Implementation of a Vanity Call Sign System

This action makes revisions to the vanity call sign system rules. The revisions concern limiting availability of call signs for call sign Regions 11, 12, and 13 to licensees who have a mailing address in the specific state, commonwealth, or island of those regions, requiring a close relative of a deceased call sign holder to hold the same or higher class of operator license as the deceased, specifying that applicants who file timely vanity call sign renewal applications will have continuing operating authority, establishing a new starting gate, Gate 1A, for clubs that wish to obtain the call sign of a deceased member, and making an editorial change relating to new club and military recreation station applications. The rule amendments are necessary so that all members of the amateur community will be treated fairly, yet recognizing the privileges of higher grade operator licensees. The effect of this action is to make available to amateur operators call signs that they themselves select for their amateur stations.