Vanity Call Application & The FCC’s ULS Methods on obtaining a desirable Vanity Call in Region 4

The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) The ULS is browser-based, for ease of use, and provides built-in security. It contains everything you need for electronic filing. You will select the service and the purpose of your application, and the system will dynamically create a screen that will only ask you for the information that is needed. Likewise, if you want to make an administrative change in our licensing database or are required to submit a filing on a specific call sign, you'll be able to access your records with a password and immediately make the changes. Determining the status of an application is just as fast and easy. The ULS is browser-based, for ease of use, and provides built-in security. It contains everything you need for electronic filing. You will select the service and the purpose of your application, and the system will dynamically create a screen that will only ask you for the information that is needed. Likewise, if you want to make an administrative change in our licensing database or are required to submit a filing on a specific call sign, you'll be able to access your records with a password and immediately make the changes. Determining the status of an application is just as fast and easy.

The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) The ULS recognizes you by your FCC Registration Number (FRN). The ULS recognizes you by your FCC Registration Number (FRN). You can search the ULS for your call sign to see if you have already been assigned an FRN. You can search the ULS for your call sign to see if you have already been assigned an FRN. Additionally, you may follow instructions to obtain one in the event one has not been assigned. Additionally, you may follow instructions to obtain one in the event one has not been assigned. Your FRN and your password will allow you to perform all functions with regard to the ULS. Your FRN and your password will allow you to perform all functions with regard to the ULS.

The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) Once you have obtained your FRN and password you are now enabled to make online changes to your licenses. (i.e. address changes, name changes, renewal, requesting a vanity call…) Once you have obtained your FRN and password you are now enabled to make online changes to your licenses. (i.e. address changes, name changes, renewal, requesting a vanity call…) Regardless of your intent with regard to Vanity Calls, it is a wise security measure to ensure that your FRN is password protected… Regardless of your intent with regard to Vanity Calls, it is a wise security measure to ensure that your FRN is password protected…

Register with the ULS and get your FRN/Password

The Vanity Call Sign System The FCC offers amateur licensees the opportunity to request a specific call sign for a primary station and for a club station. A call sign is selected by the FCC from a list of call signs requested by the station licensee or license trustee. RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible for a vanity call sign. The FCC offers amateur licensees the opportunity to request a specific call sign for a primary station and for a club station. A call sign is selected by the FCC from a list of call signs requested by the station licensee or license trustee. RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible for a vanity call sign.

General Rules You must hold an unexpired amateur operator/primary station license grant of the proper operator class, as described below, to request a vanity call sign for your primary station. You must hold an unexpired amateur operator/primary station license grant of the proper operator class, as described below, to request a vanity call sign for your primary station. To request a vanity call sign for a club station, you must also hold an unexpired club station license grant listing you as the license trustee. To request a vanity call sign for a club station, you must also hold an unexpired club station license grant listing you as the license trustee. Your name and mailing address as shown on your current license grant must be correct. Your name and mailing address as shown on your current license grant must be correct. If your license grant has expired you must first renew the license. After the grant, you may file a vanity call sign request. You can change your name or address at the time of your vanity call sign request, by filing FCC Form 605 or, in the case of a club station, FCC Form 610-B. If your license grant has expired you must first renew the license. After the grant, you may file a vanity call sign request. You can change your name or address at the time of your vanity call sign request, by filing FCC Form 605 or, in the case of a club station, FCC Form 610-B.

General Rules The call sign you are requesting may not already be assigned. Refer to the Universal Licensing System License Search for verification. The call sign you are requesting may not already be assigned. Refer to the Universal Licensing System License Search for verification.Universal Licensing SystemUniversal Licensing System The license of the former holder now deceased must show a status of expired or cancelled in the licensee database. This is accomplished by submitting a signed request for license grant cancellation accompanied by a copy of an obituary, an in memoriam card, or data from the Social Security Death Index that shows the date of death, or a death certificate, to the FCC. The license of the former holder now deceased must show a status of expired or cancelled in the licensee database. This is accomplished by submitting a signed request for license grant cancellation accompanied by a copy of an obituary, an in memoriam card, or data from the Social Security Death Index that shows the date of death, or a death certificate, to the FCC.

Call Sign Availability A call sign is normally assignable two years following license expiration, surrender, revocation, set aside, cancellation, void ab initio, or death of the grantee. Where a vanity call sign for which the most recent recipient was ineligible is surrendered, cancelled, revoked or voided, the two- year requirement does not apply. A call sign is normally assignable two years following license expiration, surrender, revocation, set aside, cancellation, void ab initio, or death of the grantee. Where a vanity call sign for which the most recent recipient was ineligible is surrendered, cancelled, revoked or voided, the two- year requirement does not apply.

Restricted Calls KA2AA-KA9ZZ, KC4AAA-KC4AAF, KC4USA-KC4USZ, KG4AA- KG4ZZ, KC6AA-KC6ZZ, KL9KAA- KL9KHZ, KX6AA-KX6ZZ; KA2AA-KA9ZZ, KC4AAA-KC4AAF, KC4USA-KC4USZ, KG4AA- KG4ZZ, KC6AA-KC6ZZ, KL9KAA- KL9KHZ, KX6AA-KX6ZZ; Any call sign having the letters SOS or QRA-QUZ as the suffix; Any call sign having the letters SOS or QRA-QUZ as the suffix; Any call sign having the letters AM-AZ as the prefix (these prefixes are assigned to other countries by the ITU); Any call sign having the letters AM-AZ as the prefix (these prefixes are assigned to other countries by the ITU); Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letter X as the first letter of the suffix; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letter X as the first letter of the suffix; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AF, KF, NF, or WF as the prefix and the letters EMA as the suffix (U.S Government FEMA stations); Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AF, KF, NF, or WF as the prefix and the letters EMA as the suffix (U.S Government FEMA stations); Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AA-AL as the prefix; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters AA-AL as the prefix; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters NA-NZ as the prefix; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters NA-NZ as the prefix;

Restricted Calls Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters WC, WK, WM, WR, or WT as the prefix (Group X call signs); Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters WC, WK, WM, WR, or WT as the prefix (Group X call signs); Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Any 2-by-3 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Any 2-by-2 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Any 2-by-2 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Any 2-by-1 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Any 2-by-1 format call sign having the letters KP, NP or WP as the prefix and the numeral 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9; Call signs having the single letter prefix (K, N or W), a single digit numeral 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a single letter suffix are reserved for the special event call sign system. Call signs having the single letter prefix (K, N or W), a single digit numeral 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a single letter suffix are reserved for the special event call sign system.

Geographically Restricted Calls Any call sign having the letters AL, KL, NL, or WL as the prefix are restricted to region 11 (Alaska); Any call sign having the letters AL, KL, NL, or WL as the prefix are restricted to region 11 (Alaska); Any call sign having the letters KP, NP, or WP as the prefix are restricted to region 12 (Caribbean Insular Areas); Any call sign having the letters KP, NP, or WP as the prefix are restricted to region 12 (Caribbean Insular Areas); Any call sign having the letters AH, KH, NH, or WH as the prefix are restricted to region 13 (Hawaii & Pacific Insular Areas). Any call sign having the letters AH, KH, NH, or WH as the prefix are restricted to region 13 (Hawaii & Pacific Insular Areas).

Cost $20.80 as of September 6 th, 2006 for initial licensing fee and renewal fee. Good for the term of the license (10 years). $20.80 as of September 6 th, 2006 for initial licensing fee and renewal fee. Good for the term of the license (10 years). If you are not assigned a vanity call (application dismissed), you can request refund of your license fee. If you are not assigned a vanity call (application dismissed), you can request refund of your license fee.

Cost The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the years, but it's far lower than the $70 the FCC first announced in its 1994 Report and Order. The fee subsequently was reduced to $30 for the initial rounds of vanity call sign filers in Over the 10 years of the program, the fee has varied from a low of $12 to a high of $50. The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the years, but it's far lower than the $70 the FCC first announced in its 1994 Report and Order. The fee subsequently was reduced to $30 for the initial rounds of vanity call sign filers in Over the 10 years of the program, the fee has varied from a low of $12 to a high of $50.

Request Types: By List Provide a list of up to 25 call signs in the order of your preference. The first assignable call sign on your list will be assigned to your station. When so requesting for your primary or club station: Provide a list of up to 25 call signs in the order of your preference. The first assignable call sign on your list will be assigned to your station. When so requesting for your primary or club station: The call sign must have been unassigned for at least two years. The call sign must have been unassigned for at least two years. If you are an Amateur Extra Class operator, each call sign must be in Group A, B, C or D. If you are an Amateur Extra Class operator, each call sign must be in Group A, B, C or D. If you are an Advanced Class operator, each call sign must be in Group B, C or D. If you are an Advanced Class operator, each call sign must be in Group B, C or D. If you are a General, Technician Plus, or Technician Class operator, each call sign must be in Group C or D. If you are a General, Technician Plus, or Technician Class operator, each call sign must be in Group C or D. If you are a Novice Class operator, each call sign must be in Group D. If you are a Novice Class operator, each call sign must be in Group D.

Request Types: By List Each call sign must be one designated for the region of your mailing address as follows: Each call sign must be one designated for the region of your mailing address as follows: One of the contiguous 48 states Regions 1 to 10 One of the contiguous 48 states Regions 1 to 10 Alaska Regions 1 to 11 Alaska Regions 1 to 11 American Samoa Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 8 American Samoa Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 8 Commonwealth of Northern Marianna Islands Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 0 Commonwealth of Northern Marianna Islands Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 0 Guam Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 2 Guam Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 2 Hawaii Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 6 or 7 Hawaii Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 6 or 7 Puerto Rico Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 6 or 7 Puerto Rico Regions 1 to 10, or Region 13 having numeral 6 or 7 Virgin Islands Regions 1 to 10, or Region 12 having numeral 3 or 4 Virgin Islands Regions 1 to 10, or Region 12 having numeral 3 or 4

Request Types: Former Holder For your primary station, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to your primary, secondary, repeater, auxiliary link, control or space station. When so requesting for your primary station: For your primary station, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to your primary, secondary, repeater, auxiliary link, control or space station. When so requesting for your primary station: You may request your former call sign even though it has been unassigned for less than two years. The two-year requirement does not apply to an otherwise eligible primary station if the call sign was previously assigned to a station of the requestor. You may request your former call sign even though it has been unassigned for less than two years. The two-year requirement does not apply to an otherwise eligible primary station if the call sign was previously assigned to a station of the requestor.

Request Types: Former Holder You do not have to hold a class of operator license required for the Group (A, B, C or D) for the call sign requested. A call sign request by a former holder may be from any Group in the sequential system. You do not have to hold a class of operator license required for the Group (A, B, C or D) for the call sign requested. A call sign request by a former holder may be from any Group in the sequential system. Your mailing address does not have to be in the Region designated in the sequential system for the call sign requested. A call sign requested by a former holder may be in any Region. Your mailing address does not have to be in the Region designated in the sequential system for the call sign requested. A call sign requested by a former holder may be in any Region.

Request Types: By Close Relative of Former Holder Now Deceased For your primary station, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to the primary, secondary, repeater, auxiliary link, control or space station of your now- deceased spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law. When so requesting for your primary station: For your primary station, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to the primary, secondary, repeater, auxiliary link, control or space station of your now- deceased spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law. When so requesting for your primary station:

Request Types: By Close Relative of Former Holder Now Deceased You may request the former call sign of a close relative now deceased even though it has been unassigned for less than two years. Upon the death of the holder, a call sign is assignable immediately to an otherwise eligible primary station of a close relative once it has been cancelled from the database. You may request the former call sign of a close relative now deceased even though it has been unassigned for less than two years. Upon the death of the holder, a call sign is assignable immediately to an otherwise eligible primary station of a close relative once it has been cancelled from the database. Unlike the former holder request type, the applicant will not be issued a call from a group that does not match his license class. Unlike the former holder request type, the applicant will not be issued a call from a group that does not match his license class.

Request Types: By Close Relative of Former Holder Now Deceased Your mailing address does not have to be in a Region designated in the sequential system for the call sign requested. A call sign requested by a close relative of former holder now deceased may be in any Region. Your mailing address does not have to be in a Region designated in the sequential system for the call sign requested. A call sign requested by a close relative of former holder now deceased may be in any Region. You must show your relationship to the deceased person exactly as listed in the instruction, i.e., "child", "niece" or "in-law". You must show your relationship to the deceased person exactly as listed in the instruction, i.e., "child", "niece" or "in-law".

Request Types: By Former Holder (Club Station) For the club station for which you are the license trustee, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to that station. For the club station for which you are the license trustee, you may request a call sign that was previously assigned to that station. Most of the rules for request type former holder (individual) also apply to this request type. Most of the rules for request type former holder (individual) also apply to this request type.

Getting the Call Many calls good calls are available in region 4. Many calls good calls are available in region 4. Group A (1X2 and 2X1) calls in region 4 are in short supply and are best obtained by harvesting, due to stiff competition by those applying “by list” on the two year (+ 1 day mark). Group A (1X2 and 2X1) calls in region 4 are in short supply and are best obtained by harvesting, due to stiff competition by those applying “by list” on the two year (+ 1 day mark).

Getting the Call The real chore here is finding an “available” 1X2 or 2X1. I have found many, even in the crowded region 4. The real chore here is finding an “available” 1X2 or 2X1. I have found many, even in the crowded region 4. The reason for region 4 call scarcity is purely the numbers. Region 4 has more amateurs than any other region. The reason for region 4 call scarcity is purely the numbers. Region 4 has more amateurs than any other region.

Getting the Call

Go to: FCC ULS License Search. Go to: FCC ULS License Search.FCC ULS License SearchFCC ULS License Search Use the Amateur Service Specific Search. Select Amateur Extra class under Operator Class, Status Active and a call prefix (i.e. W4, WT4) in the call sign block under License Detail and Expiration Date information from today to about a year out. To make display easier I also Customize Results to display 100 per page. Use the Amateur Service Specific Search. Select Amateur Extra class under Operator Class, Status Active and a call prefix (i.e. W4, WT4) in the call sign block under License Detail and Expiration Date information from today to about a year out. To make display easier I also Customize Results to display 100 per page.

Getting the Call Obtain birth information on individuals with desirable calls. Obtain birth information on individuals with desirable calls. This can be done with an old HamCall or QRZ CD. This can be done with an old HamCall or QRZ CD. The FCC no longer makes birth information available, so only old CD’s will contain such information. The FCC no longer makes birth information available, so only old CD’s will contain such information.

Getting the Call

Once you have as much information as you can find on the current holder of the call, you should use Rootsweb's Social Security Death Index Interactive Search. This is a free source of SSDI (Social Security Death Index) information. Make sure you use the “advanced search” button, and enter the information you have found, usually all you need is last name and birth year to get a relatively narrow result. Once you have as much information as you can find on the current holder of the call, you should use Rootsweb's Social Security Death Index Interactive Search. This is a free source of SSDI (Social Security Death Index) information. Make sure you use the “advanced search” button, and enter the information you have found, usually all you need is last name and birth year to get a relatively narrow result.

Getting the Call If the date of passing is at least two years and 1 day past, you have a likely candidate for immediate harvesting. If the date of passing is at least two years and 1 day past, you have a likely candidate for immediate harvesting. To apply for the call, you should send fax a letter to the FCC requesting cancellation of the call. To apply for the call, you should send fax a letter to the FCC requesting cancellation of the call. Fax your letter, along with the SSDI information page after FCC working hours. Fax your letter, along with the SSDI information page after FCC working hours.

Getting the Call Immediately after faxing the required cancellation request (and supporting documentation), submit an application “by list” for the call in question. Immediately after faxing the required cancellation request (and supporting documentation), submit an application “by list” for the call in question. If the match is accurate the call will be cancelled in less than two weeks. If the match is accurate the call will be cancelled in less than two weeks. Once cancelled you should have the only pending application! Once cancelled you should have the only pending application!

Getting the Call Check out my article at eHam.net… Check out my article at eHam.net… Or download this Power Point Presentation from wt4m.com! Or download this Power Point Presentation from wt4m.com!