SB QST @ ARRL $ARLB121
ARLB121 Call sign plan cancelled
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 121  ARLB121
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  December 30, 1993
To all radio amateurs

Call sign plan canceled

The FCC has withdrawn an order issued in May 1993 establishing a
club and military recreation station call sign administrator
program.

The FCC said that its newly proposed vanity call sign program, in PR
Docket 93-305, and to be administered by the Commission itself,
would make the administrator plan unnecessary.

The FCC said its administrator plan would have allowed clubs and
military club stations to obtain call signs "without an undue burden
on the Commission."  But, the FCC said, "A new automated licensing
system is being activated that will enable the Commission to perform
with minimal additional burden the function that administrators in
the private sector were going to provide without reimbursement."

The FCC also said that a Petition for Reconsideration of the
administrator program, filed in June 1993 by David Popkin, W2CC, had
merit.  Popkin said that contrary to the FCC's Order, establishing a
call sign administrator program IS controversial, and should have
been subject to a notice and comment rule making proceeding.  The
FCC granted Popkin's petition.

The FCC will return applications to be call sign program
administrators to the parties concerned, without action.
/EX