Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 October 19, 2007 DA 07-4351 Mr. Jim Small President, Chicago FM Club P.O. Box 47648 Chicago, Illinois 60647 Dear Mr. Small: This letter is in response to your April 17, 2007 request that the Commission authorize the Chicago FM Club to be an amateur service Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC). In support of this request, you state that the Chicago FM Club is a 250-plus member club with members in eight states, and that the club has substantial financial resources that it is willing to use to support the activities of a VEC. You also note that a member of the club is the former manager of another VEC, that he is willing to be the club's VEC manager, and that you believe that he would lead a successful program. For the reasons discussed herein, we are unable to grant your request at this time. When the Commission amended its rules to allow volunteers to prepare and administer examinations in the amateur service, it stated that the circumstances under which organizations could apply to become VECs would be announced by Public Notice.1 We continue to believe that releasing a Public Notice that provides an equal opportunity for interested entities to apply for VEC status is the most expeditious and fairest way to authorize VECs. Currently, there is no filing window open for VEC applications. We do not believe that additional VECs are needed at this time because the Commission currently has agreements with fourteen VECs, and we believe there is sufficient opportunity for individuals who want to take amateur radio operator licensing examinations to do so. With regard to the desire of the Chicago FM Club to administer amateur radio operator license examinations, we note that many volunteer examiner (VE) teams associate with an amateur radio club, thereby being convenient to individuals who complete license preparation classes and wish to become amateur radio operators and to individuals who desire to upgrade their amateur radio operator privileges. We suggest that amateur service licensees in the Chicago FM Club who are interested in becoming VEs contact one or more VEC and become accredited VEs. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Section 1.41 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.41, the request filed by the Chicago FM Club on April 17, 2007 IS DENIED. This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Scot Stone, Deputy Chief Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 1 See Use of Volunteers to Prepare and Administer Operator Examinations in the Amateur Radio Service, Report and Order, PR Docket No. 83-27, 95 F.C.C. 2d 14, 29 ¶ 64 (1983).