[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 197 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53132-53133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25201]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 97

[PR Docket No. 93-305; FCC 95-402]


Implementation of a Vanity Call Sign System

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action makes revisions to the vanity call sign system 
rules. The revisions concern limiting availability of call signs for 
call sign Regions 11, 12, and 13 to licensees who have a mailing 
address in the specific state, commonwealth, or island of those 
regions, requiring a close relative of a deceased call sign holder to 
hold the same or higher class of operator license as the deceased, 
specifying that applicants who file timely vanity call sign renewal 
applications will have continuing operating authority, establishing a 
new starting gate, Gate 1A, for clubs that wish to obtain the call sign 
of a deceased member, and making an editorial change relating to new 
club and military recreation station applications. The rule amendments 
are necessary so that all members of the amateur community will be 
treated fairly, yet recognizing the privileges of higher grade operator 
licensees. The effect of this action is to make available to amateur 
operators call signs that they themselves select for their amateur 
stations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 17, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maurice J. DePont, Federal 
Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0690.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, adopted September 21, 1995, and released 
October 2, 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, DC 
20554. The complete text of this Memorandum Opinion 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, DC 20037, (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Memorandum Opinion and Order

    1. The Commission made several changes in the vanity call sign 
system rules. Upon reconsideration, the Commission limited the 
assignability of call signs designated for Regions 11, 12, and 13 
solely to licensees having a mailing address in the specific state, 
commonwealth, or island of those regions. The limitation does not apply 
to former call sign holders or to close relatives of deceased call sign 
holders. The Commission declined to limit vanity call signs to those 
available in the applicant's call sign region within the 48 contiguous 
United States.
    2. Another change requires that, in the case of a close relative 
applying for the former call sign of a deceased licensee, the applicant 
must hold the same or a higher class of operator license.
    3. The rules were also amended to specify that an applicant who 
timely files an application for renewal of a station license having a 
vanity call sign will have continuing operating authority.
    4. Clubs may obtain the call sign of a deceased member, with an 
additional starting gate, Gate 1A, giving priority to clubs licensed on 
March 24, 1995. A club station licensed after March 24, 1995, will 
become eligible to apply immediately under Gate 4 for the call sign of 
a deceased club member without being required to comply with the normal 
two year waiting period.
    5. An editorial change relating to new club and military recreation 
stations applications was also made.
    6. This Memorandum Opinion and Order is issued under the authority 
of 47 U.S.C. sections 154(i), and 303(o) and (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 citation: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 
sections 154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, 
as amended; 47 U.S.C. sections 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise 
noted.

Sec. 97.17  [Amended]

    2. Section 97.17 is amended by removing paragraph (g) and by 
redesignating paragraph (h) as paragraph (g).
    3. Section 97.19 is amended by revising paragraph (d) introductory 
text and adding new paragraph (d)(4) to read as follows:


Sec. 97.19  Application for a vanity call sign.

*   *   *   *   *
    (d) The vanity call sign requested by an applicant must be selected 
from the group of call signs corresponding to the same or lower class 
of operator license held by the applicant as designated in the 
sequential call sign system.
*   *   *   *   *
    (4) A call sign designated under the sequential call sign system 
for Alaska, 

[[Page 53133]]
Hawaii, Caribbean Insular Areas, and Pacific Insular areas will be 
assigned only to a primary or club station whose licensee's mailing 
address is in the corresponding state, commonwealth, or island. This 
limitation does not apply to an applicant for the call sign as the 
spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, 
brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, 
or in-law, of the former holder now deceased.
    4. In Sec. 97.21, paragraphs (a)(3) and (ii) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 97.21  Application for a modified or renewed license.

    (a) *    *    *
    (3) *    *    *
    (ii) When the license shows a call sign selected by the vanity call 
sign system, the application must be filed as specified in Section 
97.19(b). When the application has been received at the proper address 
specified in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide 
prior to the license expiration date, the licensee operating authority 
is continued until final disposition of the application.
    *   *   *   *   *
[FR Doc. 95-25201 Filed 10-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F