SB QST @ ARL $ARLB004   
   ARLB004 ARRL Files Petition for Partial Reconsideration with FCC   
   Regarding Vanity, Club Call Signs   
      
   ZCZC AG04   
   QST de W1AW     
   ARRL Bulletin 4  ARLB004   
   From ARRL Headquarters     
   Newington CT  January 20, 2011   
   To all radio amateurs    
      
   SB QST ARL ARLB004   
   ARLB004 ARRL Files Petition for Partial Reconsideration with FCC   
   Regarding Vanity, Club Call Signs   
      
   In October 2010, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O),   
   detailing rules changes to the vanity call sign system and call   
   signs for Amateur Radio clubs. These new rules are scheduled to go   
   into effect on February 14. The ARRL found that most changes made by   
   the R&O are "reasonable codifications and clarifications of existing   
   policies." But several amended Sections of Part 97 -- including   
   sections 97.5 and 97.19 -- are unclear. As such, the ARRL filed a   
   Petition for Partial Reconsideration, urging the FCC to reconsider   
   and modify these portions "in order to reflect the intent of the   
   Report and Order."   
      
   In the R&O, the FCC took into consideration some of the ARRL's   
   comments, but not all. The ARRL found it "disappointing" that the   
   Commission refused to consider in this proceeding "a series of   
   reasonable proposals aimed at increasing the available pools of   
   Group A call signs." The ARRL, in its comments, asked the FCC to   
   consider several changes that could be made "that would increase the   
   number of desirable call signs available for assignment, both   
   sequentially and in the vanity call sign program, and which would   
   provide greater flexibility in the temporary assignment of   
   special-event call signs in the Amateur Service."   
      
   While the ARRL did not seek reconsideration of this refusal, it   
   noted that the Commission's "tersely stated dismissal of these   
   proposals" should, however, be reevaluated in the near term in a   
   separate proceeding. As such, the ARRL urged the FCC to remain open   
   to "future, near-term proposals to address improvements to the   
   sequential, vanity and special event call sign systems; to preclude   
   abuses of the vanity call sign assignment system; and to remedy the   
   serious shortage of available Group A call sign permutations."   
      
   The Petition for Partial Reconsideration can be found on the web at,   
   http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021025735 .     
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
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