[SMCARA] Radio Call Sign History

[JD Delancy]

Interesting reading below and at the URL's
(shared with permission from KM4ML)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dick Rucker" <rrucker@bellatlantic.net>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 3:33 PM
Subject: FW: Radio Call Sign History - a topic on the last Sunday morning2m
net

 ------ Forwarded Message
From: "John Reiser" <jreiser@tidalwave.net>
Reply-To: "John Reiser" <reiser@itu.ch>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 11:54:50 -0500
Subject: Radio Call Sign History.

 Dick,

 Here are two URL sites that deal of the history of radio calls in the
United States, primarily related to broadcast stations.

     http://www.oldradio.com/archives/general/3myst.htm

     http://www.oldradio.com/archives/general/kwtrivia.htm

 I was working in the Broadcast Rules Division when the FCC chairman decided
to eliminate the restriction on assigning only K calls west of the
Mississippi and W to stations East of the river.  Some broadcasters had
personally requested this so they could have certain "slogan" type calls
that were otherwise unavailable.  There was really no regulatory reason for
eliminating the restriction, so he wanted to have the change made by a
simple Order. However, the Media Bureau did issue a NPRM, and there was an
overwhelming objection to changing the "tradition." However, the FCC did
make a number of changes that permitted much greater flexibility in the
assignment of calls to broadcast stations, but they did return to reissuing
three-letter calls except to stations that once held them.

 The reason for this division originated in the early days of radio so that
the location of maritime coast stations could be more easily be determined.
U.S. ships in the Atlantic would have K calls and those in the Pacific would
have W calls. This would also help identify the location the ships. However
this division later served no useful purpose.

 Although the U.S. was originally given calls in the A, K, N, and W blocks,
the A calls were intended for Army and Government stations and the N for
Navy and Coast Guard Stations.

 John, WQ4L

 ------ End of Forwarded Message