SB QST @ ARL $ARLB009
ARLB009 FCC resumes vanity processing!

ZCZC AG09
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 9  ARLB009
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 14, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB009
ARLB009 FCC resumes vanity processing.

The vanity floodgates have reopened. The FCC office in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, has processed vanity applications received from
December 1, 1996, through the present. In all, slightly more than
2400 applications were processed, but only slightly more than half of
the applicants managed to successfully snag one of their call sign
choices. The FCC made 1344 grants. More than 1000 applications ended
up in the dreaded work in process (WIPS) stack for special handling.
It*s expected that most of the WIPS applications will be dismissed
because the FCC was unable to grant any of the applicant*s requested
call sign choices. In other cases, the FCC must resolve apparent
discrepancies in the applicant*s name, address or call sign.

A backlog of WIPS applications had held up vanity processing for
approximately two months, as personnel in Gettysburg worked to clear
the decks. Prior to the recent big wave on February 12, a few vanity
grants had trickled out of Gettysburg as the staff worked its way
through the WIPS pile.

Vanity call sign applications continue to arrive at the FCC. Gate 1
opened last May, Gate 1A opened in July and Gate 2 opened in
September. There is still no word on when the FCC plans to open Gate
3.
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