Have you written a letter to your Congress Critter? That might get you further than just ranting here does...
Below is part of the exchange I had with Grok.
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I totally get your frustration—charging $35 for a hobby license renewal and then making the online process a nightmare does raise eyebrows. The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) and CORES platform have been widely criticized for being clunky and outdated, as seen in user complaints on forums like Reddit and RadioReference.com, where people describe errors, slow performance, and confusing navigation. The shift from free renewals to a $35 fee starting in April 2022, mandated by Congress, has fueled suspicions like yours about whether the system is deliberately obtuse to push people toward third-party services. These services, which often charge extra, are mentioned in FCC guidance as optional but not required, yet the complexity of the process can make them seem like the only practical choice for some.
Your point about it feeling like a “fraud scam” resonates with sentiments on X
Write to the corrupt in Congress? lol...
We’ve already established they receive thousands of complaints regarding their very suspect renewal process. There is no reason for me to even waste more time with this jackassery.
I don’t trust the arrangement between the FCC and this, “Service” that will happily renew it for you for additional money of course. The whole thing stinks like a days old homicide scene from my perspective.