SB QST @ ARRL $ARLB120
ARLB120 Vanity call signs
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ARRL Bulletin 120  ARLB120
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  December 30, 1993
To all radio amateurs

"Vanity" call signs

The FCC has released its Notice of Proposed Rule Making, in PR
Docket 93-305, to permit amateurs to choose a "vanity" call sign.
Individuals as well as trustees of club stations would be eligible
to request an available call sign from the block assigned to their
license class or a lower license class.

A fee would be required.  The Communications Act specifies a fee of
7 dollar(s) per year for amateur service vanity call signs, and allows the
Commission to require payment of small fees in advance for a number
of years not to exceed the relevant license term.  Fee issues would
be resolved under a separate FCC rule making proceeding, and a
vanity call sign system would not be started until then, the FCC
said.

The applicant would provide a list of up to 10 total call signs
desired.  The FCC would assign the first available requested call
sign from the applicant's list.  If none of the desired call signs
was available, the applicant's current call sign would be
reassigned.

Call signs of lapsed or deceased licensees would not be available
for reassignment for two years.  A call sign relinquished under the
vanity call sign program would be available for reassignment
immediately.

The FCC said that even with its new automated licensing process it
did not expect to be able to offer amateurs on-line access in order
to check for call sign availability, and asked for comments on how
such a service could be provided.  The FCC said its eventual goal is
to accept license applications electronically.

The comment deadline for this NPRM is March 7, 1994.  Reply comment
deadline is April 7, 1994.
/EX