**PUBLIC NOTICE**![](media/image1.png){width="0.7388888888888889in"
height="0.7458333333333333in"}

**FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION**

**1919 M STREET, N.W.**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554**

News Media Information: (202) 418-0500

Fax-On-Demand: (202) 418-2830

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

ftp.fcc.gov

**DA 99-120**

January 7, 1999

**WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU TO BEGIN USE OF**

**UNIVERSAL LICENSING SYSTEM (ULS) FOR AIRCRAFT STATION LICENSING
BEGINNING JANUARY 19, 1999**

On January 19, 1999, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau)
will begin use of the Universal Licensing System (ULS) for all Aircraft
station licensing.[^1]

ULS is a new, interactive licensing database developed by the Bureau to
consolidate and replace eleven existing licensing systems used to
process applications and 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.

On October 21, 1998, the Commission released the *Report and Order* in
WT Docket No. 98-20, in which it adopted new ULS licensing rules and
revised application forms for use in ULS.[^2] The new rules and forms
will become effective on February 12, 1999. This Public Notice
summarizes interim procedures for the deployment of ULS for Aircraft
station licensing under existing rules. Additional details regarding
procedures once the new rules are effective will be provided by future
public notice prior to the effective date.[^3]

# Overview of ULS Conversion

Beginning on January 19, 1999, applicants for and licensees of Aircraft
stations will be able to use ULS Form 605 (OMB Control Number 3060-0850)
for electronic filing of new station applications, license
modifications, application amendments, license renewals, license
cancellations, application withdrawals, requests for duplicate licenses,
and administrative updates.

\[**Note:** Form 605 will not be affected by the transition to new ULS
rules on February 12, 1999. Form 605 was previously approved by OMB in
November 1998, and this version of the form will continue to be used
after the effective date of the new rules.\]

As part of the conversion process, all existing Aircraft station
licensing data currently residing in the Bureau\'s database will be
transferred to the ULS database, and all Aircraft station applications
filed on or after January 19, 1999, will be entered into the ULS
database and processed through the new system. Also, as of January 19,
1999, Aircraft station licensing data will be available to the public
via ULS, and will no longer be updated in the Aircraft station database.

\[Note: Until further notice, applications for aircraft flight test
stations should continue to be filed on FCC Form 406. The licensing of
Aircraft flight test stations will be converted to ULS in a future
release at which time the Bureau will release a Public Notice detailing
new procedures.\]

**[TIN Registration]{.underline}**

As mandated by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the
Commission is requiring all wireless licensees, including Aircraft
station licensees, to register their Taxpayer Identification Numbers
(TINs) in ULS. Aircraft 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] **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. The Bureau urges
applicants and licensees to electronically register their TIN. This can
be done at the FCC\'s ULS Internet site at
[http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls]{.underline} by clicking on the \"ULS Call
Sign Registration\" link.

Manual TIN registration requires FCC Form 606 (TIN Registration Form),
which can be obtained from the Internet at
[http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html]{.underline}, by calling the FCC\'s
Form Distribution Center at 1-800-418-FORM (3676), or from the FCC\'s
Fax-on-Demand service by calling (202) 418-0177 from the handset of a
fax machine (follow the prompts and use document retrieval number
000606)**.**

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 Debt Collection
Act.

Manually-filed 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]{.underline}**

Form 605 will replace three forms (Forms 404, 405B, and 900) previously
used by Aircraft station applicants and licensees. It will be used for
all Aircraft station licensing purposes including new station
applications, license modifications, application amendments, license
renewals, license cancellations, application withdrawals, requests for
duplicate licenses, and administrative updates.

To facilitate immediate use of ULS, the Bureau hereby waives its rules
to the extent that they require the filing of Forms 404 and 405B for
Aircraft station licensing. This waiver is conditioned on the timely
filing of Form 605 in lieu of the old forms. For instructions on filing
Form 605 electronically, point your web browser to
[http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls]{.underline}. For instructions on filing
form 605 manually, refer to Instructions included with the form.

Applicants for and licensees of Aircraft stations may continue to use
existing forms until August 12, 1999 (six (6) months after the effective
date of the *Report and Order*). However, the Bureau strongly urges
applicants and licensees to use the new Form 605 when submitting an
application. The choice of application form and filing method will
affect applications in the following way:

(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]{.underline}
    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.

**[Application Fees]{.underline}**

Applicants using ULS to file electronically remain subject to existing
application fees where applicable under current rules. ULS, however,
will simplify the process of submitting fees to the Commission and
greatly reduce the potential for insufficient fees to be submitted. When
an applicant submits its application online, ULS will assign a file
number and will pre-fill fee information on FCC Form 159, including the
correct fee amount due and the payment type code. ULS will instruct the
applicant on how to print out the pre-filled Form 159 so that it can be
mailed to Mellon Bank. The Form 159 and accompanying fee must be
received by Mellon Bank within 10 days of filing the application. In the
near future, ULS will be capable of accepting credit card payments
online. The Bureau will release a public notice and provide information
on its web site when this option becomes available.

Section 1.1111 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1111, requires
applications and fees to be submitted as a single package and states
that the Commission will not be responsible for matching fees and
applications submitted separately. The Commission has adopted rules to
amend this requirement to provide for the filing of applications online
and fees separately, via mail. In order to immediately bring the full
benefits of online filing to the public, the Bureau hereby waives the
requirements of Section 1.1111 to the extent that Aircraft station
applicants filing electronically via ULS may remit fees separately via
U.S. mail or courier. This waiver is conditioned on the appropriate fee
amount being received at Mellon Bank, at the address specified to the
applicant by the ULS, within 10 days from the receipt date shown on the
application. Applications filed online that do not conform with the
conditions of this waiver will be dismissed as defective.

**[Where to Send Payments for Electronically-filed
Applications]{.underline}**

All payments for electronically-filed applications should be sent to:

Federal Communications Commission

##  ULS Electronic Filings

P.O. Box 358994

Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5994

**[Where to Send Manually-filed Applications]{.underline}**

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 new or
old forms \-- likely 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 that they must include their TINs on
the front of their applications so that the data can be entered into
ULS.

**[For Further Information or Assistance]{.underline}**

For general information about ULS, including answers to frequently asked
questions regarding submitting applications, finding the status of
pending applications, and searching the ULS database, the Commission
recommends first consulting the ULS webpage at
[http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls]{.underline}. Those having specific
questions not addressed on the webpage may contact Commission staff via
phone or e-mail as described below.

[FCC Technical Support Hotline]{.underline}: (202) 414-1250, or via
e-mail at ulscomm@fcc.gov. Contact the Technical Support Hotline about
questions concerning computer access to ULS, TIN registration, uploading
files, or submitting attachments in ULS. The hotline is available Monday
through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. In order to provide better
service to ULS users and ensure the security of the electronic filing
system, all calls to the hotline are recorded.

[ULS Aircraft Licensing Support]{.underline}: (717) 338-2646, or via
e-mail at dreeder@fcc.gov. Contact Licensing Support with questions
about which application purpose(s) 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 through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

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

[^1]: This Public Notice applies only to Aircraft stations that are
    required to be licensed under section 87.18 of the Commission's
    rules (47 CFR § 87.18). Other Aviation services covered by Part 87
    will be converted to ULS at a later date.

[^2]: Amendment of Parts 0, 1, 12, 22, 24, 26, 27, 80, 87, 90, 95, 97,
    and 101 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the Development and
    Use of the Universal Licensing System in the Wireless
    Telecommunications Services, *Report and Order*, WT Docket No.
    98-20, FCC 98-234 (adopted Sept. 17, 1998, released Oct. 21, 1998),
    63 Fed. Reg. 68904 (Dec. 14, 1998).

[^3]: To the extent that the Commission has licensed by rule the
    operation of Aircraft stations, they are not affected by the
    transition to ULS, and Aircraft station operations licensed by rule
    will continue to be allowed under the new ULS rules on the same
    basis as under prior rules. *See* Aircraft Radio Stations Fact
    Sheet, PR5000 Number 4. This fact sheet is available on line at
    http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/aviation&marine/fctsht4.html.

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