AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE May 1992 Edition DX CENTURY CLUB RULES Current Countries Total: 323 The DXCC rules below were adopted by the ARRL DX Advisory Committee and approved for implementation by the ARRL Board of Directors on January 23, 1988, and modified on January 18, 1991. INTRODUCTION "...the number of countries worked is increasingly becoming the criterion of excellence among outstanding DX stations." Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, October 1935 QST From its simple beginnings, culminating in the announcement of the new DX award, The DX Century Club, in September 1937 QST (which was itself based on the "ARRL List of Countries" published in January 1937 QST), membership in the ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC) has been the mark of distinction among radio amateurs the world over. That it is regarded with such prestige by DXers is a testament to its integrity and level of achievement. The high standards of DXCC are intensely defended and supported by its membership. The rules established by the founders of DXCC were consistent with the art of Amateur Radio as it existed at the time. As technology improved the ability to communicate, the rules were progressively changed to maintain a competitive environment and complement the gaining popularity of DXCC. Because of the vast changes in the international scene brought about by World War II, it logically followed that DXCC needed to be recast, as indicated in December 1945 QST. Ultimately, after a great deal of study, the first postwar DXCC Countries List emerged as published in February 1947 QST. The new DXCC Rules appeared in March 1947 QST. Contacts were valid from November 15, 1945, the date US amateurs were authorized by the FCC to return to the air. The DXCC rules today represent the aggregate of experience gained from administering postwar DXCC. Some countries on the DXCC Countries List do not, of course, meet the present criteria. This includes countries "grandfathered" from the WWII era or those that met the criteria as it existed at the time and are not subject to deletion (see Section III for the appropriate grounds for deletion). Changes are announced under DXCC Notes in QST. SECTION I. BASIC RULES 1) The DX Century Club Award, with certificate and lapel pin (there is a nominal fee of $2 for the DXCC lapel pin) is available to Amateur Radio operators throughout the world (see #15 below for the DXCC Award Fee Schedule). ARRL membership is required for DXCC applicants in the US and possessions, and Puerto Rico, and CRRL membership is required for applicants in Canada. ARRL membership is not required for foreign applicants. All DXCCs are endorsable (see Rule 5). There are 12 separate DXCC awards available, plus the DXCC Honor Roll: (a) Mixed (general type): Contacts may be made using any mode since November 15, 1945. (b) Phone: Contacts must be made using radiotelephone since November 15, 1945. Confirmations for cross-mode contacts for this award must be dated September 30, 1981, or earlier. (c) CW: Contacts must be made using CW since January 1, 1975. Confirmations for cross-mode contacts for this award must be dated September 30, 1981, or earlier. (d) RTTY: Contacts must be made using radioteletype since November 15, 1945. (Baudot, ASCII, AMTOR and packet count as RTTY.) Confirmations for cross-mode contacts for this award must be dated September 30, 1981, or earlier. (e) 160 Meter: Contacts must be made on 160 meters since November 15, 1945. (f) 80 Meter: Contacts must be made on 80 meters since November 15, 1945. (g) 40 Meter: Contacts must be made on 40 meters since November 15, 1945. (h) 10 Meter: Contacts must be made on 10 meters since November 15, 1945. (i) 6 Meter: Contacts must be made on 6 meters since November 15, 1945 (j) 2 Meter: Contacts must be made on 2 meters since November 15, 1945. (k) Satellite: Contacts must be made using satellites since March 1, 1965. Confirmations must indicate satellite QSO, since split frequency (eg 145/432) indication is not sufficient. (l) Five-Band DXCC (5BDXCC): The 5BDXCC certificate is available for working and confirming 100 current DXCC countries (deleted countries don't count for this award) on each of the following five bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 Meters. Contacts are valid from January 1, 1969. The 5BDXCC is endorsable for these additional bands: 160, 17, 12, 6, and 2 meters. 5BDXCC qualifiers are eligible for an individually engraved plaque (at a charge of $25.00 US). (m) Honor Roll: Attaining the DXCC Honor Roll represents the pinnacle of DX achievement: *Mixed_To qualify, you must have a total confirmed country count that places you among the numerical top ten DXCC countries total on the current DXCC Countries List (example: if there are 319 current DXCC countries, you must have at least 310 countries confirmed). *Phone_same as Mixed. *CW_to qualify, you must have a total confirmed country count equal to the station(s) with the highest confirmed CW country count or among those between one (1) and nine (9) less than that total. To establish the number of DXCC country credits needed to qualify for the Honor Roll, the maximum possible number of current countries available for credit is published monthly in QST. First-time Honor Roll members are recognized monthly in QST. Complete Honor Roll standings are published annually in QST, usually in the June issue. See DXCC Notes in QST for specific information on qualifying for this Honor Roll standings list. Once recognized on this list or in a subsequent monthly update of new members, you retain your Honor Roll standing until the next standings list is published. In addition, Honor Roll members are recognized in bold print in the DXCC Annual List (usually published in the December issue of QST) for those who have been listed in the previous Honor Roll listings or have gained Honor Roll status in a subsequent monthly listing. Honor Roll qualifiers receive an Honor Roll endorsement sticker for their DXCC certificate and are eligible for an Honor Roll lapel pin ($2) and an Honor Roll plaque ($25). Write the DXCC Desk for details. #1 Honor Roll: To qualify for a Mixed or Phone Number One plaque, you must have worked every country on the current DXCC Countries List. On CW, you must have the highest number of country credits given to any station. Write the DXCC Desk for details. 2) Written proof (confirmations, ie, QSL cards) of having made two-way communication must be submitted directly to ARRL Headquarters for all DXCC countries claimed. Applicants for their first DXCC award may have the cards checked by ARRL DXCC Field Representatives_see Section V for details. The use of the official DXCC application forms or an approved facsimile (eg, produced by a computer program) is required. Complete application materials are available from ARRL Headquarters. Confirmations for a total of 100 or more countries must be included with your first application. By ARRL Board of Directors action, 10-MHz confirmations are creditable to the Mixed, CW and RTTY awards only. 3) The ARRL DXCC Countries List criteria will be used in determining what constitutes a DXCC country. 4) Confirmation data for two-way communications (ie, contacts) must include the call signs of both stations, the country, mode, and date, time and frequency band. 5) Endorsement stickers for affixing to certificates or pins will be awarded as additional DXCC credits are granted. For the Mixed, Phone, CW, RTTY and 10-Meter DXCC, these stickers are in exact multiples of 25, ie 125, 150, etc, between 100 and 250 DXCC countries; in multiples of 10 between 250 and 300, and in multiples of 5 above 300 DXCC countries. For 160-Meter, 80-Meter, 40-Meter, 6-Meter, 2-Meter and Satellite DXCC, the stickers are in exact multiples of 10 starting at 100 and multiples of 5 above 200. Confirmations for DXCC countries may be submitted for credits in any increment. (See #15 for applicable fees, if any.) 6) All contacts must be made with amateur stations working in the authorized amateur bands or with other stations licensed or authorized to work amateurs. Contacts made through "repeater" devices or any other power relay method (aside from Satellite DXCC) are invalid for DXCC credit. 7) In countries where amateurs are licensed in the normal manner, credit may be claimed only for stations using regular government-assigned call signs or portable call signs where reciprocal agreements exist or the host government has so authorized portable operation. No credit may be claimed for contacts with stations in any country that has temporarily or permanently closed down Amateur Radio operations by special government edict where amateur licenses were formerly issued in the normal manner. Some countries, in spite of such prohibitions, issue authorizations which are acceptable. 8) All stations contacted must be "land stations." Contacts with ships and boats, anchored or under way, and airborne aircraft, cannot be counted. 9) All stations must be contacted from the same DXCC country. 10) All contacts must be made by the same station licensee. However, contacts may have been made under different call signs in the same country if the licensee for all was the same. That is, you may simultaneously feed one DXCC from several call signs held, as long as the provisions of Rule 9 are met. 11) Any altered, forged, or otherwise invalid confirmations submitted by an applicant for DXCC credit may result in disqualification of the applicant. Any holder of a DXCC award submitting altered, forged or otherwise invalid confirmations may forfeit the right to continued DXCC membership. The ARRL Awards Committee shall rule in these matters and may also determine the eligibility of any DXCC applicant who was ever barred from DXCC to reapply and the conditions of such application. 12) Operations Ethics: (a) Fair play and good sportsmanship in operating are required of all DXCC members. In the event of specific objections relative to continued poor operating ethics, an individual may be disqualified from DXCC by action on the ARRL Awards Committee. (b) Credit for contacts with individuals who have displayed continued poor operating ethics may be disallowed by action of the ARRL Awards Committee. (c) For (a) and (b) above, "operating" includes confirmation procedures and/or documentation submitted for DXCC accreditation. 13) Each DXCC applicant must stipulate that he/she has observed all DXCC rules as well as all pertinent governmental regulations established for Amateur Radio in the country or countries concerned, and agrees to be bound by the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee. Decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee regarding interpretations of the rules here printed or later amended shall be final. 14) All DXCC applications (both new and endorsements) must include sufficient funds to cover the cost of returning all confirmations (QSL cards) via the method chosen. Funds must be in US dollars, utilizing US currency, check or money order made payable to the ARRL, or International Reply Coupons (IRCs). A chart showing the various return postage rates is available from the DXCC Desk. Address all correspondence and inquiries relating to the various DXCC awards and all applications to: ARRL Headquarters, DXCC Desk, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA. 15) Effective October 1, 1990, amateurs applying for their very first DXCC Award (both members and non-members alike) will be charged a one-time Registration Fee of $10.00. Once registered, subsequent submissions will be handled as outlined in sections b, c, d, below. (a) Participants who are DXCC members as of the implementation date are exempt from this fee. (b) Each ARRL member (as well as CRRL members) will be allowed one submission per calendar year at no cost (except the usual postage charges). This annual submission may include any number of QSL cards, may involve any number of DXCC awards, and any combination of new and endorsement applications. (c) Foreign non-members will be allowed the same annual submission as League members, however, they will be charged a $10.00 DXCC Award fee, in addition to return postage charges. (d) DXCC participants who wish to submit more than once per year will be charged a DXCC Award fee for each additional submission made during the remainder of the calendar year. As always, the applicant must pay for return postage costs. The fee is dependent upon membership status: ARRL Members: $10.00 Foreign non-members: $20.00 16) The ARRL DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) requests your comments and suggestions for improving DXCC. Address correspondence, including petitions for new country consideration, to ARRL Headquarters, DXAC, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA. SECTION II. COUNTRIES LIST CRITERIA The ARRL DXCC Countries List is the result of progressive changes in DXing since 1945. The full list will not necessarily conform completely with current criteria since some of the listings were recognized from pre-WWII or were accredited from earlier versions of the criteria. While the general policy has remained the same, specific mileages in Point 2(a) and Point 3, mentioned in the following criteria, have been used in considerations made April 1960 and after. The specific mileage in Point 2(b) has been used in considerations made April 1963 and after. When an area in question meets at least one of the following three points, it is eligible as a separate country listing for the DXCC Countries List. These criteria address considerations by virtue of Government [Point 1] or geographical separation [Points 2 and 3], while Point 4 addresses ineligible areas. All distances are given in status miles. Point 1, GOVERNMENT An independent country or nation-state having sovereignty (that is, a body politic or society united together, occupying a definite territory and having a definite population, politically organized and controlled under one exclusive regime, and engaging in foreign relations_including the capacity to carry out obligations of international law and applicable international agreements) constitutes a separate DXCC country by reason of Government. This may be indicated by membership in the United Nations (UN). However, some nations that possess the attributes of sovereignty are not members of the UN, although these nations may have been recognized by a number of UN-member nations. Recognition is the formal act of one nation committing itself to treat an entity as a sovereign state. There are some entities that have been admitted to the UN that lack the requisite attributes of sovereignty and, as a result, are not recognized by a number of UN-member nations. Other entities which are not totally independent may also be considered for separate DXCC country status by reason of Government. Included are Territories, Protectorates, Dependencies, Associated States, and so on. Such an entity may delegate to another country or international organization a measure of its authority (such as the conduct of its foreign relations in whole or in part, or other functions such as customs, communications or diplomatic protection) without surrendering its sovereign status. DXCC country status for such an entity is individually considered, based on all the available facts in the particular case. In making a reasonable determination as to whether a sufficient degree of sovereignty exists for DXCC purposes, the following characteristics (list not necessarily all-inclusive) are taken into consideration: (a) Membership in specialized agencies of the UN, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). (b) Authorized use of ITU-assigned call sign prefixes. (c) Diplomatic relations (entering into international agreements and/or supporting embassies and consulates), and maintaining a standing army. (d) Regulation of foreign trade and commerce, customs, immigration and licensing (including landing and operating permits), and the issuance of currency and stamps. An entity that qualifies under Point 1, but consists of two or more separate land areas, will be considered a single DXCC country (since none of these areas alone retains an independent capacity to carry out the obligations of sovereignty), unless the areas can qualify under Points 2 or 3. Point 2, SEPARATION BY WATER An island or a group of islands which is part of a DXCC country established by reason of Government, Point 1, is considered as a separate DXCC country under the following conditions: (a) The island or islands are situated off shore, geographically separated by a minimum of 225 miles of open water from a continent, another island or group of islands that make up any part of the "parent" DXCC country. For any additional island or islands to qualify as an additional separate DXCC country or countries, such must qualify under Point 2(b). (b) This point applies to the "second" island or island grouping geographically separated from the "first" DXCC country created under Point 2(a). For the second island or island grouping to qualify, at least a 500-mile separation of open water from the first is required, as well as meeting the 225-mile requirement of (a) from the "parent". For any subsequent island(s) to qualify, the 500-mile separation would again have to be met. This precludes, for example, using the 225-mile measurement for each of several islands from the parent country to make several DXCC countries. Point 3, SEPARATION BY ANOTHER DXCC COUNTRY (a) Where a Point 1 DXCC country, composed of one or more continental land areas or of continental land areas and islands, is totally separated by an intervening DXCC country into two land areas which are at least 75 miles apart, two DXCC countries result. This distance is measured along the great circle between the two closest points of the two areas divided. The measured distance may include inland lakes and seas which are part of the intervening DXCC country. The test for total separation into two areas requires that a great circle cannot be drawn from any point on the continental land and/or islands of one area to any point on the continental land and/or islands of the other area without intersecting any land of the intervening DXCC country. (b) Where a Point 1 DXCC country, composed entirely of islands, is totally separated by an intervening DXCC country into two areas, then two DXCC countries result. No minimal distance is required for the separation. The test for total separation into two areas requires that a great circle cannot be drawn from any point on any island of one area to any point on any island of the other area without intersecting any land of the intervening DXCC country. Point 4, INELIGIBLE AREAS (a) Any area which is unclaimed or unowned by any recognized government does not count as a separate DXCC country. (b) Any area which is classified as a Demilitarized Zone, Neutral Zone or Buffer Zone does not count as a separate DXCC country. (c) The following do not count as a separate DXCC country from the host country: Embassies, consulates and extra-territorial legal entities of any nature, including, but not limited to, monuments, offices of the United Nations agencies or related organizations, other inter-governmental organizations or diplomatic missions. SECTION III. DELETION CRITERIA A DXCC country is subject to deletion from the ARRL DXCC Countries List if political change causes it to cease to meet Point 1 of the Countries List Criteria (a derivative of such change may cause it to cease to meet Points 2 or 3) or if it falls into Point 4 of the criteria. Additions to and deletions from the DXCC Countries List come about as a result of a myriad of such political changes. Reviewing the nature of the changes which have occurred since 1945 as they affect DXCC, these changes can be grouped into categories as follows: (a) Annexation. When an area that has been recognized as a separate country under Point 1 is annexed or absorbed by an adjacent Point 1 country, the annexed area becomes a deleted country. Examples: India annexed Sikkim (AC3); China annexed Tibet (AC4); Indonesia annexed Portuguese Timor (CR8). (b) Unification. When two or more entities that have been separate DXCC countries under Point 1 unite or combine into a single entity under a common administration, one new DXCC country is created and two or more DXCC countries have been deleted. Example: Italian Somaliland (15) plus British Somaliland (VQ6) became Somalia (60/T5). (c) Partition. When one country is divided or partitioned into two or more countries, one DXCC country is deleted and two or more DXCC countries are created. Example: French Equatorial Africa (FQ) was deleted and replaced by Central Africa (TL), Congo (TN), Gabon (TR) and Chad (TT). The partition category is not employed when the original political entity continues in some form. That is, if part of country A splits off to form country B, the original DXCC country (A) is retained and one new DXCC country (B) is added. Examples: the British Sovereign Bases on Cyprus (ZC4); Aruba (P4). (d) Independence. Mere independence does not result in a Countries List deletion. Examples: the Tonga Islands, then a British protectorate (VR5), is the same country as the present listing of the Kingdom of Tonga (A3). Further, an entity already recognized as a separate DXCC country is not deleted because of a change in its independent status. Bangladesh (S2) is the same listing as East Pakistan (AP), which was already separate from West Pakistan by virtue of Point 3. Also, a country that merely changes its name (such as when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso) does not change its basic status as a DXCC country on the DXCC Countries List. SECTION IV. ACCREDITATION CRITERIA 1) The many vagaries of how each nation manages its telecommunications matters does not lend itself to a hard set of rules that can be applied across the board in accrediting all Amateur Radio DX operations. However, during the course of more than 40 years of DXCC administration, basic standards have evolved in determining whether a DX operation meets the test of legitimate operation. The intent is to assure that DXCC credit is given only for contacts with operations that are conducted appropriately in two respects: (1) proper licensing; and (2) physical presence in the country to be credited. 2) The following points should be of particular interest to those seeking accreditation for a DX operation: (a) The vast majority of operations are accredited routinely without any requirement for submitting authenticating documentation. (b) In countries where Amateur Radio operation has not been permitted or has been suspended or where some reluctance to license amateur stations has been evidenced, authenticating documents may be required prior to accrediting an operation. (c) Some DXCC countries, even though part of a country with no Amateur Radio restrictions, nevertheless require the permission of a governmental agency or private party prior to conducting Amateur Radio operations on territory within their jurisdiction. Examples: Desecheo I. (KP5); Palmyra I. (KH5); Kingman Reef (KH5K). 3) In those cases where supporting documentation is required, the following should be used as a guide as to what information may be necessary to make a reasonable determination of the validity of the operation: (a) Photocopy of license or operating authorization. (b) Photocopy of passport entry and exit stamps. (c) For islands, a landing permit and/or signed statement of the transporting ship's, boat's, or aircraft's captain, showing all pertinent data, such as date, place of landing, etc. (d) For some locations where special permission is known to be required to gain access, evidence of this permission having been given is required. 4) These accreditation requirements are intended to preserve the DXCC program's integrity and to ensure that the program does not encourage amateurs to "bend the rules" in their enthusiasm, thus jeopardizing the future development of Amateur Radio. Every effort will be made to apply these criteria in a uniform manner in conformity with these objectives. SECTION V. FIELD CHECKING OF QSL CARDS QSL cards for new DXCC awards may be checked by two DXCC Field Representatives. This program applies only to the first DXCC award for an individual or station. Specifically excluded from this program are additional new DXCC awards and endorsements of existing awards. Also excluded are 5BDXCC, 6 meter, 2 meter and Satellite DXCC. 1) Countries Eligible for Field Checking: (a) Eligible countries will be indicated in the ARRL DXCC Countries List, and are subject to change. Only cards from these eligible countries may be checked by DXCC Field Representatives. QSLs for other DXCC countries must be submitted directly to ARRL Headquarters. (b) The ARRL Awards Committee determines which countries are eligible for Field Checking. 2) DXCC Field Representatives: (a) DXCC Field Representatives must be ARRL members who have a DXCC award endorsed for at least 300 countries. (b) To become a DXCC Field Representative, a person must be nominated by a DX club. (A DX club is an ARRL affiliated club with at least 25 members who are DXCC members and which has, as its primary interest, DX. If there are any questions regarding the validity of a DX club, the issue shall be determined by the Division Director where the DX club is located.) A person does not have to be a member to be nominated by a DX club. (c) DXCC Field Representatives are approved by the Director of the ARRL Division in which they reside and appointed by the President of the ARRL. (d) DXCC Field Representative appointments must be renewed annually. 3) Card Checking Process: (a) Only cards from the list of eligible countries can be checked by DXCC Field Representatives. An application shall contain a minimum of 100 QSL confirmations from the list and shall not contain any QSLs from countries that are not on the list of eligible countries. The application may contain the maximum number of countries that appear on the list of eligible countries. That is, if there are 245 countries on the list, the initial application for a field-checked DXCC award could contain 245 countries. (b) It is the applicant's responsibility to get cards to and from the DXCC Field Representatives. (c) Field Representatives may, at their own discretion, handle members' cards by mail. (d) The ARRL is not responsible for cards handled by DXCC Field Representatives and will not honor any claims. (e) The QSL cards must be checked by two DXCC Field Representatives. (f) The applicant and both DXCC Field Representatives must sign the application form. (See SECTION I no. 11 regarding altered, forged or otherwise invalid confirmations.) (g) The applicant shall provide a stamped no. 10 envelope (business size) addressed to ARRL HQ to the DXCC Field Representatives. The applicant shall also provide the application fee (check or money order payable to ARRL_no cash) for the initial DXCC award. (h) The DXCC Field Representatives will forward completed applications and appropriate fee(s) to ARRL HQ. (i) Applicants and Field Representatives are encouraged to submit application data on an IBM compatible diskette in the format approved by the DXCC desk. (Details are available from the DXCC desk at ARRL HQ.) Applications on diskette must be accompanied by a paper copy of the application that has been signed by the applicant and the two DXCC Field Representatives. 4) ARRL HQ involvement in the card checking process: a) ARRL HQ staff will receive field-checked applications, enter application data into DXCC records and issue DXCC credits and awards as appropriate. (b) ARRL HQ staff will perform random audits of applications. Applicants or members may be requested to forward cards to HQ for checking before or after credit is issued. c) The applicant and both DXCC Field Representatives will be advised of any errors or discrepancies encountered by ARRL staff. (d) ARRL HQ staff provides instructions and guidelines to DXCC Field Representatives. 5) Applicants and DXCC members may send cards to ARRL Headquarters at any time for review or recheck if the individual feels that an incorrect determination has been made.