Friday, October 28, 2016

FCC Seeks Comments on Petition Aimed at Vanity Callsign Abuse

A ham from Nevada is seeking limits on the number of callsign changes an amateur can make during a 10-year license term, and the FCC is seeking input on the proposal.

According to the ARRL, Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North Las Vegas has filed a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775), asking the FCC to limit changes in vanity callsigns to one per license term. LaRue contends that some amateurs are changing callsigns "almost monthly," with the intent of preventing newer Extra Class licensees who have not had to pass a Morse code exam from getting desirable 1x2 or 2x1 calls. Callsigns generally are not reissued for two years after they expire or have been changed.

The full petition is on the FCC website at https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf. Comments are due by November 25th.

[Note: Link updated 11/4/16]