QRZ! Ham Radio 8/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 8.iso/mac/files/infodata/npr93305.txt

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Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 17:27:56 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Paul W Schleck KD3FU)
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Subject: NPRM 93-305, Please Archive

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>Subject: FCC Full Text NPRM 93-305, Vanity Calls (20K)
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FCC 93-545
December 29, 1993


                    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




---------------
/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



*********************************************************************
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 com-
puter 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 avail-
able, 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
oper-




---------------
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 Il, 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




*********************************************************************
ator 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 be
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.




---------------
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



*********************************************************************
                    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 file comments 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, N.W., 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).




---------------
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 serve as the instrument
of authorization.



*********************************************************************
  Contact Person
  13. For further information concerning this proceeding,
contact Maurice J. DePont, Private Radio Bureau, (202)
632-4964.


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

William F. Caton
Acting Secretary


                          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:
  (1) 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 an-
nouncements 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,
1270 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 li-
cense; and
  (2) The license trustee holding a club station license.
  (e) RACES and military recreation stations are not eli-
gible 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
cancelled 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 avail-
able, 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 modi-
fication of a license.
  (a) Each application for renewal, reinstatement, or modi-
fication 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 oper-
ator 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 de-
sires to retain a call sign that was assigned under the vanity
call sign system, the license will bear the original expira-
tion date.
  (3) FCC Form 610 to request modification of an oper-
ator/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, Gettys-
burg, 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, mili-
tary 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 modi-
fication 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 as-
signed to the station upon renewal, reinstatement, or modi-
fication 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.