French Ham Radio Exam and Operator Certificate Now Free

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Participation in the examination for the operator certificate of amateur services as well as the issuance of this certificate are now free of charge in France. This free of charge is applicable from 2021. The terms and conditions of reimbursement of candidates enrolled in a 2021 examination session will soon be specified on the Agency's portal.

“If you have paid your examination fee for the amateur radio certificate to ANFR and you are eligible for reimbursement, you will soon receive a letter detailing the documents to be provided in order to regularize your situation.”
— ANFR

Licence Fees for 412 MHz Spectrum

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Ofcom has today set the licence fees for the 412–414 MHz and 422–424 MHz paired spectrum, which is licensed to Arqiva and Airwave.

Arqiva won this spectrum in a 2006 auction, with a 15-year initial licence period. The initial period comes to an end in October 2021, at which point an annual licence fee will become payable. Arqiva traded the spectrum with Airwave in 2008 – making Airwave the co-licensee.

Following consultation, we have decided to set an annual licence fee of £396,000 per MHz per year for the 412 MHz spectrum, which is based on the fees Business Radio users already pay for a UK-wide licence in nearby bands.

The annual licence fee will apply from 31 October 2021.

Proposed Strategy for Managing Irish Radio Spectrum 2022-2024

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The Irish Radio Transmitters Society report that ComReg, the Commission for Communication Regulation, has published a document, ComReg 21/90, seeking consultations on a wide range of licensing issues, mainly in the commercial field.

There are, however, several significant issues for the amateur community that need careful consideration and measured responses.. This is a must-read document for anyone interested in the future of our hobby and submissions on its contents close at 1600 on October 22nd.

Among the questions raised are, how amateurs might meet the terms of their licence conditions relating to non-ionising radiation, a request by the Marconi Radio Group for an increase in output power for everyone and a submission seeking the introduction of an entry level or novice licence.

Proposed Strategy for Managing Irish Radio Spectrum 2022-2024 - https://www.comreg.ie/media/2021/09/Comreg-2190.pdf