I wonder how this compares to their previous statements and policies, because with a million people out of power and most communication systems offline, it does seem that charging people is just wrong, and the lack of the necessity of emergency communication provided by Amateurs was stated as a reason for them not exempting them from licensing fees.

>The FCC also disagreed with those who argued that amateur radio licensees should be exempt from fees because of their public service contribution during emergencies and disasters.

>“[W]e we are very much aware of these laudable and important services amateur radio licensees provide to the American public,” the FCC said, but noted that specific exemptions provided under Section 8 of the so-called “Ray Baum’s Act” requiring the FCC to assess the fees do not apply to amateur radio personal licenses. “Emergency communications, for example, are voluntary and are not required by our rules,” the FCC noted. “As we have noted previously, ‘[w]hile the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications, is one of the underlying principles of the amateur service, the amateur service is not an emergency radio service.’” [0]

https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-reduces-proposed-amateur-radio...