Implementation of a Vanity Call Sign System

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 97

[PR Docket No. 93-305; FCC 94-343]

Implementation of a Vanity Call Sign System

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the amateur service rules to provide a

system for the assignment of vanity call signs to amateur stations. The

rule amendments are necessary so that personalized call signs are

available in the amateur service. The rule amendments will satisfy the

desires of those persons in the amateur community who want an

opportunity to choose their own call signs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 24, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maurice J. DePont, Federal

Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,

Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0690.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report

and Order, adopted December 23, 1994. and released February 1, 1995.

The complete text of this Commission action is available for inspection

and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center

(Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20554. The complete

text of this Report and Order may also be purchased from the

Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Services,

Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 140, Washington, D. C.

20037, telephone number (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Report and Order

1. The Commission's new license processing capabilities now make it

practicable to grant requests for call signs of the licensee's choice.

Hence, a vanity call sign system can be implemented. These new

capabilities can also be used to resume the issuance of new club and

military recreation station licenses. [[Page 7460]]

2. A major concern of the amateur service community is that the

system adopted for allocation of vanity call signs be fair and

equitable. To ensure fairness, a filing priority schedule will be

adhered to.

3. The schedule has a series of starting gates. Gate One would be

for former holders or a close relative of a deceased holder. Gate Two

would allow Amateur Extra Class operators to apply. Gate Three would

allow Advanced Class operators to apply and Gate Four would open the

system to any licensee. The final gate will also allow a club station

license trustee to apply for the call sign of a deceased former holder.

The license trustee must obtain a written consent from a close relative

of the deceased. Applications for a vanity call sign will be made on

Form 610-V. A fee of $70.00 must be submitted along with the

application form when requesting a new or renewed vanity call sign.

Applicants will be able to list up to twenty-five call signs in the

order of their preference on the Form 610-V. The sequential call sign

system will continue to be available for new licensees and for those

persons who do not want vanity call signs.

4. A call sign vacated by a licensee will not be available to the

vanity call sign system for two years. This is consistent with the

waiting period for assignability of a deceased person's station call

sign or for assignability of a call sign associated with a station

license that has expired.

5. The amended rules provide for the resumption of licensing of new

club and military recreation station licenses. Once a new club or

military recreation station license is obtained, the holder thereof may

then apply for a vanity call sign, if desired.

6. This Report and Order is issued under the authority of 47 U.S.C.

Secs. 154(i) and 303(r).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97

Club stations, Military recreation stations, Radio, Vanity call

signs.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

Amended Rules

Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal

Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154,

303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended;

47 U.S.C. Secs. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 97.3 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (a)(11)

through (a)(45) as paragraphs (a)(12) through (a)(46) and adding new

paragraph (a)(11) to read as follows:

Sec. 97.3 Definitions.

(a) * * *

(11) Call sign system. The method used to select a call sign for

amateur station over-the-air identification purposes. The call sign

systems are:

(i) Sequential call sign system. The call sign is selected by the

FCC from an alphabetized list corresponding to the geographic region of

the licensee's mailing address and operator class. The call sign is

shown on the license. The FCC will issue public announcements detailing

the procedures of the sequential call sign system.

(ii) Vanity call sign system. The call sign is selected by the FCC

from a list of call signs requested by the licensee. The call sign is

shown on the license. The FCC will issue public announcements detailing

the procedures of the vanity call sign system.

* * * * *

3. Section 97.17 is amended by revising paragraph (f) and adding

paragraph (h) to read as follows:

Sec. 97.17 Application for new license or reciprocal permit for alien

amateur licensee.

* * * * *

(f) One unique call sign will be shown on the license of each new

primary, club, and military recreation station. The call sign will be

selected by the sequential call sign system.

* * * * *

(h) Each application for a new club or military recreation station

license must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg,

PA 17325-7245. No new license for a RACES station will be issued.

4. Section 97.19 is added to read as follows:

Sec. 97.19 Application for a vanity call sign.

(a) A person who has been granted an operator/primary station

license or a license trustee who has been granted a club station

license is eligible to make application for modification of the

license, or the renewal thereof, to show a call sign selected by the

vanity call sign system. RACES and military recreation stations are not

eligible for a vanity call sign.

(b) Each application for a modification of an operator/primary or

club station license, or the renewal thereof, to show a call sign

selected by the vanity call sign system must be made on FCC Form 610-V.

The form must be submitted with the proper fee to the address specified

in the Private Radio Services Fee Filing Guide.

(c) Only unassigned call signs that are available to the sequential

call sign system are available to the vanity call sign system with the

following exceptions:

(1) A call sign shown on an expired license is not available to the

vanity call sign system for 2 years following the expiration of the

license.

(2) A call sign shown on a surrendered, revoked, set aside,

cancelled, or voided license is not available to the vanity call sign

system for 2 years following the date such action is taken.

(3) Except for an applicant who is the spouse, child, grandchild,

stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister,

stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law, and

except for an applicant who is a club station license trustee acting

with the written consent of at least one relative, as listed above, of

a person now deceased, the call sign shown on the license of a person

now deceased is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2

years following the person's death, or for 2 years following the

expiration of the license, whichever is sooner.

(d) Except for an applicant who is the spouse, child, grandchild,

stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister,

stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law, and

except for an applicant who is a club station license trustee acting

with the written consent of at least one relative, as listed above, of

a person now deceased who had been granted the license showing the call

sign requested, the vanity call sign requested by an applicant must be

selected from the groups of call signs designated under the sequential

call sign system for the class of operator license held by the

applicant or for a lower class.

(1) The applicant must request that the call sign shown on the

current license be vacated and provide a list of up to 25 call signs in

order of preference.

(2) The first assignable call sign from the applicant's list will

be shown on the license grant. When none of those call signs are

assignable, the call sign vacated by the applicant will be shown on the

license grant.

(3) Vanity call signs will be selected from those call signs

assignable at the time the application is processed by the FCC.

5. Section 97.21(a)(3) is revised to read as

follows: [[Page 7461]]

Sec. 97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license.

(a) * * *

(3) May apply for renewal of the license for another term. (The FCC

may mail to the licensee an FCC Form 610-R that may be used for this

purpose.)

(i) When the license does not show a call sign selected by the

vanity call sign system, the application may be made on FCC Form 610-R

if it is received from the FCC. If the Form 610-R is not received from

the FCC within 30 days of the expiration date of the license for an

operator/primary station license, the application may be made on FCC

Form 610. For a club, military recreation, or RACES station license,

the application may be made on FCC Form 610-B. The application may be

submitted no more than 90 days before its expiration to: FCC, 1270

Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the application for

renewal of the license has been received by the FCC at 1270 Fairfield

Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 prior to the license expiration date,

the license operating authority is continued until the final

disposition of the application.

(ii) When the license shows a call sign selected by the vanity call

sign system, the application must be filed as specified in

Sec. 97.19(b).

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 95-3025 Filed 2-7-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-F