FCC: Wireless Services: Amateur Radio Service: Call Sign Systems: Sequential

Call Sign Systems

Sequential

A unique call sign is assigned to each amateur station during the processing of its license. Each new sequentially assigned call sign is sequentially selected from the alphabetized regional-group list for the licensee's operator class and mailing address. The mailing address must be one where the licensee can receive mail delivery by the United States Postal Service. The station is reassigned its same call sign upon renewal or modification of its license, unless the licensee applies for a change to a new sequentially assigned or vanity call sign on FCC Form 605.

Each call sign has a one letter prefix (K, N, W) or a two letter prefix (AA-AL, KA-KZ, NA-NZ, WA-WZ) and a one, two, or three letter suffix separated by a numeral (0-9) indicating the geographic region. Certain combinations of letters are not used. When the call signs in any regional-group list are exhausted, the selection is made from the next lower group. The groups are:

Group A - Amateur Extra Class
Primary stations licensed to Amateur Extra class operators.
Region	Prefix	Letters in Suffix
1-10	K, N, or W, and two letter suffix;	2
	two letter prefix with first letter A, N, K, or W	1
	two letter prefix with first letter A	2
11	AL, KL, NL, or WL	1
12	KP, NP, or WP	1
13	AH, KH, NH, or WH	1

Group B - Advanced Class
Primary stations licensed to Advanced class operators.
Region	Prefix	Letters in Suffix
1-10	Two letter prefix with first letter K, N, or W	2
11	AL	2
12	KP	2
13	AH	2

Group C - General, Technician, and Technician Plus Classes
Primary stations licensed to General, Technician, and Technician Plus class operators.
Region	Prefix	Letters in Suffix
1-10	K, N, or W	3
11	KL, NL, or WL	2
12	NP or WP	2
13	KH, NH, or WH	2

Group D - Novice, Club, and Military Recreations Station
Primary stations licensed to Novice class operators, and for club and military recreation stations.
Region	Prefix	Letters in Suffix
1-10	Two letter prefix with first letter K or W	3
11	KL or WL	3
12	KP or WP	3
13	KH or WH	3

Geographic Region-based Numerals
Region	States & Other Areas	Numeral
1	Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont	1
2	New Jersey and New York	2
3	Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and Pennsylvania	3
4	Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia	4
5	Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas	5
6	California	6
7	Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming	7
8	Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia	8
9	Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin	9
10	Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota	0
11	Alaska KL9KAA-KL9KHZ is reserved for assignment to U.S. personnel stationed in Korea.	1-10
12	Caribbean Insular areas:
	Navassa Island	1
	Virgin Islands	2
	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico except Desecheo Island	3 or 4
	Desecheo Island	5
13	Hawaii and Pacific Insular areas:
	Baker or Howland Island	1
	Guam	2
	Johnston Island	3
	Midway Island	4
	Palmyra or Jarvis Island	5
	Kingman Reef	5 followed by suffix letter K
	Hawaii except Kure Island	6 or 7
	Kure Island	7 followed by the letter K
	American Samoa	8
	Wake, Wilkes, or Peale Island	9
	Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands	0
14	(unofficial). Outside the United States