WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has extended the deadline for RF applications from May 1 to July 1. License applications filed at the FCC will be dismissed instead of returned (as was past practice) if there is an error or omission.
Some applications still could be returned rather than dismissed, but these cases are expected to be rare, the FCC has said. If the application is returned, it must be sent back to the commission within 30 days or it will be considered dismissed. Once an application is re-filed, it loses its place in line and it must be accompanied by another filing fee.
The news of the extension was met with praise and skepticism at a streamlining forum held by the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. The skepticism comes from a belief by many in the licensing community that returning, rather than dismissing, applications is overall more efficient because inadvertent errors can be quickly corrected.
The FCC continues to believe its Universal Licensing System will not allow for minor inadvertent errors to occur and by dismissing rather than returning the applications, the process will be more efficient.
