You may choose to print these instructions so that you have them when you access the page you are looking for
Recently the FCC stopped taking paper work in envelopes and also want everyone to get an FRN number. We have heard on the repeaters lately about the confusion. Hopefully this will make it easier. I will detail the options here so you can pick the one that works best for you.
According to Brennan Price n4qx ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent the FCC will still accept paper form 605 and will issue the FRN to you when you send the form to them. The only thing that has changed is you cannot put it in an envelope and send it to the FCC. The suggestion is to put another piece of paper around it with the FCC Gettysburg address and your return address on it then staple it or tape it together. The ARRL is a great help to members and non members and ARRL VEC still takes paperwork so one of the benefits of being a member is help with renewals. Need form 605? Call the FCC form distribution center at 1-800-418-3676 and they will send one to you. Just fill it out and send it to the FCC but NOT in an envelope. If you would like to renew or modify you license by this method you can stop reading now.
We have all heard we will need an "FRN" to do business with the FCC online. After the November meeting of the Androscoggin Club we checked the computer and discovered that some people already have an FRN number and did not know it. To find out if you have an FRN you can check at ARRL and enter your call sign in the call look up box and click go! If you see an FRN number great! You will NOT have to get another. If you do not see one you will have to get an FRN, see online procedure below. Note: we were not able to find FRN numbers at QRZ of people we know have them so use the ARRL site. If you have an FRN but do not know the password call 1-877-480-3201 and they will send you the password you were assigned. The password is only needed to make changes on line.
I will not detail that online renewal system here because by the time most of you read this it is scheduled to change again to something only known to the FCC at this time. While at the arrl site you can print a copy of the form needed to renew. There are links to print form 605 although my experience is they look so small I need a microscope to read and would be impossible to fill out. The preferred one for ARRL members the NCVEC QUICK-FORM 605 (the print is good and big and it is quick and easy to fill out) but it will take a "pdf reader" installed in your computer to get it. Go to ARRL and click on licensing. Then a few choices will drop down. Click on FCC licenses. Another box will drop down. Click on "licensing forms", the screen will change and then click on NCVEC FORM 605. The pdf reader should load the form so you can print it out. All they need on this is your name, call sign, mailing address and zip code, social security number or FRN number. Check the type of applicant, most of us would check individual, check renewal, or you can change address too. Sign it and date it and send the NCVEC FORM 605 to ARRL/VEC 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111. ARRL members will get this processed at no extra charge as part of the membership.
If you like, W5YI will process it for a $6 application fee. Send completed form NCVEC FORM 605 along with $6 to W5YI Group Inc. P.O. Box 565101 Dallas, Texas 75356
To get an FRN online go to svartifoss2.fcc.gov/CoresHome and check that you want to register and recieve your FRN. Be sure to type the URL in as you see it here. All lower case except the C and H in CoresHome and the https is unusal but it does work. It doesn't seem to work if typed in otherwise. A new screen will appear. Check individual unless you are getting an FRN for business radios. Then click continue and the next page will appear. Pick the salutation (Mrs. or Mr. etc) and enter your first name in the first name box. Then middle initial and then last name. You can skip suffix and doing business as or trading as long as you are not dealing with business licenses, just a ham ticket. Next click continue. The next screen asks for your street address or P.O. Box mumber. Enter what your licence says as long as it is correct. Next pick the state from the list and then zip code, at least 5 of the 9 numbers. E-mail address, phone number and fax number can be entered on this screen but are not required. Next click continue and review what you have entered so far. If not correct click left "back" arrow and correct the wrong info and click continue again. The next screen will ask for a password (you make up) between 6 and 30 characters long and retype it to confirm it. Next they will want a password hint so they can help you if you forget your password. Next press submit and in a few seconds you FRN number will come back. Be sure to print this page and save it in a safe place. If Murphys law gets you at this moment and the printer fails, copy down the info off the screen. You will need the FRN number and password for future online changes. Also there is a link for form 162 you should click on and print and save that also. I like this because the computers fill it out for you! Within 24 hours all the FCC computers will know you have an FRN and will be ready to process online info.
I hope this helps make renewals and FRN easier to understand.
Special thanks go out to Dick Knight, N1NYW, for these helpfull instructions.
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