I posted the following on the Face Book page Amateur Radio Australia (For Real Amateurs)
This was in response to the ACMA recent bulletin regarding the changes.
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ACMA guiding us to the future (Sarcasm)
One has to admire how the ACMA policy department uses the term consultation when in fact a decision has already been made
I don’t recall any canvasing of opinion regarding the use of state and territory identifiers in call signs.
Then we have the “Our policy represents a long-standing practice, which is consistent with our ITU obligations”
Here it should read
‘Our policy in a long standing practice is to only adhere to the ITU obligations if suitable to us’
Then we have this pearler
”If amateurs want to enter competitions that require competitors to have call signs indicating their geographical location, they can obtain a new call sign (if required) that has their new state or territory of residence to comply with competition rules.”
Then why change the system and create even more confusion ?
Here is another that we should be grateful of the given consideration (Sarcasm)
”It is not appropriate for the ACMA to require amateurs who don’t wish to participate in these hobby activities to obtain a new call sign if they do not wish to. This is why we do not require amateur licensees moving interstate to obtain a new call sign.”
Then why did you screw-up a system that has served for almost 100 years created by those that had a far greater understanding to the operational requirement of the service?
In short:
You have completely ignored the larger community failing them due process of all inclusive that you the ACMA should have conducted and not left to two minority representatives that clearly had their own agenda of the wanted results.
So ACMA Consultation is just a word, that you freely use, almost can be considered an oxymoron
Then I also like to point out that the Amateur radio is not a hobby but a service that from it origins is about experimentation self education and providing a community service at times of need with available resources as we have done in the past.
Maybe the ACMA should return to employ people that understand Amateur Radio service before screwing with its structure as you have under the guise of the “Five-year spectrum outlook 2020–24” Honestly the policy division has no idea.
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ACMA UPDATE 18 January 2020
In this first e-bulletin for 2021, we provide an update on our consultation plans and the AMC’s processing of call sign changes. We also clarify the use of state and territory identifiers in call signs.
Amateur radio update e-bulletin
We launched the
Amateur radio update in June 2020 to communicate news and updates to the amateur community. Since then, over 3,000 people have subscribed.
If you know anyone who should subscribe, forward this edition and tell them to sign-up to
Amateur radio update at
www.acma.gov.au/subscribe-our-newsletters.
Upcoming consultation about licensing arrangements – February 2021
In our
Five-year spectrum outlook 2020–24, we indicated that we would review non-assigned amateur and outpost licensing arrangements at the end of 2020. However, these plans were delayed as a result of resourcing impacts due to the COVID pandemic.We will now consult on this review in February and will let you know when it’s open and how to make a submission.
Update on AMC processing call sign changes
In July 2020, we announced
changes to amateur radio call sign policy. These changes, which give amateurs more flexibility in choosing their call signs – including allowing Foundation licensees to change their 4-letter call sign to a 3-letter call sign to allow for digital communications – were very popular with the amateur cohort.
We would like to thank the AMC for dealing with a huge number of requests for call sign changes amidst the COVID disruption.
We understand that the AMC has almost cleared the backlog of applications and will revert to normal processing times shortly. We will continue to monitor processing times and work with the AMC to ensure qualifications and call sign services are provided for the benefit of the amateur radio community.
State/territory identifiers for call signs
As part of the July 2020 changes, we clarified operational policy so that amateurs can, if they wish, keep their call sign if they gain additional qualifications and/or move interstate.
Our policy is that, when an amateur obtains a call sign for the first time, it will indicate their state/territory of residence, as per the call sign template. However, this practice, and state/territory identifiers in general, are not regulatory requirements.
Our policy represents a long-standing practice, which is consistent with our ITU obligations, and allows amateurs wanting to participate in things like amateur radio hobby competitions (that require state/territory identifiers) to do so.
If amateurs want to enter competitions that require competitors to have call signs indicating their geographical location, they can obtain a new call sign (if required) that has their new state or territory of residence to comply with competition rules.
It is not appropriate for the ACMA to require amateurs who don’t wish to participate in these hobby activities to obtain a new call sign if they do not wish to. This is why we do not require amateur licensees moving interstate to obtain a new call sign.
We recognise that state and territory identifiers are part of the amateur hobby, but they do not serve a regulatory function. It is not appropriate for the ACMA to use regulation to facilitate hobby outcomes that can be achieved by amateurs voluntarily.
What to do if you move interstate or change address
If you operate an amateur station from an address not specified on your licence, you cannot operate for a continuous period longer than 4 months (or 7 days for beacons and repeaters).
If you change your state/territory of residence, or wish to operate continuously for 4 months in another location, you should contact the ACMA to change the address on your licence.
Call signs for special events
The
VI call sign is currently issued for special events of state, territory or local significance, and can only be requested by clubs, organisations or amateur groups.
A
VK call sign is required for a special event of national significance.
We acknowledge that the distinction between VI and VK call signs can be confusing, especially if a special event has both local
and national significance. We have therefore advised the AMC that the VI call sign may be also be issued for a special event that has national significance. Requests will continue to be limited to clubs, organisations or amateur groups.
In short:VI: local
and/or national special events.
VK: national special events
only.