SB QST @ ARL $ARLB037
ARLB037 Vanity Gate 3 Part 1

ZCZC AG37
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ARRL Bulletin 37  ARLB037
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  July 3, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB037
ARLB037 Vanity Gate 3 Part 1

The long wait is over for Advanced class amateurs. The FCC has just
announced that it will open filing Gate 3 of the Vanity Call Sign
Program on Wednesday, August 6, 1997.  Advanced class hams will be
able to apply for a call sign appropriate to their license class on
or after that date. Applicants must file either a paper FCC Form
610V or electronically via the FCC's Web site at
http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amradsrv.html and pay the current $30 fee.

The August 6 deadline squeaks under the implementation of the FCC's
new fiscal year 1997 fee schedule, adopted June 16. Under the FY 97
schedule, which becomes effective September 15, 1997, the vanity
application fee will jump to $50.   The ARRL had asked
the FCC to suspend implementation of the higher FY 1997 fee until
after the remaining gates have been opened and applicants had an
opportunity to file under the old schedule. The FCC's response,
buried within the Report and Order adopting the higher fees,
suggests the FCC could also be planning to open Gate 4 fairly soon.
''We expect our remaining vanity call sign 'gates' to open before
the effective date of our FY 1997 regulatory fee payment
requirement,'' the FCC said in turning down the request for a delay.
But, the FCC added that applicants ''are expected to pay the fee
applicable at the time they file.''

The bottom line is that hams applying for a vanity call sign on or
after September 15 must pay the $50 fee.

Payment of fees may be made by check (payable to FCC), bank draft,
money order or credit card. If paying by credit card, you must also
complete and submit FCC Form 159 with your FCC Form 610V. Do not
send cash. Send your application package to: Federal Communications
Commission, Amateur Vanity Call Sign Request, Box 358924,
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5924.

If you file a paper application, remember that legibility is
critical. If your application is not able to be deciphered easily by
FCC personnel, you could experience a delay in processing, lose the
opportunity to obtain a requested call sign or even obtain a call
sign different from what you want. Be sure to include your current
Amateur Radio call sign on your vanity application.
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