The FCC has revised Fact Sheet 206E, which deals with the Amateur Special Event Call Sign System and has added the W4VEC VEC of High Point, North Carolina, to the list of approved Special Event Call Sign Coordinators. Here’s the revised Sheet:
When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, an amateur station “special event station” may transmit the identification announcement using a special event call sign in accordance with the procedures detailed below. Substituting a special event call sign for its assigned call sign may help a special event station call attention on-air to its participation in the special event and to the unique opportunity for the amateur service community to exchange greetings with the station. Use of these provisions, however, must not detract from the station making the source of its transmissions known to those receiving them. The special event station must also transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during such operation.
Special event call signs. A block of 750 call signs is available for use in the special event call sign system. The format of each call sign (1x1) consists of a single letter prefix K, N or W, followed by a single digit numeral 0 through 9, followed by a single letter A through W or Y or Z (X is not available to amateur stations). The station license grantee must obtain coordination for the use of a special event call sign through one of the following special event call sign coordinators. These coordinators maintain and disseminate worldwide a common database for the day-to-day usage of the one-by-one format call signs (for example K1A). Upon completing the coordination process, the special event station may substitute the 1x1 format call sign for its assigned call sign during the period of the special event.
Coordinators: These volunteer entities have been certified as special event call sign coordinators.
Indicators: In addition to the special event call sign system, any amateur station, including a special event station, may include with its assigned call sign one or more indicators (example W1AW/national convention). Each indicator must be separated from the assigned call sign by a slant (/) or by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark (“portable,” “stroke,” etc.). If the indicator is self-assigned, it may be included before, after, or both before and after, the assigned call sign (example KP2/W1AW/contest). No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules (such as AA, AG, AE or KT) or with any prefix assigned to another country (such as DL, F, G or VE) [emphasis added].
Questions concerning 1x1 call signs and the common database should be directed to the special event call sign coordinators. For information concerning Fact Sheet 206E, contact John B. Johnston, e-mail jjohnsto@fcc.gov; tel 202-418-0680.
NNNN
Hams now can renew their licenses on line. The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has consolidated eight renewal forms into one form. Form 900, Application for Electronic Renewal of Wireless Radio Services Authorizations, is an interim measure to permit all WTB licensees, including hams, to renew their licenses electronically.
This form is only for renewals, not for license modifications. You can only enter changes (e.g., name, address) using Form 900 as a part of the process of renewing your license. You can only use Form 900 if the expiration date on your license falls within the renewal window (within 120 days of expiration). You cannot use Form 900 to renew an expired license. Form 900 may only be submitted electronically. No Form 900 paper applications will be accepted. When filing Form 900, you will be required to enter a Social Security Number for a taxpayer ID number.
Access Form 900 on the WTB Electronic Commerce page, http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/electcom.html (click on Production Page for Electronic Commerce Applications to access the Form 900). Click on any item number for filing instructions. Once you have filed the form, clicking on Electronic Renewal Query lets you view or print the information submitted.
Once you have successfully submitted Form 900, it is important to click on the Continue button to obtain the fee information pertaining to your filing. The screen will prompt you with a Fee Remittance Advice, Form 159. The form will indicate that there is no charge to renew an Amateur Radio license (except for vanity call sign holders, who won’t have to renew for several more years yet).
Form 900 updates will be batch processed at night. They are not instantaneous. Send comments about the FCC Form 900 to sreed@fcc.gov. For technical assistance, call the FCC Technical Support Group at 202- 414-1250. Other general information may be obtained from the FCC’s National Call Center at 888-225-5322 (CALL-FCC).
NNNN
The FCC has announced that as of January 1, 1998, Amateur Radio applicants may only submit FCC Forms 610, 610 A and 610B that carry an edition date of September 1997. After the first of the new year, previous editions of Form 610 will not be accepted for filing by the FCC or by Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). Amateurs may begin using the new Form 610s now.
The major change on the new form is a certification that says the applicant has "read and will comply with Section 97.13© of the Commission’s Rules" regarding RF radiation safety and the amateur service section of OST/OET Bulletin No 65, Evaluating Compliance with FCC-Specified Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields.
But, Amateur Radio Supplement B of Bulletin 65, which has additional information on how to conduct a routine RF safety evaluation and explains other aspects of RF safety, is still in the draft stages and not yet available to the ham radio community. ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ, said it’s essential that the FCC make Supplement B available in time for hams to complete their evaluations to meet the deadlines in the rules.
ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, who’s been involved in reviewing the draft supplement, said he expects the FCC to release it sometime in November. "Above all, it is important that the required station evaluation be as easy as possible for hams," he said. "The FCC has pretty much met that goal. Additionally, most hams, by virtue of their power levels, will not need to do an evaluation at all."
Section 97.13© says that before you transmit "from any place where the operation of the station could cause human exposure to RF electromagnetic field levels in excess of those allowed," you have to perform a routine RF environmental evaluation if your transmitter PEP exceeds these limits:
The new Forms 610 may be obtained from the FCC’ Web site via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html, at ftp://ftp.fcc.gov/pub/Forms/ or by fax at 202-418-0177 (request index, or for Form 610 use form code 000610, for Form 610A use form code 006101, for Form 610B use form code 006102). The FCC Forms Distribution Center will accept FCC forms orders at 800-418-3676.
ARRL VEs and VE teams will be able to obtain a supply of the new Forms 610 in late November.
Individual amateurs may obtain a copy of the new Form 610 by sending a self- addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to: ARRL/VEC, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111. Include 32 cents postage for each Form 610 requested.
NNNN
... Bill Tynan, W3XO, welcomed former
ARRL New England Director Bill Burden,
WB1BRE, as AMSAT-NA’s new vice
president for strategic planning. “Bill brings
a wealth of experience in both engineering
project management as well as in planning
corporate strategic initiatives to the AMSAT
team,” AMSAT-NA said in a news release.
“His skill and experience will prove
invaluable as AMSAT contemplates future
projects beyond Phase 3D.” ...
(Excerpted to just to get the bit on Bill)
NNNN
The ARRL Executive Committee has voted to have the League continue to urge adoption of the antenna regulatory preemption policies contained in its petition, RM-8763. The action came on a motion from ARRL Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, as the Executive Committee met October 11 in Philadelphia.
The League’s petition, filed in February 1996, seeks enhancement of the PRB-1 limited federal preemption of state and local regulation of Amateur Radio antennas. However, the FCC appears to have made no progress with regard to the petition, which asked the FCC to declare that localities must find the least restrictive means to deal with ham radio. Among other things, the petition called on the Commission to amend Section 97.15(e) of the rules to say that any state or local antenna restrictions limiting ham radio antennas to heights below 70 feet would be “presumed unreasonable,” unless the state or local authority could show its restrictions were necessary for health, safety or aesthetic reasons.
It was also announced at the Executive Committee meeting that the League will submit comments in Mass Media Bureau Docket 97-182 supporting a comprehensive antenna facilities siting policy, including amateur antenna structures.
The ARRL also continues to pursue FCC preemption of local and state attempts to regulate in the area of RF radiation safety.
The Committee also was told that numerous comments, most of them supportive, were filed on the ARRL’s petition (RM-9150) seeking to improve the FCC’s handling of private-sector complaints of serious amateur rules violations. The League has filed reply comments in the matter.
NNNN
Christmas will arrive a bit early for General, Technician Plus, Technician and Novice Class hams. The FCC has announced that vanity call sign program Gate 4--the last vanity gate—will open December 2, 1997, for General, Tech Plus, Technician and Novice class hams to request a vanity call sign on or after that date. The potential number of applicants from these four licensee groups is huge—well over a half million hams.
Applicants may use either the electronic Forms 610V and 159 on the Web or hard- copy Form 610V and 159--but not both. Both versions—plus fact sheets and answers to frequently asked questions—are available at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/amateur. The application fee is 50 dollars, payable by check (to "FCC"), bank draft, money order or credit card. Do not send cash. The FCC gives processing priority to electronically filed Forms 610V for which the filing fee and Form 159 have been received. The FCC now requires all vanity filers to include a Form 159, which must be mailed to the FCC with your fee.
It’s up to applicants to make sure that their applications do not arrive before December 2, 1997. The FCC will return all applications that arrive early. All other vanity call sign gates will remain open, and Amateur Extra and Advanced class operators continue to be eligible to file for vanity call signs under those filing gates.
Any call sign requested must be appropriate for the class of license you hold. This means that Technician, Tech Plus, and General class licensees may ask for a Group C (1x3) or D (2x3) call sign. Novice class licensees may only request Group D call signs.
Electronic filers must mail the Form 159 Fee Remittance Advice to FCC, Amateur Vanity, PO Box 358994, Pittsburgh, PA 15251- 5994. The Form 159 and the fee must be received within 10 days of electronically filing your Form 610V or your application will be dismissed.
Those filing on document Forms 610V and 159 must mail the application package containing a completed Form 610V with a copy of your license attached, Form 159 and the proper fee in a sealed envelope to FCC, Amateur Vanity, PO Box 358924, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5924.
Application packages via courier or delivered by hand must be prepared in the same way, sealed in a second, outer envelope, and addressed to Federal Communications Commission, c/o Mellon Bank, 525 William Penn Way, 27th Floor, Room 153-2713, Pittsburgh, PA 15259, ATTN: Wholesale Lockbox Shift Supervisor. This address should only be used for applications delivered by hand or courier.
For general information, call the FCC’s toll- free National Call Center, 888-225-5322 (CALLFCC).
NNNN
Amateur Radio is now considered to be an official payload on the International Space Station or I.S.S.. Matt Bordelon, KC5BTL, at Johnson Space Center, says that ham radio is the first payload to become official. Bordelon already has started the training program for the first crew who will be putting together the space station starting in January 1999.
NNNN