, all amateurs must register. When registering, individuals eligible to hold a Social Security Number must provide this number-which the FCC refers to as a Taxpayer Information Number or TIN. This requirement is a mandate of Congress, not of the FCC. All hams must be registered in the ULS to do business with the FCC.

Applicants use TIN Registration Form 606 for both electronic or manual registration.

To register electronically, visit:
and click on "TIN/Call Sign Registration."

A paper FCC Form 606 is available at:
or by calling 800-418-FORM (3676).

Applicants first register their Social Security Number (or TIN), then enter a call sign. Applicants also must specify a password and a personal identifier.

Registrants receive a nine-character Licensee Identification Number. Amateurs may use this number in place of a Social Security Number in future dealings with the FCC.

For now, applications for club, military recreation, and RACES licenses should be filed on the "old" FCC Form 610B. Trustees and custodians of these licenses should not use their personal Social Security Number as the TIN for these applications but should contact ULS Technical Support (202-414-1250) to obtain a FCC-generated identification number for Form 610B.

Applications for new licenses or upgrades will continue to be filed through a Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. VECs will use a special NCVEC Form 605-a variation of Form 605-to file with the FCC for test sessions.

Starting August 16, hams already registered in the ULS may file applications using the new FCC Form 605 electronically at any time of day, seven days a week. FCC Form 605 will be used for license renewals, modifications, cancellations, application withdrawals and amendments, as well as requests for a vanity call sign, duplicate license, change of address or other clerical license modification.

Visit the WTB ULS page:
and click "Connecting to ULS" for information on accessing the ULS system. Accessing the ULS database requires a telephone modem. A toll-free number, 800-844-2784, connects users to the FCC's Wide Area Network.

Among other things, the ULS features a renewal reminder sent 90 days prior to a license's expiration date. The ULS also simplifies the process of submitting fees to the FCC. The FCC said it also anticipates that the ULS will be capable of accepting credit card payments on-line "in the near future."

For more information, visit the FCC's ULS page:

QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 24 ARLB024 May 9, 2000

ARLB024 FCC opens ULS to Web applications

Amateurs now can file ULS applications via the Web. The FCC opened ULS to Internet filers on April 29 and formally announced the system this week.

FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief Thomas Sugrue announced that ULS users now can file applications and notifications via the Internet for all services previously only available by dial-up connection to the Commission's Wide Area Network. To access the new capability, visit the ULS home page at and click on "Online Filing."

The ULS-the FCC's interactive on-line licensing application, modification and renewal system for wireless telecommunications services-was deployed for the Amateur Service last August 16.