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Author Topic: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program  (Read 8130 times)

W2LO

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1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« on: January 13, 2014, 09:28:23 AM »

 Around 1976-78 the FCC decided to reissue unassigned 1x2 calls to holders of Extra Class licenses who requested these calls with priority given to the length of time a licensee had been an Extra. Applicants filed in groups; the most senior holders were in the first group who could apply, then a few months later the next senior group could apply, etc.

 While I have been able to find some information on this program I am interested in the starting and ending dates for the different seniority  groups. Does anyone have this information?

 Thank you in advance for any assistance.

  Mike W2LO
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N2EY

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2014, 11:57:22 AM »

Your best bet is to read QSTs from that era. Almost all rules changes were detailed in the pages of the mag.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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W2LO

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2014, 02:28:15 PM »

  I'll do a little digging according to your suggestion. TU!
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W3HF

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 05:29:43 AM »

Even though Rod Dinkins is an SK now, his son Jeff maintains Rod's web site, and that has a pretty good history page, at least up until the date Rod passed away. From that page:

"Effective July 1, 1976, any Extra class licensee who had been a licensed Amateur for 25 years or more could select one specific 1x2 call sign. This added the ability to pick a specific call, but did not change eligibility.

Effective October 1, 1976, anyone who had held an Amateur Extra class license prior to November 22, 1967, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective January 1, 1977, anyone who had held an Amateur Extra class license prior to July 2, 1974, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective April 1, 1977, anyone who held an Amateur Extra class license prior to July 1, 1976, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective July 1, 1977, any Amateur Extra class licensee could select one specific 1x2 call sign."

Note that each of these "seniority" dates has significance.

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W3HF

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 10:54:08 AM »

P.S. Details are on page 55 of QST, June 1976, including the explanations for the seniority brackets that I alluded to.
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W2LO

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 03:41:51 PM »

  Thank you all so much. I got into a discussion the other day with another OT and we were trying to remember the details of that program.

   I appreciate all of your responses in the best tradition of amateur radio. TU!

   Mike  W2LO
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AF5CC

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 09:50:49 PM »

At some point during the first vanity call period in the 70s, 1 x 2 calls were made available to hams who were not an extra, but had been licensed an extremely long time.  The original W9KZ was my Grandmother's physician, and he was also an advanced class. He got that call because his original call was 9KY and the FCC let him get a 1 x 2 close to his original call.

Wonder how many non-extra 1 x 2s are left? I would guess not many.

73 John AF5CC
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N2EY

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2014, 05:50:05 AM »

At some point during the first vanity call period in the 70s, 1 x 2 calls were made available to hams who were not an extra, but had been licensed an extremely long time. 

Not exactly.

There had long been a program where an amateur who could show that s/he had held a 1x2 call, or even a 0x2 call, could get a similar one. That's what your grandmother's doctor did.

The original W9KZ was my Grandmother's physician, and he was also an advanced class. He got that call because his original call was 9KY and the FCC let him get a 1 x 2 close to his original call.

Wonder how many non-extra 1 x 2s are left? I would guess not many.

Probably none. By the late 1920s the DOC was issuing 0x3 calls, so to have a 0x2 meant being licensed almost 90 years ago. However, there still might be one or two in the database, due to the 10 year license term plus 2 year grace period.


73 de Jim, N2EY
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N2EY

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2014, 05:53:31 AM »

Even though Rod Dinkins is an SK now, his son Jeff maintains Rod's web site, and that has a pretty good history page, at least up until the date Rod passed away. From that page:

"Effective July 1, 1976, any Extra class licensee who had been a licensed Amateur for 25 years or more could select one specific 1x2 call sign. This added the ability to pick a specific call, but did not change eligibility.

Effective October 1, 1976, anyone who had held an Amateur Extra class license prior to November 22, 1967, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective January 1, 1977, anyone who had held an Amateur Extra class license prior to July 2, 1974, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective April 1, 1977, anyone who held an Amateur Extra class license prior to July 1, 1976, could select one specific 1x2 call sign.

Effective July 1, 1977, any Amateur Extra class licensee could select one specific 1x2 call sign."

Note that each of these "seniority" dates has significance.



Good stuff! Thanks!

Here's another data point:

In addition to the above, in the 1970s FCC started issuing sequential 1x2 calls with N prefixes, and 2x1 calls, to all Extras. Not sure of the dates. That's how I got N2EY in late 1977.

73 de Jim, N2EY
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AE8I

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RE: 1970s FCC Vanity Call Program
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2014, 09:46:55 AM »

In reference to N2EY's post, I believe issuance of Group A 2x1 call signs began March 24, 1978. My call sign was issued September 26, 1978.
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