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FCC Extends Renewal Filing Deadline; ARRL VEC Ready to File 2,500+ Ham Radio License Applications |
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ARRL News reported that the FCC has extended the filing deadline to March 5, 2026, for amateur radio licenses that otherwise were due to expire from October 1, 2025, to March 5, 2026. The announcement is included in an FCC Public Notice (DA-25-943) released on Monday, November 17, 2025.
The news follows the recent reopening of the federal government on November 13, following a 43-day shutdown. Since reopening, many federal agencies, including the FCC, have resumed activities, though reducing backlogs and rebounding to full operations may take some time.
This includes continued delays in filing amateur radio license applications.
ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (ARRL VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, explained that the announcement means that amateurs whose license expired, or will expire, between October 1, 2025, and March 5, 2026, may continue to operate upon completing a license renewal filing by March 5, 2026.
Somma added the FCC ULS systems are intermittently available again, which include the license manger system, FCC license search, and application search databases, as well as the CORES system. However, FCC system issues are affecting application processing.
The FCC had also briefly resumed accepting application filings via its Electronic Batch Filing (EBF) system on late Wednesday afternoon, November 19. “The EBF system is used by ARRL VEC and all VEC organizations to file exam sessions, new and upgraded licenses, as well as individual and club license filings, none of which are not being processed at this time,” said Somma.
During the shutdown, the ARRL VEC urged its Volunteer Examiners to continue giving ham radio exam sessions. “We have over 2,500 license applications ready to file as soon as the EBF system becomes available and fully operational,” said Somma. “ARRL VEC is prepared to submit the backlog of sessions and applications to FCC for issuing licenses.”
ARRL VEC has published important information For ARRL VEC exam candidates who were unable to get an FCC Registration Number (FRN) while the FCC CORES system was unavailable.
To read this complete story and the latest updates, and for instructions For ARRL VEC exam candidates, visit https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-vec-ready-to-file-2-500-ham-radio-license-applications-fcc-extends-renewal-filing-deadline (ARRL News 11/18/2025).
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Amateur Radio Digital Communications Funding Opportunities |
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If you or your club are developing projects that advance amateur radio or digital communications, now’s a great time to apply for Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) grant funding, with the next application deadline on February 1, 2026. The foundation has been awarding grants since 2019, supporting a wide range of initiatives that strengthen and expand the amateur radio and digital communications communities.
ARDC’s priority areas for funding reflect the organization’s broader vision and strategy for supporting experimentation, education, and open technology within the amateur radio and digital communications communities. They are especially interested in projects that align with these three areas:
● Research & Development (R&D): Open hardware and software systems that enable learning and experimentation, such as software defined radios, open codec technologies, and new modulation techniques.
● Space-Based Communications: Projects that create or expand access to satellite communications for amateur radio and digital communications, engaging communities in wireless experimentation programs, such as repurposed commercial satellites, and space-based tools for learning.
● Open Source Education: Scalable, open educational materials and hands-on projects that make amateur radio and digital communications more accessible, especially for new learners and clubs.
Proposals are welcome across the full range of projects that align with these areas and remain a priority in ARDC grantmaking decisions.
Learn more about these priority areas and ARDC at ARDC.net.
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Several Prominent Hams Among 2025 Radio Club of America Awardees |
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Several well-known radio amateurs are among recipients of this year’s honors from the Radio Club of America (RCA), an organization of both professionals and amateurs that has been promoting advancements in wireless communication for more than 100 years. The awards were announced in the Fall 2025 issue of RCA Proceedings.
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Among the amateurs recognized this year by RCA are:
- Noted contester, former RCA President, and DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR, recipient of the Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation for noteworthy contributions to RCA or the radio industry;
- Chester B. Scholl, Jr., K3LA, receiving the Special Services Award for significant work to promote RCA’s goals and objectives;
- Julio Ripoll, WD4R, longtime amateur radio coordinator at the National Hurricane Center, recognized for his service at WX4NHC with the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award; and
- Dr. Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, this year’s recipient of the Carole Perry (WB2MGP) Young Professional Award. Collins is the Chief Operations Scientist for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station Network. She also voices announcements heard each hour on WWV and WWVH as part of the WWV/H Scientific Modulation Working Group.
In addition, several hams were named as RCA Fellows, including:
- AT&T executive Brian Daly, WB7OML;
- HamSCI founder and coordinator Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF;
- Radio historian Felicia Kreuzer, KA2GXL;
- Public safety communicator and former ARRL Western Washington Section Manager Monte Simpson, W7FF; and
- Angel Vazquez, WP3R, Head of Telescope Operations for the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
The awards will be presented at RCA’s annual Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet on November 22, 2025, in Washington, DC.
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| Dr. Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, recipient of the Radio Club of America’s 2025 Carole Perry Young Professional Award. |
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SKYWARN Recognition Day 2025 Cancelled |
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NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) has announced the cancellation of SKYWARN™ Recognition Day (SRD) 2025.
The necessary time and resources required to plan a comprehensive national event for SKYWARN™ Recognition Day 2025 are not available this year. Thus, the difficult decision was made to cancel this year’s event by the NWS.
The NWS will work with ARRL and SKYWARN™ spotters to brainstorm ideas to redevelop a spotter appreciation event in 2026.
ARRL, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with NWS, emphasized the strength of the long-standing partnership behind the event. “ARRL is proud of the continued partnership with the National Weather Service to promote and recognize SKYWARN and the volunteers around the country. We look forward to working together to revitalize and promote SKYWARN Recognition Day again next year,” said Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, ARRL Director of Emergency Management.
Established in 1999 by the National Weather Service and ARRL, SKYWARN Recognition Day celebrates the critical contributions SKYWARN volunteers make in supporting the NWS mission to protect life and property. Amateur radio operators constitute a significant portion of these volunteers, providing essential communication links between NWS and emergency management agencies when traditional communications fail.
The NWS-ARRL SRD National Committee extends its appreciation to all SKYWARN volunteers for their dedication and service to their communities, and offers best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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ARRL Live Events and Podcasts |
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On the Air LIVE
Join ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, as he discusses the Winlink system and how it can be used to send messages to loved ones outside of a disaster area.
Up Next:
📅 Date: November 25, 2025
🕗 Time: 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific
👉 Register Now
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ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week’s top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features. More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. |
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On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Preparedness Takes Practice
Jessica Crotty, CEO of C. Crane, a northern California company known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products, visits the podcast in support of her November/December 2025 On the Air article “Confidence in Preparedness Starts with Knowing Your Equipment.” The conversation centers on the importance of not only having a license and a radio, but also knowing the ins and outs of using that radio, long before the day you need it. Listen Now
More info | Listen on Blubrry | Also available on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
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| The Hunt Valley, Maryland, Amateur Radio Club of the National Electronics Museum will commemorate 2025 Pearl Harbor Day and the role of electronics in World War 2 December 1 – 11 1300Z – 2200Z. Primary operation will be December 1 – 7 with additional operation possible December 8 – 11 as operator availability permits. Special event station W2W will operate on 14.241, 14.041, 7.241, and 7.041 MHz. Operation on 80 meters, 3.541 and 3.841 MHz, and digital modes is possible during the event. Certificate available via a SASE.
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| The 2025 CQ World Wide DX Contest (CQ WW) CW is November 29 – 30. The CQ WW is the largest amateur radio competition in the world. Over 35,000 participants take to the airwaves on the last weekend of October (SSB) and November (CW) with the goal of making as many contacts with as many different DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible. Online certificates are available for recent CQ WW contests. Use the search to find your call in the database. Then click on the [Cert] link to view the certificate in pdf format.
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| Next week’s ARRL Letter will be published a day earlier, on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. ARRL Headquarters will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 27 – 28. During the holiday break, W1AW will not transmit bulletins or code practice, and the station will be closed to visitors. ARRL HQ will reopen on Monday, December 1, at 8 AM EST (1300 UTC). Members can continue to take advantage of many services at www.arrl.org. We wish you and yours a happy holiday, and we’re thankful for your membership and support!
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| Open Positions at ARRL
Come join the headquarters staff of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®! We are currently seeking qualified applicants for the following positions:
Membership Manager
Senior RFI Lab Engineer
Public Relations and Outreach Manager
Purchasing Associate
Full details may be found on the ARRL HR web page at www.arrl.org/careers.
ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.
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| Solar Image from the Learmonth Solar Observatory via Australian Spaceweather.com November 20, 2025. |
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ARRL Solar Report November 20, 2025
Solar activity has remained low this past week. The largest flare was a C9.9 on November 19 from a region just beyond the NE limb near N17. Region 4284 grew slightly in the early part of the period, but was in decay after November 19. New Region 4287 was numbered. A Type II radio sweep (est 695 km/s) was observed on November 19 at 2215 UTC, likely associated with a B9.0 flare from just beyond the east limb. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed. Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with slight chance for moderate levels (R1-R2/minor-moderate), November 19 -21.
Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels. Solar wind speed ranged from 346 – 421 km/s. Total field ranged from 4-8 nT while the Bz component was between +8/-2 nT. Phi angle was predominantly negative. By late November 20, a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS )is expected to become geoeffective, causing a minor enhancement in the solar wind. HSS activity is expected to continue into November 21 and wane through November 22. Solar wind speeds in the 450-550 km/s range are likely based on recurrent values.
The 10.7-centimeter flux: November 20, 115; November 21 – 22, 110; November 23, 105; November 24 – 26,110.
Predicted sunspot numbers: November 20, 125; November 21, 119; November 22, 131, November 23, 116; November 24, 136; November 25, 112; November 26, 143.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read A Quick Guide to HF Propagation Using Solar Indices, and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.
For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.
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- November 26 — SKCC Sprint (CW)
- November 26 — UKEICC 80m Contest (CW)
- November 27 — RSGB 80m Autumn Series (CW)
- November 29 – 30 — CQ Worldwide DX Contest (CW)
- December 2 — ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
- December 4 — QRP ARCI Top Band Sprint (CW)
- December 4 – 5 — Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- December 4 — NRAU 10m Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- December 4 — SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)
- December 5 — NCCC FT4 Sprint (digital)
- December 5 — Weekly RTTY Test (digital)
- December 5 – 7 — ARRL 160-Meter Contest (CW)
- December 5 — NCCC Sprint (CW)
- December 6 – 7 — Kalbar Contest (phone)
- December 6 — Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)
- December 6 – 7 — PRO CW Contest (CW)
- December 6 – 7 — INORC Contest (CW)
- December 6 – 7 –FT Challenge (digital)
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- December 12 – 13 | The Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida
- January 10 | Ham Radio University, ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New York
- January 16 – 17 | Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
- January 30 – 31 | Jackson MS Capital City Hamfest, ARRL Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
Remember to search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
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| In the Letter last week, there was a call sign error for the American Legion Post 111 club, of Conway, South Carolina. The club’s call sign is KA4TAL.
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ARRL — Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.
NCJ — National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprints, and QSO parties.
QEX — A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members…
Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest newsletter), Division and Section news alerts, and much more!
Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Threads, X, and Instagram. |
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The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their profile at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright © 2025 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.
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