[CQ-Contest] Reporting Bogus Station Addresses To The FCC

[LORONA,AL A-USA,ex3]

This almost certainly doesn't apply to everyone who's address isn't
up-to-date in the FCC database, but I felt it would help shed *some* light
on the matter for you guys to hear about one specific situation.

I have been trying to update the address for my club call for nearly 1 year
using the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS), but problems on their end
have prevented me from doing so. A few of my friends on e-mail know all the
details of this tragically comic story, but suffice it to say that I have
logged numerous attempts on the web, multiple phone calls, multiple problems
logged with their technical support folks, retries, etc., and I'm still not
updated. (The latest unbelieveable statements from FCC tech support were,
"We can't do anything to your record because you're  registered in the
system," and, "Oh, you can't use Microsoft Internet Explorer. You have to
use Netscape, reboot, let it download, reboot, reboot, then register. Oh,
wait. Can you modify a club call on ULS or do you  have to use a paper
application?") It's now a private joke between us and honestly, I don't know
if I will ever "be legal" again. I will probably lose the call before I can
update the address.

I have been waiting for someone to expose the ULS for the disaster that it
is in an op-ed piece in QST or whatever. Mysteriously, no such complaints
have surfaced from the ham radio masses. Having said that, I'm sure I will
now receive dozens of replies to the effect of, "Gee, Al, I don't know what
you're talking about; I've used ULS with no problem for all 18 of my call
signs and I'm perfectly happy with it," but I think there's a woodwork of
utterly frustrated individuals out there who, like me, have wanted to drop
kick the ULS right through the computer monitor.

Anyway, before we incarcerate all the delinquent holders of call signs with
"bogus" addresses, we'd better be sure there isn't more to the story. I want
my lawyer...

Regards,

Al  W6LX


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