Report No. DC95-19         ACTION IN DOCKET CASE           January 24, 1995


           COMMISSION AMENDS AMATEUR SERVICE RULES TO IMPLEMENT
                         A VANITY CALL SIGN SYSTEM
                          (PR DOCKET NO. 93-305)

     In recognition of the strong sense of identity among amateur
operators that is grounded in the call signs of their stations,
the Commission has decided to offer a vanity call sign system to
the amateur service community.  The Commission will also resume
issuing new club and military recreation station licenses.  The
Commission said these actions are fundamental to its commitment
to putting the needs of people first in providing the services
that they want.

     Each new amateur station licensed by the FCC is assigned a
unique call sign.  An automated process selects the call sign in
accordance with the sequential call sign system.  Until recently,
the Commission was unable to accommodate the many thousands of
requests from call signs of the licensee's choice.  The
Commission stated that one of its many steps in reinventing
Government is to implement new licensing processing capabilities
that make it practicable to grant such requests.

     The Commission will implement the new system by using a
series of four "starting gates."  Gate One would allow a previous
holder of a call sign to apply for that call sign or, where the
holder is deceased, a close relative could apply.  Gate Two would
allow the 66,000 Amateur Extra Class operators, who have passed
the most difficult license examinations, to apply.  Gate Three
would allow the 112,000 Advanced Class operators, who have passed
the second most difficult license examinations, to apply; and
Gate Four would open the system to any licensee, including a club
station license trustee applying for the call sign of a deceased
former holder.  The Commission will announce the opening of each
gate by a Public Notice.  The first gate will open as soon as the
new application form, FCC Form 610-V, is available and the
Commission's licensing facility is prepared to begin processing
the applications.

     With respect to new club station licenses, the Commission
stated that persons not already holding a club station license
must first apply for and receive a license before filing an 

                                  (over)

                                    -2-

application with the fee collection contractor requesting that
the license be modified to show a vanity call sign.  However, the
Commission will begin accepting applications for new club and
military recreation station licenses on the date the Report and
Order in this proceeding becomes effective.

     Action by the Commission December 23, 1994, by Report and
Order (FCC 94-343).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello,
Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-     

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Maurice J.
Depont at (202) 418-0690.