XPost: rec.radio.amateur.policy, uk.radio.amateur   
   From: ianREMOVETHISjackson@g3ohx.demon.co.uk   
      
   In message , Rob   
    writes   
   >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 available callsign that has lapsed or is otherwise no longer current -   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.   
      
   Many old fogies (like me) feel that your callsign is as personal as   
   (say) your fingerprints, and you should not be able to acquire amateur's   
   callsign except in exceptional circumstances (such as from a father or   
   an uncle) - but not for reasons like a possibly justifiable "He taught   
   me all I know" or a less-justifiable "I used to take his dog for a   
   walk"). Despite this being the policy of OFCOM and their predecessors,   
   over the years a few old callsigns do seem to have been re-issued.   
      
   Obviously, an all-time policy of never re-issuing would result in   
   callsigns running out, and a compromise would be to at least wait until   
   the generations of amateurs associated with the various 'generations' of   
   callsigns were and truly dead, and the person to whom a callsign was   
   re-issued could no longer be confused with its previous owner.   
   --   
   Ian   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)