QRZ! Ham Radio 5/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 5.iso/files/arrl/rib/vanity.txt

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 19.8 KB | 388 lines

Federal Communications Commission FCC 93-545

Before the Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20554

PR Docket No. 93-305
In the matter of
Amendment of the Amateur Service
Rules to Implement a Vanity Call Sign System

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING
Adopted: December 13, 1993; Released: December 29, 1993
Comment Date: March 7, 1994
Reply Comment Date: April 7, 1994

By the Commission:

I. INTRODUCTION
     1.   The ardent desire of amateur operators for call signs
of choice presents an opportunity for us to focus on serving an
important segment of the public. By this Notice, therefore, we
propose to amend the amateur service rules to authorize the use
of vanity call signs as set forth herein.

II. BACKGROUND
     2.   Each amateur station licensed by the Commission is
assigned a unique call sign.[1] The assigned call sign itself
conveys no frequency or operating privileges. Its only purpose is
to provide for over-the-air identification of the station.[2]
Nonetheless, amateur operators have a very high regard for call
signs. They frequently request specific call signs with letters
that represent something that is important to them, such as their
initials, nicknames, or personal statements. Our current
automated licensing process, however, will not support a vanity
call sign system. The system is nearly two decades old and simply
assigns call signs sequentially from groups of call signs,
according to the applicant's class of operator license and
mailing address.[3]

III. DISCUSSION
     3.   Information age technology is providing the capability
to administer a vanity call sign system and provide better and
more friendly service to our customers. The Private Radio
Bureau's Licensing Division will soon be installing a new
automated licensing process that will provide greater flexibility
in licensing. With the added capability, we can now propose to
amend the rules to implement a system whereby amateur station
licensees could select call signs of their choice, provided they
are not already assigned. This vanity call sign system would be
in addition to the current sequential call sign system that we
would continue to use for those applicants who do not want a
vanity call sign.
     4.   The rules we are proposing herein would allow the
licensee of an existing primary station[4] to request a
modification of the license to show a call sign selected by the
licensee. We also propose to extend this privilege to the license
trustee of an existing club station. Finally, we also propose to
administer a club and military recreation station call sign
system under our new automated licensing process.[5]
     5.   Applicants for a vanity call sign would use a new
application form.[6] The applicant would list on the form a maximum
of ten call signs, in order of preference. The form would then be
filed with the Commission.[7] We request comment on other means,
such as magnetic computer disks, that applicants could use to
apply directly to the Commission for a vanity call sign. The
automated process would compare the applicant's list with the
assigned call signs in the groups designated in the sequential
call sign system for the applicant's class of operator license.
The first available call sign from the applicant's list would
then be assigned. If none of the call signs listed are available,
the automated process would reassign the call sign that the
applicant had vacated. The vanity call sign listed by the
applicant must be within the framework of the sequential call
sign assignment system wherein certain groups of call signs are
designated for each class of operator license. Applicants,
therefore. could choose call signs from the groups corresponding
to their license classes or lower license classes.[8]
     6.   Licensees requesting vanity call signs would find it
helpful to know which call signs are assigned at the time that
they file their applications so that they can make prudent
selections of call signs with a real possibility that their
requests can be granted. Even with our enhanced licensing system,
we do not currently envision on-line access by the public to
check for call sign availability. We request comments on how this
service could be made available.
     7.   The system that we are proposing should be viewed as
but one step in creating a government agency that works better
and costs less.[9] We note that the amateur service is on the
cutting edge of information technology. Electronic bulletin
boards are commonplace in the amateur service. Its volunteer
examiners use modern information systems to prepare and
administer paperless license examinations, to prepare examination
session manifests, to maintain a licensee data base, and a host
of other activities. Examinees study for examinations using
computer-aided instruction. Our amateur service licensee data
base is widely available from entrepreneurs and bulletin boards
in practically all forms of magnetic media.[10] Our goal is to
accept eventually applications for licenses or call signs
electronically. We may even be able to issue the licenses
electronically at some future date. As a starting point, we hope
to accept application data from the volunteer-examiner
coordinators by the end of 1994. We request comment on the
options that may be available to allow electronic data transfer
as soon as possible. Ultimately, we may be able to develop a
system whereby authorization occurs instantly.[11]

IV. CONCLUSION
     8.   We firmly believe in the principle that government
should he responsive to user needs. Therefore, we are attempting
to satisfy the desires of persons in the amateur community who
want to choose their own call signs. The vanity call sign system
that we have proposed is designed to be practicable to administer
and simple for the amateur community to use. Accordingly. we
propose to amend the amateur service rules to provide a vanity
call sign system. Comments are invited on the proposal.

V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
     Regulatory Flexibility Act
     9.   We certify that the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980
does not apply to this rule making proceeding because, if the
proposed rule amendments are promulgated, there will not be a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
business entities, as defined by Section 601(3) of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act. The amateur stations that are the subject of
this proceeding would not be authorized to transmit any
communications where the station licensee or control operator has
a pecuniary interest. The Secretary shall send a copy of the
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, including the certification, to
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration in accordance with paragraph 605(b) of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. Pub. L. No. 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164, 5
U.S.C. '' 601-612 (1980).
     Ex Parte Rules - Non-Restricted Proceeding
     10.  This is a non-restricted notice and comment rule making
proceeding. Ex Parte presentations are permitted, except during
the Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as
provided in the Commission rules. See generally 47 C.F.R. ''
1.1202, 1.1203, and 1.1206(a).
     Comment Dates
     11.  Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections
1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. '' 1.415 and
1.419, interested parties may filecomments on or before March 7,
1994, and reply comments on or before April 7,1994. To file
formally in this proceeding, you must file an original and four
copies of all comments and reply comments. If you want each
Commissioner to receive a personal copy of your comments, you
must file an original plus nine copies. You should send comments
and reply comments to Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and
reply comments will be available for public inspection during
regular business hours in the F.C.C. Reference Center of the
Federal Communications Commission (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20554.
     Authority
     12.  Authority for issuance of this Notice of Proposed Rule
Making is contained in Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. '' 154(i) and
303(r).
     Contact Person
     13.  For further information concerning this proceeding,
contact Maurice J. DePont, Private Radio Bureau, [phone].

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

William F. Caton
Acting Secretary

[1] Some possible amateur station call sign variations are K1SS,
N2WHY, W3CAT, AA4AA, KA5LAW, NB6HAM, and WC7SKI. There are almost
15 million possible combinations of letters and numbers for
amateur station call signs.
[2] Section 97 119(a) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. ' 97
119(a) requires an amateur station to transmit its call sign on
its transmitting channel at the end of each communication and at
least every ten minutes during a communication.
[3] See Amateur Station Call Sign Assignment System, PR-5000
Private Radio Bureau Fact Sheet #206 dated June, 1991. Stations
licensed to the higher classes of operator license are assigned
shorter call signs. Because shorter call signs are fewer in
number, they are generally considered more desirable.
[4] A station licensed to an individual is a primary station. See
Section 97.5(d)(1) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. '
97.5(d)(1).
[5] In a related Order, adopted today, we are terminating the
privately administered club call sign and military recreation
system that was established, but not actually in operation, by an
Order that we adopted on May 11, 1993. See 8 FCC Rcd 3594 (1993).
[6] FCC Form 610-V. FCC Form 610 which is currently used by
applicants would also advise licensees holding vanity call signs
to submit FCC Form 610-V with the proper fee, if they want to
renew their license and retain the vanity call sign.
[7] Section 9(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 47
U.S.C. ' 159(g), specifies a fee of $7.00 per year for amateur
service vanity call signs. Section 9(f)(1) of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. ' 159(f)(1) allows the
Commission to require payment of small fees in advance for a
number of years not to exceed the relevant license term. The
Commission will conduct a rule making proceeding to implement
these regulations. A vanity call sign system will not be started
until the issues regarding implementation of fees have been
resolved.
[8] In the case of a club station, the license trustee's class of
operator license would apply. Because military recreation
stations and radio amateur civil emergency stations (RACES) are
licensed to non-amateur operators, these stations would not be
included under the vanity call sign system. Persons commenting on
this proposal, however, may wish to submit alternatives
suggesting ways that military recreation and RACES stations might
be able to be brought into a system that would afford them call
signs of choice.
[9] Vice President Al Gore, Report of the National Performance
Review, From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government That
Works Better and Costs Less (1993). The Vice President's Report
stresses putting people first. Serving customers and cutting
costs are two of its key principles. This Notice embraces these
principles by seeking ways to use efficient technologies that are
now available to the Commission to provide amateur community
customers with the services they desire.
[10]The amateur service licensee data base is available from the
National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, Virginia 22161, [phone] or 1-800-553-NTIS.
[11]The licensee data base, for example, could service as the
instrument of authorization.


APPENDIX
Part 97 of Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

     Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service
     1.   The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as
follows:
     Authority citation: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47
U.S.C. '' 154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-
1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. '' 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise
noted.
     2.   In Section 97.17, paragraphs (b), (c), (f), are revised
and a new paragraph (g) is added to read as follows:
     ' 97.17 Application for new license.

*****
     (b)  Each application for a new amateur service license must
be made on the proper FCC form:
     (l)  FCC Form 610 for a new operator/primary station
license;
     (2)  FCC Form 610-A for a reciprocal permit for alien
amateur licensee; and
     (3)  FCC Form 610-B for a new amateur service club or
military recreation station license.
     (c)  Each application for a new operator/primary station
license must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying
examination.

*****

     (f)  One unique call sign will be assigned to each new
primary, club, and military recreation station using the
sequential call sign system (call sign is selected sequentially
by the FCC from an alphabetized list corresponding to the
geographic region of the licensee's mailing address and class of
operator license.) The FCC will issue public announcements
detailing the procedures of the sequential call sign system.
     (g)  Each application for a new club or military recreation
station license must be submitted to the FCC, l270 Fairfield
Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. No new license for a RACES
station will be issued.
     3.   Section 97.19 is revised in its entirety to read as
follows:
     ' 97.19 Application for a vanity call sign.
     (a) A person holding an operator/primary or club station
license may request a modification of the license to show a call
sign assigned under the vanity call sign system (licensee selects
the call sign).
     (b)  Each request for a modification of a operator/primary
or club station license to show a new call sign assigned under
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)  Each request for a renewal of a operator/primary or
club station license retaining a call sign assigned under 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. To renew the license
without retaining a vanity call sign, the applicant must use FCC
Form 610 as specified in Section 97.21.
     (d)  The following persons are eligible to apply for a new
vanity call sign:
     (1)  The holder of a valid operator/primary station license;
and
     (2)  The license trustee holding a club station license.
     (e)  RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible
for a vanity call sign.
     (f)  Only unassigned call signs are available to the vanity
call sign system.
     (1)  A call sign that was previously assigned to a station
whose license has lapsed is not available to the vanity call sign
system for 2 years following expiration of the license.
     (2)  A call sign assigned to a station of a deceased
licensee is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2
years following the licensee's death, or for 2 years following
the expiration of the license, whichever is sooner.
     (3)  A call sign that is vacated by the licensee is
available immediately to the vanity call sign system.
     (g)  Each vanity call sign requested 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 held be
canceled and provide a list of up to 10 call signs in order of
preference. The list will automatically end with the call sign
vacated as the eleventh choice.
     (2)  The first available call sign from the applicant's list
will be assigned. When none of those call signs are available,
the call sign vacated by the applicant will be reassigned.
     (3)  Vanity call signs will be assigned from those call
signs available at the time the application is processed by the
FCC.
     (4)  The FCC will issue public announcements detailing the
procedures of the vanity call sign system.
     4.   Section 97.21 is revised in its entirety to read as
follows:
     ' 97.21 Application for renewal, reinstatement, or
modification of a license.
     (a)  Each application for renewal, reinstatement, or
modification of an amateur service license must be made on the
proper FCC form(s):
     (1)  FCC Form 610 to request renewal or reinstatement of an
operator/primary station license. The form must be submitted to
the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the
applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned under
the vanity call sign system, FCC Form 610-V must be used as
specified in Section 97.19.
     (2)  FCC Form 610 to request modification of an operator
license showing a change in operator class. The form must be
submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying examination. A
request for a vanity call sign may not be filed with the
administering VEs. When the applicant desires to retain a call
sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign system, the
license will bear the original expiration date.
     (3)  FCC Form 610 to request modification of an
operator/primary station license showing a change of mailing
address, change of name, or change of call sign to be assigned
under the sequential call sign system. The form must be submitted
to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When
the applicant desires to retain a call sign that was assigned
under the vanity call sign system, the license will bear the
original expiration date.
     (4)  FCC Form 610-B to request renewal of a club, military
recreation, or RACES station license. The form must be submitted
to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. If
the station has a call sign that was assigned under vanity call
sign system, FCC Form 610-V must be used as specified in Section
97.19.
     (5)  FCC Form 610-B to request modification of a club,
military recreation, or RACES station license showing a change of
mailing address, change of license trustee or custodian, or
change of call sign to be assigned under the sequential call sign
system. The form must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield
Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the applicant desires to
retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity call sign
system, the license will bear the original expiration date.
     (6)  A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee is not
renewable. A new reciprocal permit may be issued upon proper
application.
     (b)  Each application for renewal, reinstatement, or
modification of an amateur service license must be accompanied by
a photocopy of the license document or the original document,
unless it has been lost, mutilated, or destroyed.
     (c)  When the licensee has submitted a timely application
for renewal of an unexpired license (between 60 and 90 days prior
to the end of the license term is recommended), the licensee may
continue to operate until the disposition of the application has
been determined. If a license expires, application for
reinstatement may be made during a grace period of 2 years after
the expiration date. During this grace period, the expired
license is not valid. A license reinstated during the grace
period will be dated as of the date of the reinstatement.
     (d)  Under the sequential call sign system, unless the
licensee requests a change, the same call sign will be assigned
to the station upon renewal, reinstatement, or modification of a
station license.
     5.   Current sections 97.21, 97.23, 97.25, and 97.27 are
redesignated as Sections 97.23, 97.25, 97.27, and 97.29,
respectively.