This recently appeared on the ARRL website:
FCC Dismisses Radio Amateur’s Petition to Revise Call Sign Rules
The FCC has dismissed a rule making petition filed last May by Thomas J. Alessi, K1TA, of Stamford, Connecticut, that sought to amend the Part 97 rules regarding Amateur Radio Service call signs. The Commission action came in a November 28 letter from Scot Stone, Deputy Chief of the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Mobility Division. Alessi had asked the FCC to make call signs consisting of one letter, followed by two digits, followed by one letter (1 ×× 1 format) available to Amateur Extra Class licensees. Alessi asserted that the number of Amateur Extra Class licensees who desire short call signs exceeds the available supply of 1 × 2 and 2 × 1 call signs, and that his plan would make available an additional 7,800 four-character call signs.
“Approximately fifteen million call signs are presently available in the sequential call sign system, but it does not include every amateur call sign that has been allocated to the United States,” Stone wrote in denying Alessi’s petition. He also pointed out that the FCC had rejected a similar suggestion in 2010 that would have made certain additional call signs, including 1 ×× 1 call signs, available to Amateur Extra Class licensees, but concluded at the time that enough call signs already were available for every Amateur Radio licensee to obtain an acceptable call sign. In addition, the FCC said in 2010 that it had no plans to revisit the issue.
“You have not demonstrated any changed circumstances or other reason that would warrant revisiting this decision,” Stone’s letter concluded.
This amused me because it’s another example of how amateur radio operators seem so concerned about the meta-aspects of amateur radio. If it’s not the dumbing down of the tests, then it’s an obsession with short call signs.
I actually find our call sign system amusing. It’s a real mishmash, and unless someone’s an Extra—and has a callsign that’s been reserved for Extra Class licensees—you can’t tell what class someone is from his or her callsign.
What I would like to see is more variety in special event callsigns. 1x1s are OK, but i’d like the FCC to allow up 2xxxx4 callsigns. So, for example, to celebrate the University of Michigan’s 200th anniversary, the radio club should be able to get and use W200UM.
Maybe I’ll have a go at writing a petition. I’m sure that it would be amusing as well as educational. What do you guys think? Should we be allowed more special event callsign combinations? Will you support my petition?