FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amateur Extra Class:
from
The ARRL Letter
on
September 2, 2010
Website:
http://www.arrl.org/
View comments about this article!
FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amateur Extra License Classes:
In May 2010, John Gottschalk, KB1DDK, of Westwood, Massachusetts,
requested a new call sign via the FCC's vanity call sign program.
Gottschalk, a General class licensee, requested KK1CQ -- a 2x2 call
sign -- and a waiver from the Commission allowing him to hold the call
sign. The FCC denied both requests on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. Read
more here
http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-reaffirms-2-2-call-signs-are-only-for-advanced-amateur-extra-license-classes.
Source:
The ARRL Letter
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FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amateur
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by WB8UHZ on September 2, 2010
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Mail this to a friend!
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Good, I agree at least the FCC is keeping that standard alive.
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FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amateur
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by AI2IA on September 2, 2010
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Incentive licensing is a good thing. It is a good motivator.
If a General Class License holder wants a 2X2 call sign, then all he has to do is to study, take, and pass the test for the next higher license. He can then request a 2X2 call sign. By passing the test, he will get additional privileges, too!
I would strongly encourage everyone at their own pace to move up. You will be welcomed each step of the way and enjoy the new privileges that you earned by passing the test. Earning it is a far better thing than having it granted to you without passing the challenge.
Each class of license is good in itself, but moving up is good, too!
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FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amateur
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by AC7AP on September 3, 2010
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I have read several instances over the years where the FCC has not granted a General class operator an Advanced or Extra class call sign because the rules/regs state they are not entitled to those particular call signs, but when I accidentally came across a call sign (AK6N)during a call look-up on QRZ (put the wrong prefix in the search block) and came across a General class operator with an Extra class call sign ... I sent an email to the FCC asking about it. The responce back was questioning me as to what "HVIA" meant and a few other questions, but did not address the issue about this person being a General class operator with an Extra class call sign.
In my original email I pointed out the QRZ (and FCC records) showed this person as being a "General" ... and a search of QRZ records as to the "HVIA" showing in the listing showed that the previous person with that call sign was not the person presently assigned the call sign. After that I never heard from them again. When I read this particular article it caused me to go back and look for the call sign ... AK6N ... and it is still assigned to a General. Nothing has changed over the years.
I personally do not know AK6N, just wanted to know why there was an exception to the rules/regs in his case.
AC7AP, Indio, Ca.
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RE: FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amat
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by N0JAA on September 3, 2010
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I am a General holding my original Technician-class call sign. I received N0JAA when I upgraded from Novice (originally KA0VBO) to Technician in 1987 and applied for, and received, my current call sign. One of these days I will upgrade to Amateur Extra, but when I do, I will probably keep my current call sign, as it has also become my nickname (Nojaa).
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RE: FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amat
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by KE4MOB on September 4, 2010
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I really don't understand what is going on with the FCC anymore. Their rulings on matters such as these are becoming more and more inconsistent as time goes on. It's almost as if they have no clue as to what the direction of the amateur service should be.
For example, recently they denied the request from an amateur petitioning that the use of someone else's callsign was a form of identity theft. The FCC argued that a callsign is not a form of personal identification. Okay.
In this instance, they argue that certain license classes of hams should receive certain preferential treatment with respect to callsigns. Wait a minute. If it's not personal identification, if it truly IS just numbers and letters assigned to an individual, then why do we reserve certain callsigns for certain groups of people?
Remember Morse Code testing? For years, the test hung on because it was part of international treaty. As soon as it was removed from treaty, the FCC used that as one reason to justify its removal. And where is license class and callsign assignments covered in international treaty? It isn't.
The FCC has used the idea of "regulatory purpose" and "minimum regulation" to justify various rulings. Does the reservation of certain callsigns to certain license classes serve a valid regulatory purpose? Nope. Is the regulation the minimum necessary serve its regulatory purpose? Well since it serves no regulatory purpose then the regulation is superfluous on its face.
The FCC says that granting this would be "unfair to other licensees who passed the examination for that license class" and "not in the public interest because it would deprive other, eligible licensees of the opportunity to request this call sign."
One could argue that it is unfair for a select group of hams to be given preferential treatment with regards to callsign assignment and that preferential treatment is not in the public interest.
If the amateur in question were smart, he would have petitioned the FCC to have those sections of Part 97 struck down.
It is not supported by international treaty.
It serves no valid regulatory purpose.
It is not in the public interest to preclude these callsigns from being used by ALL license classes.
Here's how I would rewrite the callsign assignment regulations:
A valid amateur station callsign shall be an alphanumeric station identifier issued to any amateur station licensed by the FCC. The callsign shall begin with A, K, W, or N. The prefix shall contain no more that 2 letters. Those letters shall be consistent with ITU callsign allocations. The prefix shall be followed by a single digit, followed by no more than 3 letters.
There. That's it. Simple, effective, and fair.
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RE: FCC Reaffirms 2x2 Call Signs Are Only For Advanced, Amat
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by WB8UHZ on September 5, 2010
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I think what the FCC did is a good idea. Nothing wrong in this politically correct world with the idea of "rewarding" someone who earned a higher lever of achievement.
73 Tim
wb8uhz
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