XPost: rec.radio.amateur.policy, uk.radio.amateur   
   From: nomail@example.com   
      
   Ian Jackson  wrote:   
   > But in this case, it looks like OFCOM have simply started re-using any   
   > available callsign that has lapsed or is otherwise no longer current -   
   > apparently without any consultation with the RSGB (who I hope would have   
   > vigorously opposed it).   
      
   Here in the Netherlands, the callsigns were originally issued in some   
   series, first PA0 then PA2 and PE0 then PA3 PE1 and PD0, later also PB0.   
   The latter 4 were assigned sequentially from AAA up, from 1976.   
      
   Later, the associations asked for "vanity" callsigns, and it became   
   possible to apply for any available callsigns in the PA-PH series,   
   with digit 0-5 or 7-9 a 1 to 3 letter suffix, but curiously not from   
   the PA0 series.  The digit 6 was and is reserved for temporary callsigns.   
      
   Of course there was inequality in that a new amateur could not get a   
   PA0 callsign but those who had one could keep it, and there was also   
   the issue that one could get a callsign from the series that earlier   
   were used sequentially, e.g. when the previous user of that callsign   
   changed to a shorter or more mnemonic callsign.   
      
   It is confusing, because you sometimes hear callsigns that were previously   
   used by someone else.   
      
   The current proposal by the associations (not yet implemented) is to lock   
   callsigns to persons, so it will only be possible to obtain a callsign   
   that has not been used by someone else before.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)