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Help Topic Description What is a vanity call sign? A Vanity call sign is an Amateur Radio call sign specifically chosen by a person who is currently an Amateur Radio licensee (similar in purpose to Vanity license plates on cars). The ARRL's website explains the FCC's vanity program and some of its rules and can help you get started. Also visit the FCC's web page on Obtaining a Vanity Call Sign. Which calls can I apply for? There are restrictions on and suffixes for all license classes, a mandatory 2-year waiting period before re-assignment of most call signs. There are various types of vanity call sign requests: Request by list provision Former holder provision Close relative of former holder provision In memoriam provision Club station The FCC's F.A.Q. explains how the vanity call program works. Vanity call sign assignment is not restricted to call sign districts. You can apply for any call sign for your license class, You should also familiarize yourself with what constitutes a valid U.S. amateur call sign for your license class and your QTH. In particular, pay attention to the "sequential call system" and the "vanity call system". These are the call sign groups available for each class of license: Novice: Group "D" - 2x3 Technician: Group "D" - 2x3   Group "C" - 1x3 Technician Plus: Group "D" - 2x3   Group "C" - 1x3 General: Group "D" - 2x3   Group "C" - 1x3 Advanced: Group "D" - 2x3   Group "C" - 1x3   Group "B" - 2x2 [K, N or W] Extra: Group "D" - 2x3   Group "C" - 1x3   Group "B" - 2x2   Group "A" - 2x1, 1x2 The FCC will not grant certain call signs for amateur use. For instance: Some calls ending in "QRZ" or "QTH" Any call having the letters "SOS" or "QRA-QUZ" as the suffix Any call having the letters "AM-AZ" as the prefix KA2AA thru KA9ZZ KC4AAA thru KC4AAF KC4USA thru KC4USZ KG4AA thru KG4ZZ KC6AA thru KC6ZZ KL9KAA thru KL9KHZ KX6AA thru KX6ZZ Geographically restricted KL, KP, NL, NP, etc. prefixes ...others For more restrictions concerning call sign assignment, read these FCC pages, Amateur Station Vanity Call Sign System and Amateur Station Sequential Call Sign System. Please make sure your vanity choices conform to the FCC's call sign guidelines. Waiting for a CSCE license upgrade If you recently passed the required elements for a license upgrade and received a Certificate of Successful Completion, or CSCE, you must wait for your license upgrade to be entered into the FCC's database before you can apply for a vanity call sign particular to that new license class. For example, you currently hold a General class license and you just passed the Advanced class written element at a VEC testing session and you now have a CSCE. At this time, you can apply for a vanity call in groups C or D. If you want to apply for a vanity call from group B, which is reserved for Advanced class, you must wait until the FCC's database shows your Operator Class as Advanced. ULS registration & Online Filing The ARRL provides a good step-by-step procedure to assist you when you register with the FCC's CORES Licensing System (CORES). You must use a recent version of the Netscape browser, or Internet Explorer (as of 12/01/2001) to register. The FCC indicates that the ULS is compliant with several versions of Netscape Communicator except 4.6 or earlier than 4.5, and Internet Explorer versions 5.5 - 6.0. Check the ULS Getting Started web page for the latest browser compatibility, and Java plug-in information. You can download Netscape Communicator from the Netscape Website, and Internet Explorer from the Microsoft Website. Your computer must use a 32 bit operating system such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Windows NT. If you plan to pay your $11.70 (fee help) fee online using a credit card, you must use the 128 bit encryption version of Netscape, and configure it to run Java scripts. If you run an anti-virus program, you might also have to temporarily disable it to pay online. If you obtained your new ham license or upgrade through a VEC, chances are the VEC already registered you with the ULS. If you try ULS registration and are asked for a password, but don't know the password, then your VEC has already registered you. You have to call FCC Tech Support, at 202-414-1250, to get a temporary password, which will get you into the ULS. After you're in, you can change your password. The ULS Tech Support office's hours of operation are detailed at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls/support/index.html#tech. Registration Note: Starting December 3, 2001, a new FCC registration system will be used called, COmmission REgistration System, or CORES. Read this ARRL news article, or visit the CORES Home Page for more information. Choosing a vanity call Vanity HQ provides many tables of call signs that make shopping for a new call sign easy. There are three types of lists which contains call signs of different status and availability:   Immediately Available These call signs are not in the FCC's database. This means the call has never been issued to any one, or the call was cancelled by the FCC, and it has been purged from the FCC's database. Call signs in this table are available for immediate vanity issue. Call signs are listed alphabetically by suffix and by call district. FCC Database Call Signs These call signs are in the FCC's database but they have been cancelled or have expired. Calls in this list will be eligible for vanity issue two years after the date shown next to each call sign. You will see some call signs in these lists that have already satisifed the mandatory two year waiting period. Those that have are immediately available for vanity issue. Calls signs are listed alphabetically by suffix, by call district and chronologically by availability. Current Vanity Data Up to 25 call sign choices can be submitted on a vanity application. These lists show all the call signs that were submitted on vanity applications, along with the call sign of the requestor and a link to the vanity application. Vanity applications that have been granted will show the ham's new call sign. Refer to Vanity HQ's F.A.Q. for a description of the Current Vanity Data lists. Filing a vanity application You can file an online vanity application using a standard internet connection, check here for the details. Vanity HQ provides vanity land mines, and important information to help you file your application successfully. All this information, and more, can be accessed with links at the top of this page. The fee for filing a vanity call sign application is $11.70 (fee help) for 10 years. You may pay the fee using a credit card during the online filing process but you will need Netscape or Internet Explorer, 128 bit encryption version. may also be paid by bank draft/check, personal check or money order, made payable to "FCC". In order to file online, you may need to install the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) on your computer. Check the ULS Getting Started web page for the JVM version that is compatible with the ULS system. The latest JVM version will not work, so follow the instructings on the FCC's Getting Started web page. Note: The ULS is compatible with most versions of the Windows operating system, including Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, and NT. ULS is NOT compatible with Linux, Unix, Sun Solaris, or Macintosh operating systems. The ULS is NOT compatible with Linux, Unix, or Sun Solaris operating systems. If you are not successful filing online, you're not alone. You can always print the forms and mail them to the FCC. Make sure your payment reaches the FCC within 10 days of filing your application. The FCC's technical support phone number is 202-414-1250, Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, (Eastern). You can also receive help via http://esupport.fcc.gov/index.htm. Vanity HQ's message board has a wealth of information regarding online filing problems and solutions that other hams have found useful. If you have problems during the filing process, you can post a new message asking for help or read through the existing messages for possible solutions to your particular problem. Recent Rule Change: You may file only one application for each vanity call sign. Recent rule changes prohibit filing more than one application for the same call sign within a 24 hour period. The must accompany each application you submit, or within 10 days after submitting an application. When will I get my new vanity call? The average processing time is about . However, this time can vary, depending upon holidays, errors on your application, FCC screw-ups, etc. Basically, there are three status levels a vanity application will be in: Pending Level 1 - (No longer used) Pending Level 2 - Your application is "in process" where it will be checked for errors while waiting for your $11.70 (fee help) fee to reach the FCC. Providing there are no errors on your application, your application status will remain pending level 2 until it is granted. If the FCC finds an error on your application, like missing information, none of your call sign choices are available to you, your fee was not received, etc., they will change your application status to DISMISSED and send you a letter stating the reason. You can view the current status of your application any time, online, and also view the reason for dismissal. Granted - There were no problems in the filing process. Your application is scheduled for approval and your new call sign will be entered into the FCC's database during the next business day. If your are granted a new call sign, your "hard copy" ticket should arrive by mail in about . Vanity Application Processing Schedule Here some facts about the timeline for application processing: Vanity applications are usually processed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Applications received on Monday are processed on Friday, 18 days later. Applications received on Tuesday are processed on Saturday, 18 days later. Applications received on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday are processed on Tuesday, 18 days after the Friday date. Holidays occuring between the received date and the processed date don't seem to change the schedule. However, Monday holidays cause the Tuesday processing to be a day late. Applications filed on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday are marked and date stamped the next business day. Applications are processed as a batch job in the early morning hours while the ULS system is off-line. If the batch job fails it may cause grants to be delayed. Thanx to Alvin, W6WJ, for these important facts. How can I determine which new vanity call sign I was issued once my application is GRANTED? Go to the ULS website and do a license search using your current call sign. You will then see a page showing your call sign, name and license ID. Write your license ID on a piece of paper for the next step. Now, do another license search, this time, search using your license ID instead of your call sign. A page will be displayed which shows your current call sign and your new vanity call sign. Your license ID does not change, even when you get a new call. Problem solved? When can I start using my new vanity call? You must start using your new call sign when you see that your application has reached the GRANTED status, or your receive a paper copy of your license in the mail, whichever comes first. By then, your old call sign has been cancelled and it is no longer valid. So, if you press that mic button or pound that key, you must use your new call sign. Getting a $11.70 (fee help) fee refund from the FCC Applicants who submit an FCC Form 605 application but are not successful in obtaining a Vanity call sign with that application may seek a refund of the application fee, by writing to: FCC 1270 Fairfield Rd. Gettysburg PA 17325-7245 Be sure to include your Taxpayer ID Number (TIN), which was listed on the Form 605 application, when seeking a refund. You may also request a refund via http://esupport.fcc.gov/index.htm. You will need your FRN, application date(s), file number(s), and Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number. If you need assistance... Online customer support remains available 24/7 on the FCC Web site. The ULS includes the Amateur Radio Service licensee database. Effective March 5, 2007, customers will be able to reach the FCC ULS Customer Support Hotline Monday through Friday (excepting federal holidays) from 8 AM until 6 PM Eastern Time. Among other things, ULS Customer Support is a resource for those with technical concerns or with questions about which application purpose is appropriate for a particular filing, the information a particular ULS form or schedule requests and FCC Registration Number (FRN) password issues. Contact ULS Customer Support at (877) 480-3201, option 2 (toll-free); (888) 225-5322, option 2 (toll-free) or (717) 338-2888. TTY service is available at (717) 338-2824.