Sec.  73.3550   Requests for new or modified call sign assignments.

   (a) All requests for new or modified call sign assignments for radio and
   television broadcast stations shall be made via the FCC's on-line call sign
   reservation and authorization system accessible through the Internet's World
   Wide Web by specifying http://www.fcc.gov. Licensees and permittees may
   utilize this on-line system to determine the availability and licensing
   status of any call sign; to select an initial call sign for a new station;
   to change a station's currently assigned call sign; to modify an existing
   call sign by adding or deleting an “-FM” or “-TV” suffix; to exchange call
   signs with another licensee or permittee in the same service; or to reserve
   a different call sign for a station being transferred or assigned.

   (b) No request for an initial call sign assignment will be accepted from a
   permittee for a new radio or full-service television station until the FCC
   has granted a construction permit. Each such permittee shall request the
   assignment of its station's initial call sign expeditiously following the
   grant of its construction permit. All initial construction permits for low
   power TV stations will be issued with a five-character low power TV call
   sign, in accordance with  Sec. 74.783(d) of this chapter.

   (c)  Following the filing of a transfer or assignment application, the
   proposed assignee/transferee may request a new call sign for the station
   whose license or construction permit is being transferred or assigned. No
   change in call sign assignment will be effective until such transfer or
   assignment  application  is  granted  by  the  FCC and notification of
   consummation of the transaction is received by the FCC.

   (d) Where an application is granted by the FCC for transfer or assignment of
   the construction permit or license of a station whose existing call sign
   conforms to that of a commonly-owned station not part of the transaction,
   the new licensee of the transferred or assigned station shall expeditiously
   request a different call sign, unless consent to retain the conforming call
   sign has been obtained from the primary holder and from the licensee of any
   other station that may be using such conforming call sign.

   (e)  Call  signs beginning with the letter “K” will not be assigned to
   stations  located  east  of the Mississippi River, nor will call signs
   beginning with the letter “W” be assigned to stations located west of the
   Mississippi River.

   (f) Only four-letter call signs (plus an LP, FM, TV or CA suffix, if used)
   will  be assigned. The four letter call sign for LPFM stations will be
   followed by the suffix “-LP.” However, subject to the other provisions of
   this section, a call sign of a station may be conformed to a commonly owned
   station  holding a three-letter call assignment (plus FM, TV, CA or LP
   suffixes, if used).

   (g) Subject to the foregoing limitations, applicants may request call signs
   of  their  choice  if  the combination is available. Objections to the
   assignment of requested call signs will not be entertained at the FCC.
   However, this does not hamper any party from asserting such rights as it may
   have under private law in some other forum. Should it be determined by an
   appropriate forum that a station should not utilize a particular call sign,
   the initial assignment of a call sign will not serve as a bar to the making
   of a different assignment.

   (h) Stations in different broadcast services (or operating jointly in the
   535–1605 kHz band and in the 1605–1705 kHz band) which are under common
   control may request that their call signs be conformed by the assignment of
   the  same  basic  call  sign  if that call sign is not being used by a
   non-commonly owned station. For the purposes of this paragraph, 50% or
   greater common ownership shall constitute a prima facie showing of common
   control.

   (i)  The  provisions  of this section shall not apply to International
   broadcast stations or to stations authorized under part 74 of this chapter
   (except as provided in  Sec. 74.783).

   (j) A change in call sign assignment will be made effective on the date
   specified in the postcard acknowledging the assignment of the requested new
   call sign and authorizing the change. Unless the requested change in call
   sign assignment is subject to a pending transfer or assignment application,
   the requester is required to include in its on-line call sign request a
   specific effective date to take place within 45 days of the submission of
   its electronic call sign request. Postponement of the effective date will be
   granted  only  in  response  to a timely request and for only the most
   compelling reasons.

   (k) Four-letter combinations commencing with “W” or “K” which are assigned
   as call signs to ships or to other radio services are not available for
   assignment to broadcast stations, with or without the “-FM” or “-TV” suffix.

   (l) Users of nonlicensed, low-power devices operating under part 15 of this
   chapter may use whatever identification is currently desired, so long as
   propriety is observed and no confusion results with a station for which the
   FCC issues a license.

   (m) Where a requested call sign, without the “-FM,' “-TV,” “-CA” or “LP”
   suffix, would conform to the call sign of any other non-commonly owned
   station(s) operating in a different service, an applicant utilizing the
   on-line reservation and authorization system will be required to certify
   that consent to use the secondary call sign has been obtained from the
   holder of the primary call sign.

   [ 63 FR 71603 , Dec. 29, 1998, as amended at  65 FR 30007 , May 10, 2000]