Due to the recent events surrounding a certain prolific HAM's website having to close down due to a forced callsign change, I think it is time that ACMA, in conjunction with WIA overhauled the callsign system to bring it in line with more modern (best) practices. In the US and NZ (and possibly in other countries too, I am yet to confirm), an amateur operator is permitted to keep their home callsign in the even they move regions (eg, a ZL2 station moving to region ZL4). This would be advantageous for specific HAMs that have set up websites, written articles, and other material.
To use an example, if someone that produces a ton of great information and enthusiasm for the hobby (e.g. VK3YE or VK1OD) we're to move, it would be of great benefit for everyone if they could retain their identity.
Of course, new licensees would be required to have a callsign issued that relates to their geographical location (So someone applying for a license in NSW will get a VK2 call) But if a HAM is required to move interstate they could retain their existing callsign.
The FCC don't have a problem with it (from wikipedia:-)
If NZ and USA can do this, why can't we? I would like to have this changed and I think with the support of the community, and the WIA, along with supporting evidence as to why its a good thing (citing reasons from how the other countries got it past their regulatory bodies) we can get this changed.Wikipedia wrote:In the last few decades the FCC has discarded the requirement that a station be located in the corresponding numerical district. Whereas at one time the callsign W1xxx would have been solid identification that the station was in New England (district 1), that is no longer the case, and W1xxx may be located anywhere in the USA. Even particularly distinctive calls such as KH6xxx which used to be exclusively in Hawaii, may be assigned to license holders on the US mainland. However, those licensees with KH6, KL7, KP4, etc., call signs must have been living in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico when they received those call signs.
The second thing I believe it is time we had changed is for HAMs to get access to single letter callsigns. Last time I checked, the VK2A - VK2Z range had one scientific license assigned to it (I think it was a TAFE in Newcastle) who in reality won't care at all if their callsign changes to something else. These "Vanity calls" could then be put to better uses....