DA00-2439

October 30, 2000

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) to Implement

**Universal Licensing System (ULS) for**

**Ship Station Licensing on November 20, 2000**

On November 20, 2000, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) will
implement the Universal Licensing System (ULS) for all Ship station
licensing.[^1]

ULS is the interactive licensing database developed by WTB to
consolidate and to replace eleven existing licensing systems used to
process applications and to grant licenses in wireless services. ULS
provides numerous benefits, including fast and easy electronic filing,
improved data accuracy through automated checking of applications, and
enhanced electronic access to licensing information. The deployment of
Ship in ULS is part of the WTB's ongoing deployment of ULS for all
wireless services.

For further information regarding ULS rules and procedures, applicants
should refer to the ULS homepage at <http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>.[^2]

# Overview of ULS SHIP Conversion

Beginning November 20, 2000, applicants and licensees of Ship stations
will be able to use ULS Form 605[^3] for

+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   Electronic Filing of New        | -   License Cancellations      |
|     Station Applications            |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   License Modifications           | -   Application Withdrawals    |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   Application Amendments          | -   Requests for Duplicate     |
|                                     |     Licenses                   |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   License Renewals                | -   Administrative Updates     |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+

> **NOTE: At the present time, applicants must file a change of vessel
> name as a Modification (MD) in ULS, even though current paper Form 605
> instructions state that applicants should file change of vessel name
> as an Administrative Update (AU). This procedure is temporary and
> should last through mid-February 2001. We will release a Public Notice
> in advance of any changes to this procedure.**

As part of the conversion process, all valid existing Ship station
licensing data currently residing in WTB's database will be transferred
to the ULS database, and all Ship station applications filed on or after
November 20, 2000, will be entered into the ULS database and processed
through the new system. Also, as of November 20, 2000, Ship station
licensing data will be available to the public via ULS and will no
longer be updated in the database currently used for Ship station
licensing.

# TIN Registration

As mandated by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA), the
FCC requires all wireless licensees---including Ship station
licensees---to register their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) via
ULS. To protect licensee privacy, registered TINs will **not** be made
available to the public. However, TIN information may be released to the
U.S. Treasury Department for purposes of compliance with the DCIA.

Ship station licensees who have not yet registered their TIN and
selected user passwords in ULS must do so before filing applications
electronically or updating licensing information in the new system.[^4]
WTB urges applicants and licensees to register their TIN electronically.
Applicants can register at the ULS homepage at
<http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>.

All applicants and licensees must submit their TIN with their
applications regardless of whether they file electronically or manually.
Failure to register prior to filing an application will result in
delayed processing of the application.

Manual TIN registration requires FCC Form 606 (TIN Registration Form),
which applicants can obtain from the Internet at
<http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html> or by calling the FCC's Forms
Distribution Center at 1-800-418-FORM (3676) (outside the Washington,
DC, area) or 202-418-3676 (in the Washington, DC, area). If applicants
registered their TIN manually, then they must call ULS Technical Support
staff to obtain a password prior to filing electronically via ULS.

If filed manually, Form 606 should be mailed to:

> Federal Communications Commission
>
> Information Technology Division
>
> Attention: Kathy McLucas
>
> 1270 Fairfield Road
>
> Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245

# Form 605 Filing Procedures

Form 605 will replace three forms---Forms 506 (including 506A), 405B,
and Electronic Form 900---previously used by Ship station applicants and
licensees. It will be used for all Ship station licensing purposes,
including new station applications, license modifications, application
amendments, license renewals, license cancellations, application
withdrawals, requests for duplicate licenses, and administrative
updates.

***Beginning with receipts on or after November 20, 2000, for Ship
services, only the July 1999 edition (or later) of Form 605 is
acceptable for filing. Applications filed on or after November 20, 2000,
for Ship services on prior editions of the Form 605 will be dismissed
without prejudice.*** Use of pre-ULS forms in lieu of Form 605 is
permitted for a **six-month transition** period ending **May 20, 2001**;
however, WTB strongly urges applicants to use Form 605 to avoid
processing delays. The choice of application form and filing method will
affect applications in the following ways:

1.  Form 605 filed electronically is the most efficient filing method
    and will result in expedited treatment compared to filing manually.

2.  Form 605 filed manually will result in expedited treatment compared
    to filing old forms or letter requests.

3.  Old forms or letter requests filed manually is not recommended and
    will result in slower processing than the options described above.
    Applicants filing manually using old forms must remember to include
    their TIN with each application or letter request.

To facilitate immediate use of ULS, WTB waives its rules to the extent
that it requires the filing of Forms 506 and 405B for Ship station
licensing.[^5] This waiver is conditioned on the timely filing of Form
605 in lieu of the old forms. For instructions on filing Form 605
electronically, applicants should go to <http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>.
For instructions on filing Form 605 manually, applicants should refer to
the Instructions included with the form.

# Pre-ULS Form and Letter Requests

Beginning with receipts on or after November 20, 2000, for Ship
services, manual filers who choose to use pre-ULS Form 506 and letter
requests **must** use the most current edition of this form, which is
October 1997.

Use of this form for Ship applications is permitted only until May 20,
2001. Any pre-ULS form or letter request submitted after May 20, 2001,
for this service will be dismissed without prejudice.

# Application Fees

Applicants using ULS to file electronically remain subject to
application fees under Section 1.1102 of the rules, Section 47 CFR §
1.1102. ULS, however, will simplify the process of submitting fees to
the FCC and greatly reduce the potential for applicants to submit
insufficient fees. When applicants submit their application online, ULS
will assign a file number and show the correct fee amount due and the
payment type code on a confirmation screen. Clicking on the "Form 159"
button will display an FCC Form 159 with pre-filled information.

Electronic filers have the option either to pay by mail or to pay online
using a credit card. If electronic filers choose to pay online using a
credit card, they will click on the "Pay Online Now" button. This option
will expedite processing of their application. Electronic filers who
wish to pay by mail may click on the "Printable Form 159" button to
print the pre-filled Form 159, which they should mail with payment to
the address specified below.

NOTE: Electronic filers who do not use the pre-printed FCC Form 159 in
connection with an electronically filed application must enter the
ULS-generated file number in the FCC Form 159 box labeled FCC Code 2. If
problems arise while trying to print FCC Form 159, applicants should
call the FCC Technical Support Hotline (see below). Mellon Bank must
receive the FCC Form 159 and accompanying fee within ten (10) days of
submitting the application electronically.

# Application and Payment Addresses

Where to Send Payments for Electronically filed Applications:

> Federal Communications Commission
>
> ULS Electronic Filings
>
> P.O. Box 358994
>
> Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5994

Manually filed **Renewal Only** Applications that require fees should be
sent to:

> Federal Communications Commission
>
> Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
>
> P.O. Box 358245
>
> Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5245

All other manually filed applications **that require fees** should be
sent to:

> Federal Communications Commission
>
> ULS Application Processing
>
> P.O. Box 358130
>
> Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5130

All manually filed applications **that do not require fees** should be
sent to:

> Federal Communications Commission
>
> ULS Application Processing
>
> 1270 Fairfield Road
>
> Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245
>
> **NOTE: Applicants are advised that filing manually---using either new
> or old paper forms---will delay processing in comparison to electronic
> filing of ULS forms because of the additional time required for the
> FCC to enter manually filed information into ULS. Additionally,
> applicants using non-ULS forms are reminded to include their TINs on
> the front of their applications so that the data can be entered into
> ULS.**

# For Further Information or Assistance

For general information about ULS, including answers to frequently asked
questions (FAQs) in regard to submitting applications, finding the
status of pending applications, and searching the ULS database, the FCC
recommends first consulting the ULS homepage at
<http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>. Those individuals having specific
questions not addressed on the homepage may contact Technical Support
staff via phone or email as described below.

**Applicants can reach the FCC Technical Support Hotline at (202)
414-1250**, via TTY at (202) 414-1255, or via email at
<ulscomm@fcc.gov>. Applicants can contact the Technical Support Hotline
staff about questions concerning computer access to ULS, TIN
registration, uploading files, or submitting attachments in ULS. The
Hotline is available Monday--Friday, from 7 a.m.--10 p.m., on Saturdays
from 8 a.m.--7 p.m., and Sundays from noon--6:00 p.m., Eastern Time. To
provide better service to ULS users and to ensure the security of the
electronic filing system, all calls to the Hotline are recorded.

**ULS Ship Licensing Support and Forms information is a separate
hotline.** To talk with an agent, applicants should call 1-888-CALLFCC
(225-5322) and choose option #2, or send questions to <ulshelp@fcc.gov>.
Applicants can contact Licensing Support with questions about
application purpose(s) that are appropriate for a particular filing,
what information is being requested on a ULS Form or Schedule, or any
other ULS-related licensing matter. ULS Licensing Support is available
Monday--Friday, from 8 a.m.--5:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

**Comments on ULS should be sent via the Internet to:
<ulscomm@fcc.gov>**.

[^1]: ^?^ This Public Notice applies only to Ship stations that are
    required to be licensed under section 80.13 of the FCC's rules (47
    CFR § 80.13). Other Maritime services covered by Part 80 (including
    the licensing of land stations) will be converted to ULS at a later
    date.

[^2]: ^?^Additional information can be found in the *ULS Report and
    Order*. See Amendment of Parts 0, 1, 12, 22, 24, 26, 27, 80, 87, 90,
    95, 97, and 101 of the FCC's Rules to Facilitate the Development and
    Use of the Universal Licensing System in the Wireless
    Telecommunications Services, WT Docket No. 98-20, *Report and
    Order*, 13 FCC Rcd 21027 (1998) (*ULS R&O*), *recon*., FCC 99-139,
    14 FCC Rcd 11476. See also "Wireless Telecommunications WTB
    Announces New Universal Licensing System (ULS) Filing Procedures and
    Revised Application Forms Effective February 16, 1999," *Public
    Notice*, February 10, 1999. Applicants can find these documents, all
    Public Notices, and other documents pertaining to ULS by accessing
    the ULS homepage at <http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls> and selecting
    "Headlines" and then "All Releases."

[^3]: ^?^ OMB Control Number 3060-850.

[^4]: ^?^ See "Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Universal Licensing
    System Registration Now Available," *Public Notice*, November 4,
    1997.

[^5]: ^?^ See *ULS Report and Order*, 13 FCC Rcd at 21117, ¶ 213.