<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><div><span>I am again trying to get the "3-minute rule" for identification reinstated and have submitted a petition to the FCC.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Basically, when working DX and especially during contests, most operators violate the present identification regulations which require that the station call sign MUST be given at the end of the communication which means during the very last transmission. There are all sorts of excuses why this is not done including keeping up the QSO rate. However, technically, not sending your call when you finish the exchange with the station is a violation.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>The old "3-minute rule" stated that if you gave your call during the first transmission, and if the total exchange took less than 3-minutes, there was no
need to send your call during the last transmission. Since everyone signs their call sign when trying to get recognized by the "other" station, this satisfies the requirement that the call is sent during the first transmission. All that I am trying to do is to legalize what is common practice with DXers and contesters. There would be absolutely no changes made in how operators identify except to eliminate the need for identification at the end of a QSO so long as the QSO did not last more than 3-minutes.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Several years ago I submitted a petition which was worded exactly as the identification regulations in place in the past. This was met with some resistance because those regulations required that the call of the station being worked had to be included. Therefore, this new petition changes nothing in the current procedures except to reinstate the "3-minute rule" which
actually simplifies the identification process and legalizes what is common practice.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>The file containing both the actual petition and the cover letter can be found at</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span><a href="http://k9sth.com/uploads/cover_letter_for_petition_for_rule_making_website.pdf">http://k9sth.com/uploads/cover_letter_for_petition_for_rule_making_website.pdf</a><br></span></div><div> </div><div>Glen, K9STH<br><br></div><div>Website: http://k9sth.com</div></div></div></body></html>