[SCCC] Help Stop Vanity Call Sign Assignment Abuse

[Dennis Younker NE6I]

Bring back the requirement to sign /# where # is the call sign district where the operator is transmitting at the time of operation?

Being old school, I do miss the call signs either directly reflecting the district of the home QTH or being required to sign /# to reflect where the transmitter is. However, it probably serves no useful purpose to the FCC except minimally narrowing down the search if there is a transmitter in violation of FCC Rules.

That said, back to the original post, is there definitely a problem with people tying up call signs for two years? If so, what is the motivation? And if it is indeed an issue, perhaps we do need a fix. Either the proposed one or perhaps vanity calls should not be protected for two years but rather two months, or something similar. 

Of course, I'm also not a fan of call signs be reassigned e-v-e-r. That's how old school I am. I don't really like the idea that someone else someday will have mine. Or that potentially, the W6AM call sign will not be associated with W6AM. Etc. 

In full disclosure, mine is not a vanity call sign. It was issued in sequence by the FCC many years ago when 2x1's were first made available.

--Dennis NE6I

-----Original Message-----
From: SCCC [mailto:sccc-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dennis Vernacchia
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2016 1:45 PM
To: neiljessen
Cc: SCCC Reflector
Subject: Re: [SCCC] Help Stop Vanity Call Sign Assignment Abuse

Neil,

Not practical as people move around a lot these days.....

Better yet, amateurs should sign the prefix they are in, ahead if their call as a courtesy. Much more often

Ie; W7/W4XYZ

Making hams adhere to call district requirement would create an administration nightmare for an already scaled down amateur division of the FCC

73 Dennis N6KI

On Oct 27, 2016 1:34 PM, "Neil Jessen" <neiljessen at hotmail.com> wrote:

> While we are at it, how about bringing back the call district 
> requirement?  The petitioner would be in violation of that rule, 
> living in Vegas with a 4-call.
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Dennis Vernacchia <n6ki73 at gmail.com>
> Date: 10/27/16 1:28 PM (GMT-08:00)
> To: SCCC Reflector <sccc at contesting.com>
> Subject: [SCCC] Help Stop Vanity Call Sign Assignment Abuse
>
> We all know how valuable short call signs are for use in contesting !!
>
>
> 10/27/2016
>
>
> The FCC is inviting comments on a *Petition for Rule Making* 
> (*RM-11775*
> <https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf>) from a 
> Nevada radio amateur that seeks changes to the rules governing the 
> Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Program. Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of 
> North Las Vegas, is proposing that any licensee obtaining a vanity 
> call sign be required to keep it for the full license term. LaRue 
> contends in his petition that excessive and frequent vanity call sign 
> filings are hampering the ability of other qualified licensees to 
> obtain vanity call signs in one of the more desirable 1 × 2 or 2 × 1 
> formats. LaRue said that since the FCC dropped the fee to file for a 
> vanity call sign, some applicants are taking advantage by regularly 
> obtaining new call signs, thereby keeping them out of circulation.
>
>
> “Some are changing call signs almost monthly, just to keep the newer 
> code-free Extra class operators from obtaining a shorter call sign,” 
> he said in his petition. “I even saw an older operator that said he 
> does it all the time and has not even owned a radio in over 6 years. 
> When I looked him up, he has had 16 different [call signs] in 18 months.”
>
>
> LaRue said his proposed minor rule change would require any licensee 
> applying for and obtaining an Amateur Radio vanity call sign “be 
> required to keep it for the duration of the license, which is currently 10 years.”
>
>
> He said this would “alleviate a lot of the stress on the ULS system 
> and manpower requirements” at the FCC. “It will also keep inactive 
> amateurs from changing call signs regularly, thereby tying up call 
> signs for 2 years after dismissal of said call.”
>
>
> Interested parties may comment using the FCC Electronic Comment Filing 
> System (*ECFS <https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/>*). Comments are due within 
> 30 days of the October 26 posting date.
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