§ 73.3550   Requests for new or modified call sign assignments.

   (a) All requests for new or modified call sign assignments for radio
   and television broadcast stations shall be made via the FCC's on-line
   call sign reservation and authorization system accessible through the
   Internet's World Wide Web by specifying http://www.fcc.gov. Licensees
   and permittees may utilize this on-line system to determine the
   availability and licensing status of any call sign; to select an
   initial call sign for a new station; to change a station's currently
   assigned call sign; to modify an existing call sign by adding or
   deleting an "-FM" or "-TV" suffix; to exchange call signs with another
   licensee or permittee in the same service; or to reserve a different
   call sign for a station being transferred or assigned.

   (b) No request for an initial call sign assignment will be accepted
   from a permittee for a new radio or full-service television station
   until the FCC has granted a construction permit. Each such permittee
   shall request the assignment of its station's initial call sign
   expeditiously following the grant of its construction permit. All
   initial construction permits for low power TV stations will be issued
   with a five-character low power TV call sign, in accordance with
   § 74.783(d) of this chapter.

   (c) Following the filing of a transfer or assignment application, the
   proposed assignee/transferee may request a new call sign for the
   station whose license or construction permit is being transferred or
   assigned. No change in call sign assignment will be effective until
   such transfer or assignment application is granted by the FCC and
   notification of consummation of the transaction is received by the FCC.

   (d) Where an application is granted by the FCC for transfer or
   assignment of the construction permit or license of a station whose
   existing call sign conforms to that of a commonly-owned station not
   part of the transaction, the new licensee of the transferred or
   assigned station shall expeditiously request a different call sign,
   unless consent to retain the conforming call sign has been obtained
   from the primary holder and from the licensee of any other station that
   may be using such conforming call sign.

   (e) Call signs beginning with the letter "K" will not be assigned to
   stations located east of the Mississippi River, nor will call signs
   beginning with the letter "W" be assigned to stations located west of
   the Mississippi River.

   (f) Only four-letter call signs (plus an LP, FM, TV or CA suffix, if
   used) will be assigned. The four letter call sign for LPFM stations
   will be followed by the suffix "-LP." However, subject to the other
   provisions of this section, a call sign of a station may be conformed
   to a commonly owned station holding a three-letter call assignment
   (plus FM, TV, CA or LP suffixes, if used).

   (g) Subject to the foregoing limitations, applicants may request call
   signs of their choice if the combination is available. Objections to
   the assignment of requested call signs will not be entertained at the
   FCC. However, this does not hamper any party from asserting such rights
   as it may have under private law in some other forum. Should it be
   determined by an appropriate forum that a station should not utilize a
   particular call sign, the initial assignment of a call sign will not
   serve as a bar to the making of a different assignment.

   (h) Stations in different broadcast services (or operating jointly in
   the 535-1605 kHz band and in the 1605-1705 kHz band) which are under
   common control may request that their call signs be conformed by the
   assignment of the same basic call sign if that call sign is not being
   used by a non-commonly owned station. For the purposes of this
   paragraph, 50% or greater common ownership shall constitute a prima
   facie showing of common control.

   (i) The provisions of this section shall not apply to International
   broadcast stations or to stations authorized under part 74 of this
   chapter (except as provided in § 74.783).

   (j) A change in call sign assignment will be made effective on the date
   specified in the postcard acknowledging the assignment of the requested
   new call sign and authorizing the change. Unless the requested change
   in call sign assignment is subject to a pending transfer or assignment
   application, the requester is required to include in its on-line call
   sign request a specific effective date to take place within 45 days of
   the submission of its electronic call sign request. Postponement of the
   effective date will be granted only in response to a timely request and
   for only the most compelling reasons.

   (k) Four-letter combinations commencing with "W" or "K" which are
   assigned as call signs to ships or to other radio services are not
   available for assignment to broadcast stations, with or without the
   "-FM" or "-TV" suffix.

   (l) Users of nonlicensed, low-power devices operating under part 15 of
   this chapter may use whatever identification is currently desired, so
   long as propriety is observed and no confusion results with a station
   for which the FCC issues a license.

   (m) Where a requested call sign, without the "-FM,' "-TV," "-CA" or
   "LP" suffix, would conform to the call sign of any other non-commonly
   owned station(s) operating in a different service, an applicant
   utilizing the on-line reservation and authorization system will be
   required to certify that consent to use the secondary call sign has
   been obtained from the holder of the primary call sign.

   [ 63 FR 71603 , Dec. 29, 1998, as amended at  65 FR 30007 , May 10, 2000]

   return arrow Back to Top