[CQ-Contest] exerpt of The ARRL Letter, Vol 16, No 33

[Dale Martin]

Excuse the bandwidth, but I felt this was interesting enough and 
pertinent enough to contesting to put up on the contest reflector. 

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From: 	Lindquist, Rick, N1RL[SMTP:elindquist at arrl.org]
Sent: 	Friday, August 22, 1997 18:17 PM
To: 	'ARRL Letter Mailing List'
Subject: 	The ARRL Letter, Vol 16, No 33


The ARRL Letter
Vol. 16, No. 33
August 22, 1997
__________________________________
Address Changes: Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa at arrl.org.
Editorial: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist at arrl.org.
__________________________________

IN THIS EDITION:

* FCC implements new 1x1 special event call sign rules
* Gate 3 call sign grants could be soon
* Director elections set in three divisions
* SM election results
* Ooops! MARS CW ban still in effect
* Huntsville attendance, mood up
* Lighthouses, lightships on the air
* Mini-Sputnik to be launched from Mir
* Solar update
* IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio;
   JOTA information available; New SC SM;
   Pennsylvania ARES proves mettle; Keogh
   departs World Radio; E. F. Johnson Company
   to be sold; Balloon-based repeater a success;
   CQ-ing cellphone
__________________________________

NEW 1X1 SPECIAL EVENT CALL SIGN RULES IMPLEMENTED

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 at arrl.org. You also can contact any of the other 
special event call sign coordinators.

<snip>

73,



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