DA 03-812

March 18, 2003

**Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Will IMplement Online Filing for
Ship Exemptions in the Universal Licensing System beginning March 18,
2003.**

New manual Form 605 Schedule G will replace Form 820 for manual filings.

As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the Universal Licensing System
(ULS), the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) will implement
Online Filing for Ship Exemptions on March 18, 2003. Online Filing for
Ship Exemptions will be based on the new FCC Form 605 Schedule G, which
will also be accepted manually.

ULS is the interactive licensing database developed by WTB to process
applications and to grant licenses in multiple wireless services. ULS
provides fast and easy electronic filing, improved data accuracy through
automated checking of applications, and enhanced electronic access to
licensing information.

For further information regarding ULS rules and procedures, applicants
should refer to the ULS homepage at
[http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls](http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls).[^1]

# Overview of ULS SHIP EXEMPTION FILING

Beginning March 18, 2003, licensees of Ship stations requesting
Exemptions will be able to file online via ULS or manually using Form
605 for the following:

+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   Electronic Filing of New        | -   Cancellations              |
|     Exemptions                      |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| -   Application Amendments          | -   Application Withdrawals    |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
|                                     | -   Requests for Duplicate     |
|                                     |     Exemption Certificates     |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
|                                     |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+

On March 18, 2003, WTB will begin use of FCC Form 605 (Edition March
2003 or later) for Ship Exemption filings. Form 605 Main Form and
Schedule G will replace Form 820 previously used by applicants filing
for Ship Exemptions.

All Ship Exemption applications filed on or after March 18, 2003, must
have an FRN associated with their valid Ship License. Also, as of March
18, 2003, Ship Exemptions will be available to the public via ULS
Application and License Search,
[http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls](http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls), and Exemption
information will be viewable in ULS Query Download and Public Access
files.

# Filing Procedures

WTB strongly encourages applicants filing for Ship Exemptions to file
electronically through ULS or submit a manual copy of Form 605 (dated
March 2003 or later) to avoid processing delays. However, use of pre-ULS
forms (Form 820) in lieu of Form 605 is permitted for a **six-month
transition** period ending **September 18, 2003**; The choice of
application form and filing method will affect applications in the
following ways:

1.  Using ULS Online Filing to submit Form 605 and Schedule G 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.  Previous forms (Form 820) filed manually are not recommended and
    will result in slower processing than the options described above.
    Applicants filing manually using old forms must remember to include
    their FRN with each application.

For instructions on filing Form 605 electronically through ULS,
applicants should go to <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls>. For instructions
on filing Form 605 manually, applicants should refer to the Instructions
included with the form.

# Pre-ULS Form 

# Beginning with receipts on or after March 18, 2003, for Ship Exemptions, manual filers who choose to use pre-ULS Form 820 must use the most current edition of this form, which is dated November 2001.

Any pre-ULS form submitted after September 18, 2003, for this service
will be dismissed without prejudice.

# Fees

Applicants using ULS to file electronically remain subject to
application (waiver) fees under Section 1.1102 of the rules, Section 47
CFR § 1.1102. ULS, however, simplifies the process of submitting fees to
the FCC and greatly reduces 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. Click the "Pay Online Now" button to pay online by
credit card and expedite processing of the 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 should then be mailed
with the appropriate payment to the Commission at the address specified
below.

**If problems arise while trying to print the pre-filled FCC Form 159,
applicants should call the FCC Technical Support Hotline (see the
contact information below).**

# 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 applications that require fees should be sent to:

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

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

# For 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://wireless.fcc.gov/uls](http://www.fcc.gov/uls). Those individuals
having specific questions not addressed on the homepage may contact
Technical Support staff via phone or email as described below.

**FCC Technical Support Hotline**: Call 202-414-1250 (TTY 202-414-1255),
or send e-mail to ulscomm@fcc.gov. Contact the Technical Support Hotline
with questions concerning computer access to ULS, FRNs, file uploads, or
submitting attachments. The hotline is available Monday-Friday from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern Time (except federal holidays).

To provide quality service and ensure security, all calls to the hotline
are recorded.

For further information, contact Ghassan Khalek of the Policy and Rules
Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680, TTY (202) 418-7233, or via
email to gkhalek@fcc.gov.

[^1]: ^?^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://wireless.fcc.gov/uls> and selecting
    "Headlines" and then "All Releases."