07/07/2016
The FCC information technology staff is continuing to look into why the
Universal Licensing System (ULS[1]) Electronic Batch Filing (EBF) system has
stopped processing at least some - and perhaps all - Amateur Radio exam session
files and applications. The stoppage, which began on June 28, initially
affected the handling of all Amateur Radio Volunteer Examiner Coordinator
(VEC[2]) and commercial license applications, said ARRL VEC Manager Maria
Somma, AB1FM, who alerted the FCC IT Department. Somma said that by June 30, it
appeared that the FCC had corrected the broader problem, and processing of most
Amateur Radio VEC and commercial applications and exam session files had
resumed.
"The fix for the ARRL VEC remains elusive, however," said Somma. "I assumed the
issue would be cleared up quickly as the FCC has done in the past." She added,
that the FCC has been unwilling to reveal the extent of the problem, which she
believes still could be affecting applications from outside the ARRL VEC.
According to Somma, resolving the problem has been escalated to Priority 1 at
the FCC, and resources have been reprioritized to address the issue.
"I have been in contact with the FCC every day inquiring about their progress
and will continue to do so until the problem is resolved," Somma said. "I have
also asked them to provide us with an alternate filing option as soon as
possible."
Somma said that as of July 6, the ARRL VEC had more than 900 applications and
nearly 275 exam sessions in the queue and awaiting FCC processing.
"As soon as the FCC staff discovers and corrects the EBF system problem, we
will immediately file the backlog, which would take only a day or so to
release," Somma estimated.
She said a lot of candidates and volunteer examiners have begun asking why new
call signs or license upgrades have not yet been issued, and she is sympathetic
with their concerns. "We usually transmit the exam sessions to FCC as soon as
possible, which is 24 to 48 hours from the day they are received in our
office," she said. "Therefore, questions from the field about the delay are
understandable."
[1] http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
[2] http://www.arrl.org/volunteer-examiners
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