09/01/2021

The ARRL Board of Directors has formally endorsed a proposed program calling on
ARRL to cover the $35 application fee for license candidates younger than 18
years old. The FCC is not expected to implement the $35 application fee
schedule until sometime in 2022. The Board approved the "Youth Licensing Grant
Program" at its July meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. The program concept,
first raised at the Board's annual meeting in January, was reviewed by an
ad-hoc committee, which expanded the scope of the original motion by ARRL
Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB.

Goals of the Program include expanding the reservoir of trained operators,
technicians, and electronics experts within the amateur radio community, and
removing a financial obstacle to young people who wish to acquire an amateur
radio license, as a means of encouraging potential careers in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Under the program, ARRL would cover a one-time $35 application fee for each
qualified candidate who passes one or more amateur radio exams taken on the
same day at a single examination session. Tests would have to be administered
by a Volunteer Examiner (VE) team working under the auspices of the ARRL
Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). Qualified candidates also would pay a
reduced exam session fee of $5 to the ARRL VEC.

The new program also would "enhance ARRL's position as the leader in volunteer
testing," the Board motion said. "The Board believes that the recruitment and
training of young amateur radio operators is a necessary and proper mission of
the ARRL, and that subsidization of the $35 fee will reduce the number of new
amateurs that otherwise would be lost from these groups," the Board said.

The Board said ARRL Headquarters staff would determine the method of qualifying
applicants and instruct VE teams, giving the teams flexibility to determine
that a candidate is eligible for reimbursement in the absence of documented
proof. The Board envisioned that the VEC would pay the FCC directly. The new
program initially would serve up to 1,000 new license applicants younger than
18 years old.

The motion gave ARRL staff "complete latitude" to determine how payment is
delivered to the FCC or to reimburse eligible applicants. This program length
is indefinite; it may be renewed or terminated by the Administration and
Finance Committee or by the Board of Directors. The motion carried with
applause from Board members.

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