Re: [IRCA] US agencies and callsigns.

[AM-DXer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Griffith, N0NNK / WPE9HVW)]

Charles said: I'm trying to "nosh" this out. I believe that FCC, through
NTIA, assigns "blocks" of callsigns, and the agencies assign their own
callsign from each block.
/////
This is true from my experiences working for several Federal agencies,
especially on the HF frequencies. But most of the VHF/UHF operations
that I have been involved with have only used tactical call signs. That
may be due to the temporary nature of them. I do know that even the
temporary setups without call letters must be coordinated with the NTIA
since the frequencies we use are all shared with other Federal agencies.

In 1997 I installed three repeaters in the Denver area to support the
G-8 Summitt Conference. In 1998 I installed a repeater atop the hospital
in Key West FL in support of the Hurricane Georges relief efforts. And
in 1999 I installed a repeater atop the hospital at Fort Dix NJ in
support of Operation Provide Refuge (the Kosovo relief effort). These
were all 406 MHz Federal band repeaters and all were temporary
installations. Much of the communications on them was encrypted. They
were all NTIA frequency coordinated. But even though they all had wide
coverage none were assigned call letters. Most were only operational for
three months or less. One of the Denver installations was on a tower
supporting direction finding antennas for the FCC Denver field office! I
found it amusing to have an FCC field agent helping me install an
unlicensed repeater on an FCC tower! 

On the other hand, almost every HF operation I have been involved with,
even temporary installations, have been assigned call letters from the
NTIA pool. Perhaps this has something to do with the International
treaties and the long distance nature of HF. The only exception to this
that I can recall was several HF exchanges on the SHARES network from a
USCG C-130 over the Atlantic during Hurricane Georges. In that case the
aircraft's tactical identifier was used which was probably appropriate
for the situation.

Patrick Griffith, Westminster CO
Broadcast Technician
NRC Broadcasting - Denver
http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/
http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/

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