[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 1994)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 558-560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 5, 1994]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 97
[PR Docket No. 93-305; FCC 93-545]
Vanity Call Sign System
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rules.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to authorize the use of vanity call signs
in the amateur service. The proposed rules are necessary so that
amateur operators can request specific call signs with letters that
signify something of importance to them such as their initials or their
nicknames. This proposal would give better service to members of the
amateur community because it would allow them to choose their own calls
signs provided the call sign chosen is unassigned and within the
framework of the license class held.
DATES: Comments are due on or before March 7, 1994. Reply comments are
due on or before April 7, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maurice J. DePont, Federal
Communications Commission, Private Radio Bureau, Washington, DC 20554,
(202) 632-4964.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rule Making, adopted December 13, 1993, and released
December 29, 1993. The complete text of this Commission action,
including the proposed rule amendments, is available for inspection and
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference center (room
230), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. The complete text of this
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, including the proposed rule amendments,
may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Services, Inc., (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street,
NW., suite 140, Washington, DC 20037.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. The Licensing Division of the Private Radio Bureau is installing
a new automated licensing process that will give it the capability to
administer a vanity call sign system. The Commission, therefore, on its
own motion, is proposing to amend the amateur service rules to
implement a system wherein amateur station licensees can select call
signs of their own choice, provided they are not already assigned and
are within the framework of the operator license class held by the
applicant.
2. The vanity call sign system would be in addition to the current
sequential call sign system that would be continued to be used for
those applicants who do not want a vanity call sign.
3. The proposed rules would allow the licensee of an existing
primary station to request a modification of the licensee to show a
call sign selected by the licensee. This privilege would also be
extended to the license trustee of an existing club station.
4. It is also proposed to administer a club and military recreation
station sequential call sign system under our new automated licensing
process.
5. An applicant could list ten call signs on the application form
in order of preference. The first available call sign from the
applicant's list would be assigned. If none of the call signs listed
are available, the automated process would reassign the call sign that
the applicant had vacated.
6. The proposed vanity call sign system is designed to be
practicable to administer and simple for the amateur community to use.
Comments are invited on the entire proposal and specifically on the
following matters. Could other means, such as magnetic computer disks,
be used to apply directly to the Commission for a vanity call sign in
lieu of the traditional paper application form? Could some type of
access be made available to the public to check with the Commission for
call sign availability? What options are available so that the public
could apply for a license electronically and receive authorization to
begin operation by the same means?
7. In addition, commenters 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.
8. The proposed rules are set forth at the end of this document.
9. 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 specified in the
Commission's Rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 12.1203, and
1.1206(a).
10. In accordance with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility
Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the Commission certifies that the
proposed rules would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small business entities because 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. See Sec. 97.113(a)(3).
11. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making and the proposed rule
amendments are issued under the authority of sections 4(i) and 303(r)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and
303(r).
12. A copy of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be forwarded
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 97
Club stations, Radio, Vanity call signs.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Proposed Rules
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: 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. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise noted.
2. In Sec. 97.17, paragraphs (b), (c), (f), are revised and a new
paragraph (g) is added to read as follows:
Sec. 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 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, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg,
PA 17325-7245. No new license for a RACES station will be issued.
3. Section 97.19 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 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 an 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 an 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
Sec. 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 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 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. Current Secs. 97.21, 97.23, 97.25 and 97.27 are redesignated as
Secs. 97.23, 97.25, 97.27 and 97.29, respectively.
5. Section 97.21 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 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 Sec. 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 Sec. 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.
[FR Doc. 94-30 Filed 1-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M