This was in reference to my e:mail asking why the rates for VUCC were much higher than DXCC..
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: VUCC award fees Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:30:42 -0500 From: Moore, Bill, NC1L (ARRL Awards Branch) [email protected] To: [email protected]
Hi Merle:
Actually, the VUCC fees are more close to what it costs to process an application. Most don't realize that for an average DXCC application (+/- 100 cards) the cost is about $40. VUCC, like DXCC, involves manual data entry just like DXCC and the time to process is costly and time-consuming. You'll notice that LoTW VUCC processing is less than the manual processing. Using LoTW is what we would like to see as it is less costly and no manual data entry by staff is required.
I believe this is the first ever price adjustment for VUCC since the start of the program in 1983. Had we done it gradually over the years it may have been easier to deal with. We discussed this for some time before we made the change. The fees are not meant to make money or break even. All the fees ever do is minimize losses, just like DXCC.
Regards
Bill Moore NC1L Awards Branch Manager ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™ 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Telephone: (860) 594 0234 Fax: (860) 594-0346 email: [email protected] DXCC Web Site: www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc Blog: http://www.arrl.org/awards-blog