TZUTC: -0600   
   MSGID: 76.fidonet-ls_arrl@1:2320/33 26307b3b   
   PID: Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 master/4ce690049 Dec 24 2021 MSC 1928   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.14-Win32 master/4ce690049 Dec 24 2021 MSC 1928   
   BBSID: TBOLT   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
      
   SB QST @ ARL $ARLB032   
   ARLB032 ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administrative Fees for   
   Amateur Facilities   
      
   ZCZC AG32   
   QST de W1AW    
   ARRL Bulletin 32  ARLB032   
   From ARRL Headquarters    
   Newington CT  December 28, 2021   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB032   
   ARLB032 ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administrative Fees for   
   Amateur Facilities   
      
   The US Forest Service is proposing to implement a statutorily   
   required annual fee for new and existing communications use   
   authorizations to cover the costs of administering its authorization   
   program. ARRL plans to vigorously oppose the imposition of the   
   proposed fees on Amateur Radio.   
      
   The Forest Service proposal results from requirements set forth in   
   the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka "the Farm Bill").   
   Specifically, section 8705(c)(3)(b) of the Farm Bill directs the   
   Forest Service to issue regulations that require fees for issuing   
   communications use authorizations based on the cost to the Agency   
   for maintenance or other activities to be performed by the Agency   
   "as a result of the location or modification of a communications   
   facility."   
      
   The Forest Service is responsible for managing Federal lands and   
   authorizes the use and occupancy of National Forest System (NFS)   
   lands for communications facilities that provide communications   
   services for adjacent rural and urban communities. The Agency said   
   in its proposal that it administers more than 3,700 special use   
   authorizations on NFS lands for infrastructure that supports more   
   than 10,000 wireless communications uses at 1,367 communications   
   sites.   
      
   According to the Forest Service Notice published in the December 22,   
   2021 issue of the Federal Register, revenues from the proposed fee,   
   "would provide the funds necessary to support a more modernized,   
   efficient, and enhanced communications use program," and will "cover   
   the costs of administering the Agency's communications use program."   
   Costs, as laid out in section 8705(f)(4) of the Farm Bill, may   
   include expenditures for such things as "on-site reviews of   
   communications sites, developing communications site management   
   plans, hiring and training personnel for the communications use   
   program, conducting internal and external outreach for and national   
   oversight of the communications use program, and obtaining or   
   improving access to communications sites on NFS lands."   
      
   ARRL encourages Amateur Radio licensees to file comments opposing   
   the imposition of the proposed administrative fee on Amateur Radio   
   users. Comments must be received in writing by no later than   
   February 22, 2022.   
      
   Comments may be submitted online at the Federal Rulemaking Portal   
   at, https://www.regulations.gov/ , or via USPS mail to Director,   
   Lands & Realty Management Staff, 201 14th Street SW, Washington, DC   
   20250-1124, and must include the identifier "RIN 0596-AD44."   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
   --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32   
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 14/0 15/0 19/33 36 90/1 105/81 106/201 116/18 120/302   
   SEEN-BY: 120/340 123/131 153/7715 154/10 218/700 222/2 226/30 227/114   
   SEEN-BY: 229/424 426 664 700 230/150 152 240/1120 5832 249/206 317   
   SEEN-BY: 250/1 261/38 100 266/512 267/155 275/100 282/1038 1056 291/100   
   SEEN-BY: 291/111 301/1 317/3 320/119 219 322/757 335/364 340/400 341/66   
   SEEN-BY: 342/200 396/45 633/280 640/1321 712/848 801/161 189 2320/0   
   SEEN-BY: 2320/33 105 195 304 3634/12 5020/1042   
   PATH: 2320/33 105 261/38 301/1 229/426