NPRM to Remove Amateur License Addresses from Public View,

AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 0.453(D)(4) AND 0.457(F) OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES CONCERNING ELECTRONICALLY STORED APPLICATION AND LICENSING DATA. Proposed to specify that historical amateur radio licensee address information will not be routinely available for public inspection. (Dkt No. 15-81 ).
Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 03/31/2015 by NPRM. (FCC No. 15-40).
WTB https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-40A1.doc https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-40A1.pdf

All VEC and VE's Organizations should file comments on this immediately.

Read it closely as it proposes to remove address information public view in ULS on both archived license records as well as current license records. What is unclear, is removing it from public view in the FCC ULS database is one thing, but do they intend to remove it form the FCC database files entirely? - doesn't say, but if that happened it would be an end to public call sign look ups on the internet like QRZ, E-Ham,etc that puts the information out for public display
for QSL information.

If amateur license addresses were totally disappear from all public view. Logically the address information would not be made available in the public access files (database) or the information they want or keep private would be on public display on various call sign look up databases.

If this NRPM is adopted, it would mark the end of QSL cards and the ability to confirm on the air contacts for all of the contact award programs that require QSL confirmation, like WAS, WAC, DXCC and other contest ward programs.

Note also: Page 2, Item 5 of the notice: Based on comments by the FCC, an licensee does not have to provide their real residential address, but can provide literally ANY address they wish.

And, even bigger, the proposal asks should this same concept of privatizing data be extended to ALL WTB licensed services.

Comments due 60 days after Release March 31, 2015
Reply comments due 90 days after publication in Federal Register

Take Care & 73,

Tim - KK4QBN


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Re: Address removal
By: kk4qbn to All on Thu Apr 30 2015 21:53:00

Read it closely as it proposes to remove address information public view
...
database files entirely? - doesn't say, but if that happened it would be
an end to public call sign look ups on the internet like QRZ, E-Ham,etc
that puts the information out for public display
for QSL information.

Well, you could still look up a callsign ... but the holder's mailing address just wouldn't necessarily be there. Presumably those who wish to would just add that info to their QRZ profile (or whatever else) voluntarily.

If this NRPM is adopted, it would mark the end of QSL cards and the
ability to confirm on the air contacts for all of the contact award
programs that require QSL confirmation, like WAS, WAC, DXCC and other
contest ward programs.

QSL cards were being sent and received long before finding your contact's mailing address was as easy as looking it up on ULS, QRZ, etc. Doubtless this activity would find a way to continue one way or another, and hopefully not revert to being as cumbersome as I imagine it was in the pre-internet age.

Probably the best option would be opt-in privacy, where your address is made public unless you choose otherwise. Maybe you already have that - I don't know - I think it's an option here in Canada.

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Re: Address removal
By: kk4qbn to All on Thu Apr 30 2015 09:53 pm

Read it closely as it proposes to remove address information public view in ULS on both archived license records as well as current license records.

No, it proposes to remove pervious addresses, not current ones. It asks for comments on removing current ones (as well as comments on other services). The
proposed rule is:

(2) With respect to the Amateur Radio Service as that term is defined in Section 97.3(a), address information on expired, canceled, or terminated licenses; archived versions of active licenses; and processed applications will
not be made available for public inspection by the Commission. For such licensees, disclosure of an individual's historical address information is considered clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

What is unclear, is removing it from public view in the FCC ULS database is one thing, but do they intend to remove it form the FCC database files entirely? - doesn't say, but if that happened it would be an end to public

It actually specifically says that they will be kept. In section 6, it states "We note that this information will remain available to the Commission."

All VEC and VE's Organizations should file comments on this immediately.

What does this have to do with volunteer examiners? All interested parties should file comments, not VEC and VEs.


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Re: Address removal
By: echicken to kk4qbn on Fri May 01 2015 12:05 am

Probably the best option would be opt-in privacy, where your address is made public unless you choose otherwise. Maybe you already have that - I don't know - I think it's an option here in Canada.

It is an option in Canada... I think they actually changed it to opt-out privacy for new licenses.

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Re: Address removal
By: echicken to kk4qbn on Fri May 01 2015 01:05 am

Probably the best option would be opt-in privacy, where your address is made public unless you choose otherwise. Maybe you already have that - I don't k - I think it's an option here in Canada.

as far as I know it is'nt an option here either, everything is available via the uls database, and a few other internet databases that mine the uls for some reason or another, so really with the older callsigns, this will not change too much for that reason, the info will still be available in multiple areas.

Take Care & 73,

Tim - KK4QBN


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Re: Address removal
By: Deuce to echicken on Fri May 01 2015 00:06:53

Re: Address removal
By: echicken to kk4qbn on Fri May 01 2015 12:05 am

Probably the best option would be opt-in privacy, where your address is m public unless you choose otherwise. Maybe you already have that - I don' know - I think it's an option here in Canada.

It is an option in Canada... I think they actually changed it to opt-out privacy for new licenses.

It's certainly an option here in the UK. When you first apply for your licence you get to opt-out if you wish. I would assume there is some way of changing this, but I don't know. I've opted out with both of my licences for no real reason other than I like to be in control of what I share. Everyone uses qrz.com and can contact me on there if they *need* my home address. I only QSL via the bureau anyway.

Mark, 2E0WRP.


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