RAC SEEKS YOUR VIEWS ON CALL SIGNS The Call sign Working Group (CSWG), a joint Industry Canada/RAC committee, has filed its report with the Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board (CARAB) recommending the policies and procedures that should be used in the future administration of Amateur Radio station call signs. RAC has been asked by Industry Canada to seek the views of amateurs concerning this important report. RAC will welcome comments and responses to the CSWG Report by Canadian amateurs before making any formal proposal to Industry Canada. RAC recognizes that there are widely varying views on how station "call-signs" should be administered. RAC believes call signs are not administered in a uniform method across the country. RAC seeks to endorse policies which ensures that the final published rules and guidelines are clear and straightforward and that there is a commitment to authorizations that are uniform, evenhanded and in-tune with the needs of the majority of Canada's amateurs. Recommendations: As a result of the extensive consultations with radio amateurs across the country and of input from Industry Canada regarding the administrative ramifications of various current policies, the Call Sign Working Group presents the following specific recommendations. Practice of unique call signs for each province or territory Continue the current practice of allocating specific prefix blocks for each province or territory and assign new blocks if required to accommodate changing circumstances, such as the creation of Nunavut or other new divisions of territory. Portability of call signs from province to province Require amateurs who register a change of principal residence to acquire a call sign representative of their new prefix area if it is different from their current one. Assignment of two letter vs. Three letter call signs Allow only amateurs who have attained all four qualification certificates to apply for two letter suffix calls whether it be a new license or application for re-assignment. Assign only one such two letter suffix call to any particular individual, and do not assign such calls to repeater or strictly digital stations. Additional prefix blocks should not be made available for assignment specifically to satisfy requirements for two letter calls. Four letter and one letter call signs The current policy of assigning four letter suffix calls only rarely on an exception basis for temporary events be continued. Single letter suffix calls should only be assigned to recognized clubs, not individuals, at this time. How long the assignment of the call sign of a deceased amateur should be blocked Do not reassign any relinquished call for twelve month after it becomes available. In the case of a call which becomes available as a result of the death of the amateur any member of the immediate family who is qualified to hold it (ie: all four certificates for two letter suffix) and requests the call prior to the expiration of the twelve month period should receive it. Assignment of unacceptable or forbidden suffixes (Q codes) Do not allow the assignment of any new call signs in the QOA to QTZ range. Establish a list of unacceptable suffixes and circulate it to all issuing offices so that it may be uniformly applied. Assignment of VE0 call signs for ships Retain VE0 prefix for assignment to maritime mobile stations only. Personal requests for call sign changes (vanity call signs) Continue the practice of allowing individuals to choose any available call sign that they are qualified for. Do not at this time open any unusual or unique prefix/suffix combinations. Study the vanity call sign gating system currently being implemented in the United States with a view to using the experience they will acquire over the next twelve months to revise this policy in the future. Limits to how many call signs and individual or club can hold Allow individuals or clubs to hold as many call signs as they are willing to pay for, as long as only one of them is a two letter suffix call and all of them represent the prefix area of the principal residence. Assignment of call signs for new amateurs In areas where it is feasible for IC to provide a list of available calls, allow new amateurs to select the three letter call sign of their choice. In areas where a list cannot be supplied, allow the new amateur to submit up to three choices for a three letter suffix call sign. Special prefixes for significant events Restrict the application for temporary special regional or national prefixes to recognized amateur radio clubs or organizations, not individuals. Review and revise the existing Industry Canada eligibility document (RPC 2-8-01) and ensure it is applied uniformly across the country, with a view to reducing the number of special prefix assignments that will result. Special event call signs Assign unique call signs to celebrate or commemorate special events only to recognized amateur radio clubs or organizations, not individuals. Applications for these calls should be subject to the normal annual fee and remain assigned to the applicant until the next routine renewal cycle. Permanent use of "C" block prefixes Do not consider the permanent use of "C" block prefixes. Click here for the RAC searchable Fleamarket and Hamfest database BACK TO MAIN MENU For more information email info@kwarc.org [ TOP ] © 1998 Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club Inc. Comments and bugs reports to webmaster@kwarc.org