Notifying the FCC when someone dies

It depends on the request type. Under the "request-by-list" provision (any qualified amateur applying), the call sign is not assignable for two years following the licensee's death. Under the "close relative of former holder now deceased" provision, a qualifying family member can apply as soon as the ULS database shows the license as Cancelled. A club station may apply "in memoriam" for the call sign of a deceased member on the same timeline. If the license is canceled due to death more than two years after the licensee passed away, the call sign is held for 30 additional days following the cancellation before going to the request-by-list pool.

The FCC's rules define close relative broadly: spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law of the deceased. "In-law" includes the deceased's spouse's parent, stepparent, or sibling, and the spouses of the deceased's siblings, children, or stepchildren. The applicant must hold the requisite class of amateur operator license for the call sign they want.

FCC Form 605 is the Quick-Form Application for Authorization used through the Universal Licensing System for amateur license actions, including cancellation (purpose code CA). However, when canceling a deceased licensee's license, the family files the cancellation request as a pleading attached to the license — not as a self-signed Form 605 — because the licensee cannot sign. Form 605 with Schedule D is then used separately by a qualifying close relative if they want to apply for the deceased's call sign.

Contact the deceased's Lifeline-participating phone or internet provider directly — the FCC does not de-enroll subscribers from Lifeline, the carriers do. For help locating the provider, identifying account details, or general Lifeline questions, call the Universal Service Administrative Company's Lifeline Support Center at 1-800-234-9473 or email LifelineSupport@usac.org. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household, so leaving the deceased enrolled can create problems for other household members who want to apply.

The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is the not-for-profit entity the FCC designated to administer the Lifeline program day-to-day, including the National Verifier eligibility system and the annual recertification process. The FCC sets the rules; USAC operates the program. When a Lifeline subscriber dies, the carrier reports the de-enrollment to USAC.

The FCC accepts consumer complaints about robocalls, telemarketing violations, and unwanted communications at fcc.gov/complaints. The FCC uses complaint data to inform enforcement actions against violators but does not resolve individual cases or stop calls to a specific number. To reduce robocalls, the family can also ask the deceased's carrier to disconnect the line or transfer it.

Use the ULS License Search at wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp. Search by the call sign or the licensee's name. The Status field will show Active, Expired, or Cancelled. The FCC will not act on a cancellation request during the final 30 days of the post-expiration grace period, so timing matters if the license is already near expiration.

Report it to the FCC Enforcement Bureau's Lifeline Fraud Tip Line at 1-855-455-8477 (1-855-4LL-TIPS) or email Lifelinetips@fcc.gov. Provide the carrier name, the deceased's account number, dates of service after death, and any documentation showing the family had notified the carrier of the death.