On June 18, the FCC issued an Order of Modification, modifying the license class of Todd Wilson, WH6DWF, of Honolulu, Hawaii, from General to Technician. This stems from an Order Proposing Modification released in March 2012 where the FCC stated that granting General class Amateur Radio operator privileges to Wilson was “improper.”

In November 2011, the ARRL VEC sent an electronic data file to the FCC, requesting that the FCC issue a Wilson a new General class license. Based on this application, the FCC granted Wilson a General class license on November 29, 2011. In January 2012, the ARRL VEC notified the FCC that Wilson’s information was incorrect and he did not qualify for a General class license; the ARRL VEC asked the FCC to modify Wilson’s license to show him to hold a Technician class license.

The FCC said that Section 316(a)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended “provides the appropriate vehicle for resolving this matter. Section 316(a) permits the Commission to modify a station license if the action will promote the public interest, convenience, and necessity. We believe that modification of the license for amateur station WH6DWF to replace General class operator privileges with Technician class operator privileges is appropriate.”

In accordance with Section 1.87(a) of the FCC’s Rules, the FCC noted that it would not issue a Modification Order until Wilson has received notice and has had an opportunity to file a protest. He was given until April 14 -- 30 days -- to protest the modification to his license by submitting a written statement “with sufficient evidence to show that the modification would not be in the public interest.” When Wilson did not respond within the 30 day timeframe, the FCC said that Wilson is “deemed to have consented to the proposed modification. Based on the record before us, we conclude that it is in the public interest to modify the license for Amateur Radio Service Station WH6DWF by changing the authorized operating privileges from General class to Technician class.”