After several months of protracted discussions, the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator has provided a final opportunity for non-resident lifetime, VP8 licence owners to have their VP8 callsigns revalidated.

The Regulator issued the following direction on the 27th April 2021:

Notice of Direction made by the Falkland Islands Communications Regulator addressed to those who hold or have held Falkland Island Amateur Radio Licences typically identified by call-signs with a VP8 prefix.

Pursuant to Regulation 10 Communications (Radiocommunications Licensing Procedures) Regulations 2019 the Falklands Islands Communications Regulator hereby directs and gives notice to all holders of Falkland Islands radio licences falling in the following categories:

(1) Amateur Radio Licence Full Lifetime

(2) Amateur Radio Licence Restricted Lifetime where:

The licence has been granted on terms where no termination date has been specified and/or specify that the licence may be terminated on notice;
Who wish to carry on the activities permitted by their licence; and
Whose licences were not revalidated in the calendar year 2020 that they must apply to revalidate their licence by 31 Aug 21.

Anyone seeking to revalidate a licence must complete an ‘Application to Revalidate a Radio Licence’ form and submit it by email to the Falklands Islands Communications Regulator on or before 13 Aug 21.

The ‘Amateur Radio Licence Application’ form is available either to download from the Falklands Islands Communications Regulator’s website http://www.regulatorfi.org.fk or in print form from:

The Post Office, Stanley, Falkland Islands; and
The General Post Office Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands.

Please take notice that –

Any licence that is not re-validated in accordance with this direction will be deemed to have been terminated on 1 Sep 21 and in such circumstances
The former licence holder must not carry on any of the activities that were permitted under the terminated licence; and
If the former licence holder wishes to carry on any of the activities permitted under the terminated licence they will have to apply for a new licence.
This is the third and final opportunity to seek revalidation. The Falklands Islands Communications Regulator cannot guarantee that any particular call-sign remains available. In circumstances where revalidation is sought for a licence with a call-sign that is no longer available a new call sign will be issued.
New long-term licences will only be issued to individuals who meet the appropriate residency requirements. Full details are available on Falklands Islands Communications Regulator’s website.

Source Open Falklands - https://openfalklands.com/formal-complaint-regarding-the-actions-of-the-falkland-islands-communications-regulator/