October 2026: first-time licenses 20.0% higher than September 2026, with the West leading per capita
A monthly read on US ham radio: how new licensing compares with last year, what upgrades show, and where the activity is, region by region.
The FCC granted 2,062 first-time amateur radio licenses in October, not comparable with October 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward, and 1,615 licensed hams moved up a class. Here is what stood out in the month, by region and by state.
New hams in October: how the month compares
October brought 2,062 new hams, 20.0% higher than September 2026 (1,718) and not comparable with October 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward. Among the 5 Octobers in our data, which starts in 2021, it ranks 3rd highest (leaving out October 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing). Another 59 grants went to people who had held a license before; they are counted separately from first-time licenses.
Zooming out gives a more cautious picture. Over the last 12 months first-time licenses ran at about 26,102 a year, 2.2% below the 12 months before (about 26,701). That leaves out October to December 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward, and annualizes the other months; counting every month, the last 12 months total 26,382 and the 12 months before total 24,557. The latest three months averaged 1,822 a month, 4.4% above the same months a year earlier (1,745 a month, leaving out October 2025), so the decline is easing. The FCC data records when licenses are granted but not why people apply, so this report describes the pattern without explaining it.
Ham radio upgrades in October
New licenses outnumbered upgrades this month, 2,062 to 1,615. Upgrades were 16.3% lower than September 2026 (1,930) and not comparable with October 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward. Over the last 12 months upgrades ran at about 22,493 a year, leaving out November to December 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward: 5.9% higher than the 12 months before (about 21,247 a year, leaving out October 2025). Counting November to December 2025, the 12-month total is 23,385. Upgrades are people already in the hobby moving up a class by passing the General class exam or the Amateur Extra class exam, so they say more about existing hams than about new interest.
Ham radio licensing by region, October 2026
Region by region, the West had the highest rate of new licenses in October: 0.80 first-time licenses per 100,000 residents, against 0.39 in the Midwest. The West holds 23.4% of the population and received 32.2% of the month's first-time licenses; the Midwest holds 20.4% of the population and received 13.7%.
| Region | Share of US population | Share of October first-time licenses | First-time per 100,000 | Licensed hams per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | 23.4% | 32.2% | 0.80 | 295.4 |
| Northeast | 17.0% | 17.7% | 0.61 | 163.8 |
| South | 39.2% | 36.4% | 0.54 | 190.3 |
| Midwest | 20.4% | 13.7% | 0.39 | 196.6 |
Sorted by first-time licenses per 100,000 residents. Census regions, with DC in the South.
Licensed hams per capita give a different ordering: the West has 295.4 per 100,000 residents and the Northeast has 163.8. Regions follow Census definitions with DC in the South. 10 states withheld a monthly count of fewer than 10, so regional totals leave those out.
For any single state, see its page for the county map and monthly trend, for example California, the state with the most first-time licenses this month.
How many hams are there, and how long does a license take?
729,879 people held an active license at the end of October, including 6,292 with territory or military addresses. That is 308 fewer (0.04%) than in our September 2026 snapshot, taken the same way from the same FCC files. Another 80,436 licenses are past expiration but still inside the two-year renewal grace period and are not counted.
New licenses granted in October waited a median of 1 day from the day the FCC received the application, and nine in ten were granted within 4 days (2,121 grants measured). Longer waits are mostly unpaid fees; see the call sign wait time page.
More monthly reports
October 2026 ham radio statistics FAQ
How many new hams were licensed in October 2026?+
The FCC granted 2,062 first-time amateur radio licenses in October, not comparable with October 2025, when the federal government shutdown halted FCC licensing and part of the backlog was granted afterward, plus 1,615 class upgrades. First-time means the person had no earlier license on file.
How many licensed ham radio operators are there in the US in October 2026?+
729,879 people held an active, unexpired amateur radio license at the end of October. That is 308 fewer (0.04%) than in our September 2026 snapshot, taken the same way from the same FCC files.
Which part of the US is licensing the most new hams?+
In October the West led per capita with 0.80 first-time licenses per 100,000 residents. The West has the most licensed hams per capita overall, at 295.4 per 100,000.
How long did it take to get a ham radio license in October 2026?+
New licenses granted in October waited a median of 1 day from the day the FCC received the application, and nine in ten were granted within 4 days (2,121 grants measured). Longer waits are mostly unpaid fees; see the call sign wait time page.