Vanity station call signs require payment of an annual regulatory fee. The current FCC regulatory fee is $16.10 for a ten year term. This fee applies to renewals as well as new applications.

The first Vanity call signs that were issued on June 4, 1996 and the FCC fees have gone up and down over the years. The current FCC regulatory fee for renewal of an Amateur Radio Vanity call sign is $16.10 effective August 23, 2013.

CLUB STATION LICENSE RENEWALS Club station licenses may be renewed here electronically ONLY IF there are no changes to the existing FCC license record. If there is any change such as address, trustee or name of the club, a club application must be submitted by mail or fax for processing. If you are the trustee of a club station license and need to file a modification to the club station license you can download our Club Station Application here: Club Station Application PDF

Fill out, sign and return the application to us with a copy of the station license of the trustee for processing. Please be prepared to provide copies of the organizational documents (listed above), as required by FCC rule. If you are making application for a change of trustee, change of address, or change in the name of the club, we require that supporting documentation be submitted reflecting that change. This can be minutes from a club meeting or BOD meeting where the change was voted on or approved for action on the club station license.

Amateur Radio licenses may only be renewed within 90 days of the license expiration date. Vanity call signs may be renewed online here or by using the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) The licensee has the option to continue with the Vanity call sign (paying a new 10-year - $15.00 effective September 4, 2012 or relinquishing the call sign by opting for the next available sequential call sign appropriate for the holder's license class will be issued if the Vanity call sign is surrendered. The holder will not get back the call sign previously held before being issued a Vanity call sign. No fee is required to renew if the Vanity call sign holder elects a new sequential call sign. To give up a vanity call sign and request a sequential call the vanity call can not expired or be in the renewal grace period. Contact our VEC Office at 800-669-9594 if you have any questions regarding license renewals.

The W5YI-VEC mails out vanity and standard license renewal notifications normally 180 days in advance of the 90 day filing window. If your address is correct in the FCC database, you should be receiving renewal applications by mail, or you may file your application here electronically for a nominal service fee. Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, such as the W5YI-VEC , have a different electronic filing system available which allows automatic registration of your call sign and electronic access to the FCC license database. Even if you have already registered, we can obtain your license information to renew your Amateur Radio operator license. We also handle mailing address changes or get a duplicate license mailed to you from the FCC.

If you file your renewal with through W5YI-VEC we handle everything, including the automatic CORES registration of your SSN/FRN with the FCC. Or you may obtain an FRN by registering on the Commission Registration System (CORES). To get there, go to http://www.fcc.gov/ and click on the FCC Registration Number (FRN) Commission Registration System (CORES) link on the left side of the FCC home page. CORES is a web-based, password-protected, registration system that assigns a unique 10-digit FCC Registration Number (FRN) for use when doing business with the FCC. The information collected generally includes your name, address, Social Security Number, telephone number and e-mail address. You can also apply for an FCC Registration Number (FRN) by completing and filing an FCC (paper) Form 160 (CORES Registration.) Mailing instructions are found on Form 160. All FCC forms can be obtained via the FCC Forms web site at www.fcc.gov/formpage.html.

As of August 1999, radio amateurs may renew their own license, but only within the allowed 90 day filing window, using the FCC new Universal Licensing System (ULS). But it can be confusing. You access your license record information with a password and personal security question (PSQ).