SB QST @ ARL $ARLB004
ARLB004 FCC finds missing call signs

ZCZC AG04
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 4  ARLB004
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  January 25, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB004
ARLB004 FCC finds missing call signs

Following up on ''a few inquiries'' into why certain call signs were
not assigned when they were available, FCC personnel in Gettysburg
report they found some 3355 call signs (mostly 2x2 and 2x3 format)
that should have been made available for the vanity program but were
not, for some reason. An FCC spokesman in Gettysburg reports a search
of all vanity applications (including those that required special
handling) comparing requested call sign(s) against the 3355 turned up
four to be resolved. The other call signs now have been made
available for future vanity grants.

Earlier this month, callers to the FCC's Gettysburg office were being
told that processing of vanity call sign applications would not
resume until early March because of ''unspecified computer-related
problems.'' Gettysburg now seems to be pulling back from that date,
and a spokesperson said this week that the FCC hoped to resume vanity
processing by February 1. Before processing the backlog of vanity
call sign applications, personnel in Gettysburg first plan to deal
with those applications that required special handling--the so-called
''WIPS'' (work in process) stack--which is backlogged from early
November. A spokesman said Wednesday that the FCC will resume work on
the WIPS stack ''in about a week.'' Also, contrary to what several
callers were told, the FCC did not issue a public notice about the
vanity call sign program this week.
NNNN
/EX