SB QST @ ARL $ARLB048
ARLB048 1x1 call sign rules

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ARRL Bulletin 48  ARLB048
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 21, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB048
ARLB048 1x1 call sign rules

New FCC rules to obtain one-by-one call signs for special events
have been implemented, and four coordinators have been authorized to
handle call sign requests. The first special event call sign, W3W,
was coordinated August 20 at the request of the Scranton Pocono
Amateur Radio Klub (SPARK) of Scranton, Pennsylvania. W3W will be
activated October 11-12, 1997, during the Steamtown Marathon.

On August 18, the FCC authorized the ARRL, The W5YI Group Inc of
Arlington, Texas, the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society/VEC Inc
of Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Laurel Amateur Radio Club Inc of
Laurel, Maryland to ''coordinate, maintain and disseminate a common
database of amateur station special event call signs.'' The National
Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) maintains a
shared database so that both requesters and coordinators will know
which call signs are available at any given time.

The FCC says that special event 1x1 call signs are authorized for
use ''in conjunction with an event of special significance.'' This
suggests an event with high public visibility, as opposed to a
routine ham radio contest or other operating event. However, a
special event call sign could be used in conjunction with a contest
if one were to occur within the call sign reservation period.

The four special event call sign coordinators have the authority to
determine if a request is in keeping with the intent of the special
event call sign system. Any licensed amateur may request a special
event call sign. Call signs may be requested up to one year in
advance of their use on the air. Call signs normally will be granted
for periods of 15 days or less. Because of the limited number of
call signs available, requesters are encouraged to limit their
requests to the duration of the special event.

A block of 750 call signs is available for use in the special event
call sign system. The format of each 1x1 call sign consists of a
single letter K, N or W prefix followed by a single numeral, 0
through 9, followed by any single letter except the letter X, which
is not available to amateur stations.

For more information on the special event call sign system, call
860-594-0300 or e-mail vec@arrl.org. You also can contact any of
the other special event call sign coordinators.
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