SB QST @ ARL $ARLB089
ARLB089 Vanity call rules set

ZCZC AG56
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 89  ARLB089
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  October 3, 1995
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB089
ARLB089 Vanity call rules set

The FCC has released a Memorandum Opinion and Order in its vanity
call sign proceeding, PR Docket 93-305.  In response to several
petitions for reconsideration, several changes have been made to the
program as originally adopted.  No starting date for the program has
been announced.

The FCC declined to adopt a change proposed by the ARRL and others
that would have limited the selection of vanity call signs, in most
cases, to the call area corresponding to the address of the
applicant.  However, the FCC did limit requests for call signs
corresponding to Alaska, the Caribbean Insular areas, and Hawaii and
the Pacific Insular areas to licensees whose mailing address is in
the corresponding state, commonwealth or island.  Thus, applicants
in the 48 states will be allowed to request a call sign from any of
the ten call sign regions.

The FCC concurred with suggestions that an amateur seeking the call
sign of a deceased, close relative, should hold an equal or higher
class amateur license than that held by the deceased relative.  The
FCC said that the two-year waiting period following the death during
which the call sign is not available would allow close relatives to
upgrade, if necessary.

The FCC also has decided that priority should be given to
established clubs for obtaining the call sign of a deceased club
member.  To that end, the Commission established a new ''gate,''
Gate 1A, that will follow Gate 1 in priority.  By this method, the
call sign of a deceased amateur will be available first to a close
relative, then to a club.  In order to be eligible, clubs will have
to have held a station license on or before March 24, 1995 (the date
of the FCC's Report and Order in Docket 93-305).

The new FCC Part 97 rules become effective November 17, 1995, but
the FCC has not announced a starting date for the program.  The new
FCC Form 610-V for vanity call sign applications is not yet
available.  The opening of Gate 1 will be announced by FCC public
notice.  More information on the vanity call sign program was in QST
for March 1995 (page 98); April (page 41); and May (page 95).
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