I agree with you also, lwt42. Now that I think about it, I think it was something like $16 for each of the 2 exams I took. I don't even know why I did the second one, I was just trying to prove something, I've never used my license in that capacity. But you are correct, $5/year isn't much to a lot of us, but $50 up front might be, to a potential newbie. What is GMRS?
There will be time to comment, the NPRM has not been published. As far as I can tell, someone at the FCC accidentally opened up comments, and then turned it back off.
Just to be clear, that $16 was not paid to the FCC. It went to the W5YI-VEC, or the ARRL-VEC or any of a few dozen others, mostly to cover costs of creating, printing, administering, and reporting to the FCC. VECs are not allowed to run at a profit.
We pay nothing for our licenses. Compare that to the $19 billion paid to the FCC for commercial licenses in the 600 MHz region (eventually T-Mobile will have the best cell coverage because of this). I don't think Amateur Radio can or should compete with commercial interests, just pointing out the contrasts.
For those who buy a Baofeng or similar and that's their only radio, it does about double the cost. For those who go beyond FM and repeaters, spending a couple thousand on gear is common.
Still, I want to see how the FCC justifies the $50/decade fee. I'm not personally in favor, but I won't let my license go.
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is a 460 MHz service, using FM. Operators are not required to have any technical expertise. Repeaters are allowed. It's mostly a business service. It's a step up from FRS (Family Radio Service), which does not require a license or allow repeaters. They've got plenty of range if my wife is fishing and I'm back at the campsite.