FCC rules to obtain one-by-one call signs for special events were implemented in August 1997, and five coordinators (ARRL, W5YI Group Inc, Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society/VEC Inc, W4VEC Volunteer Examiners Club of America and the Laurel Amateur Radio Club Inc) are authorized to handle these call sign requests.
A block of 750 call signs is available for use in the special event call sign system. The format of each 1x1 call sign consists of a single letter K, N or W prefix followed by a single numeral, 0 through 9, followed by any single letter except the letter X, which is not available to amateur stations.
Call signs are available by call sign, by date(s) assigned for use. Call sign assignment is subject to availability (per reservations/assignments made as appearing in the 1x1 Call Sign Data Base).
Assignments are made by calendar date, for the full day at local time (begining at 12:01 am and ending at midnight the same calendar day).
A 1x1 call sign may be reserved up to 365 days before the first date of its intended use.
If your intended use and purpose for obtaining (for short term use) a 1x1 Special Event Call Sign meets the assignment criteria, simply provide the requested information on our on-line form. The information will then be reviewed by the ARRL as a coordinator and then your application will be coordinated--by assigning for your use for the timeframe requested the first call sign offered on your list of choices. Should a 1x1 call sign not be assignable to you, the ARRL will contact you via one of the methods indicated with your application.
1x1 Special Event Call Sign Assignment Criteria:
Confirmation that your requested 1x1 Special Event Call Sign has been assigned is accomplished once your reservation/assignment appears in the 1x1 Call Sign data base (which can be viewed at http://www.ncvec.org/1x1.php). No hardcopy confirmation of assignment is necessary. No special license will be issued by the FCC. Simply check the 1x1 database a few days after submitting your application to confirm that the assignment has been made. Then at 12:01 am (local time) on the first day of the assignment period you may begin use of the 1x1 call sign assigned for your event.
The following five Special Event 1x1 Call Sign Coordinators are presently appointed by the FCC:
The American Radio Relay League, Inc. VEC Department, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494; Telephone (860) 594-0300, Fax (860) 594-0339, e-mail: vec@arrl.org.
The W5YI VEC, 2000 E. Randol Mill Road, Suite 608-A, Arlington, TX 76011, Telephone (817) 274-0400 Fax (817) 548-9594, e-mail: Larry Pollock - NB5X w5yi-vec@w5yi.org
Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society/VEC, Inc. 5833 Clinton Highway, Suite 203, Knoxville, TN 37912-2500; Telephone (423) 688-7771, e-mail: WCARS@KORRnet.org.
Laurel Amateur Radio Club, INc. PO Box 146, Laurel, MD 20725-0146, Telephone (301) 937-0394, email: aa3of@arrl.net.
W4VEC Volunteer Examiners Club of America, PO Box 41, Lexington, NC 27293-0411; Contact Rae Everhart K4SWN, 336-249-8734; e-mail Raef@lexcominc.net.
These 1x1 Special Event Call Sign Coordinators shall ''coordinate, maintain and disseminate a common database of amateur station special event call signs.'' The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) maintains a shared database (http://www.ncvec.org/1x1.php) so that both requesters and coordinators will know which call signs are available at any given time.
The FCC says that special event 1x1 call signs are authorized for use "in conjunction with an event of special significance." This suggests an event with high public visibility, as opposed to a routine ham radio contest or other operating event. However, a special event call sign could be used in conjunction with a contest if one were to occur within the call sign reservation period.
The five special event call sign coordinators have the authority to determine if a request is in keeping with the intent of the special event call sign system. Any licensed amateur may request a special event call sign. Call signs may be requested up to one year in advance of their use on the air. Call signs normally will be granted for periods of 15 days or less. Because of the limited number of call signs available, requesters are encouraged to limit their requests to the duration of the special event.
A block of 750 call signs is available for use in the special event call sign system. The format of each 1x1 call sign consists of a single letter K, N or W prefix followed by a single numeral, 0 through 9, followed by any single letter except the letter X, which is not available to amateur stations.
For more information on the special event call sign system, call 860-594-0300 or e-mail vec@arrl.org. You also can contact any of the other special event call sign coordinators.
When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, an amateur station ("special event station") may transmit the identification announcement using a special event call sign in accord with the procedures detailed below. Substituting a special event call sign for its assigned call sign may help a special event station call attention "on-air" to its participation in the special event and to the unique opportunity for the amateur service community to exchange greetings with the station. Use of these provisions, however, must not detract from the station making the source of its transmissions known to those receiving them. The special event station must also transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during such operation.
Special event call signs. A block of 750 call signs is available for use in the special event call sign system. The format of each call sign ("one-by-one") consists of a single letter prefix "K", "N" or "W", followed by a single digit numeral "0" through "9", followed by a single letter "A" through "W" or "Y" or "Z" ("X" is not available to amateur stations). The station license grantee must obtain coordination for the use of a special event call sign through one of the following special event call sign coordinators. These coordinators maintain and disseminate world-wide a common data base for the day-to-day usage of the one-by-one format call signs (for example "K1A"). Upon completing the coordination process, the special event station may substitute the one-by-one format call sign for its assigned call sign during the period of the special event. Volunteer entities that have been certified as special event call sign coordinators can be found elsewhere on this page.
Indicators. In addition to the special event call sign system, any amateur station, including a special event station, may include with its assigned call sign one or more indicators (example "W1AW/national convention"). Each indicator must be separated from the assigned call sign by a slant ("/") or any suitable word that denotes the slant mark ("portable," "stroke," etc.). If the indicator is self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and after, the assigned call sign (example "KP2/W1AW/contest"). No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules (such as "AA", "AG", "AE" or "KT") or with any prefix assigned to another country (such as "DL", "F", "G" or "VE").
Questions concerning one-by-one call signs and the common data base should be directed to the special event call sign coordinators.
If you have any comments or questions about this information, please contact William Cross of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680 or E-mail at william.cross@fcc.gov.