- ●Where does this data come from?
Two places. The FCC publishes its entire amateur license and application databases as weekly files, with daily change files in between (the "ULS public access files"). We keep a full copy of both and apply each daily file as soon as the FCC posts it, normally around 7 AM Central time the morning after the activity. The FCC also runs the public ULS search site, which shows new applications within minutes of filing and we read that every 15 minutes as well. Any application marked with a gold lightning bolt ⚡ is classified as Preliminary. Meaning it was submitted during the day and picked up shortly thereafter.
Please be aware, any application pickup throughout the day has not been confirmed received by the FCC until the nightly batch process completes. Until the FCC processes newly input applications, you may modify or delete it. Once receipt is confirmed, your application can still be modified, but not deleted, it must be withdrawn or allowed to run its course.
Also, if you have competition for call-sign, be aware that any modification of a confirmed application will result in a new received date-stamp and can affect your chances of being assigned.
- ●How does the FCC actually decide who gets a call-sign?
Applications are held approximately 18 days after their initial receipt. On the processing day, all applications with the same receipt date are put in a random order and processed one at a time. Each application is walked through its list of requested call-signs (up to 25, in the applicant's order of preference) and gets the first one that is still available.
- ●What does the 2-year rule mean?
When a license expires or is canceled, the call-sign is not available to anyone else for two years, counted from the earlier of the expiration or cancellation date. The FCC allows the former holder, or a close relative of a silent-key, to apply sooner, so this page cannot account for those exceptions. Every application inside the 2-year window is shown as 'Too Early'. If the FCC approves the grant, the call-sign simply disappears (use 'Call-Sign Lookup' to check its status).
- ●Which call-signs can I apply for?
Your current license level is the determining factor. Amateur Extra: any format, including 1×2 (K5AB), 2×1 (AA5B) and 2×2 (WZ5DX) to include the A prefix (AA5AB), unless prohibited by regional restrictions. Advanced: 2×2 with a K, N or W prefix, plus anything a General license level can hold. General and Technician: 1×3 (K5ABC) and 2×3 (KA5ABC). Regional Call-signs with KL/NL/WL/AL (Alaska), KH/NH/WH/AH (Hawaii and the Pacific) or KP/NP/WP (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) prefixes require a mailing address in that region, regardless of your license level. Requests outside your license level will show "Insufficient Class" and incorrect region requests will show "Restricted Region".
- ●What if two people apply for the same call-sign on the same day?
That's when the ballgame begins, "Competition", and a random shuffle decides, but odds of your "Assignment" can be calculated based on several applicant factors. (I.e. preference order, earlier applications, paid versus unpaid.) This page simulates the FCC's processing and reports each applicant's potential outcome. Two applicants on the first availability date requesting the same call-sign as first on their preference list will split 50/50 unless they have other mitigating factors. A lower preference has a smaller chance because the applicant may already have received an earlier choice. Hover a call-sign, or open it, to see the odds. The percentage changes only when mitigating factors change: a new application, a competitor paying or withdrawing, or a higher preference call-sign being granted.
- ●Why is my application marked "Possible Duplicate"?
FCC rule 97.19(d)(1): If the FCC receives more than one vanity call-sign application from the same person on the same receipt date, it will only process the first application entered into the ULS. The others are rejected. Amending an application does not make it a duplicate: an amended application takes the date the FCC receives the amendment, but is not counted as duplicated.
- ●Can I manually file or amend an application as I have in the past?
Since June 29, 2021 the FCC no longer accepts applications by mail or fax. Anything filed in this manner is dismissed.
- ●What if the applicant's license information isn't complete?
It makes no difference to the prediction. The applicant's license class and the state in which your address is recorded are read from the FCC's own application record, so a brand-new licensee, or one whose license already holds another call-sign, is judged like anyone else and holds his place in line until such time as the information becomes available. If, at that time, the license information is disqualifying, a label will be present that gives a reason for the disqualification.
- ●Why "Blocked by FCC pending renewal"?
The requested call-sign has expired, but a pending renewal application is in process. Until the FCC acts on that renewal the call-sign is not available for assignment. Pending license renewals are the most common reason for a "Blocked by FCC" label. Far less common reasons do occur and are handled by the FCC on a case by case basis.
- ●Why "Awaiting payment"?
The FCC does not process a vanity application until its fee is paid, dismissing it at processing as unpaid. Until the FCC's ULS history shows a "Payment Confirmed" event, every call-sign on the application shows Awaiting Payment and the application is not counted as a competitor. The moment payment is confirmed, the page recomputes and the application joins the race. Call-signs on their preference list that could never be assigned (incorrect license level, region, too early, reserved) show that reason instead, because paying the application fee will not cure those restrictions.
- ●Why "Offlined by FCC"?
The FCC has set the application aside for manual review. It will not be processed on the normal schedule until the review clears and no prediction made.
- ●What does "Unneeded" or "Higher Preference" mean?
The simulation expects a call-sign earlier on the same list as a potential grant, so those lower on their preference list is never reached. If an higher preference isn't granted for whatever reason (Assigned to another applicant), the lower preferences come into play and the page updates.
- ●Why "Withheld by FCC"?
Several call-signs that seem available because they meet the approved formats, are actually restricted by the FCC because they resemble obscenities.
- ●What do the colored file numbers and call-signs mean?
The color summarizes the application or call-sign: Green, a call-sign on the preference list is a predicted assignment; Gold, a chance but contested; Yellow, something the applicant can still fix (unpaid fee, offlined); Red, no request on the list can be assigned, or the call-sign cannot be assigned to anyone; Gray, no pending applications or not enough data. Hover for the one-line summary or click for the details.
- ●How current is this page?
FCC application and license data can lag from one to three days depending on the day of the week. Daily files are posted overnight, except over the weekend. Exact dates of the application and license data in use are shown under the table together with the time-stamp when predictions were computed. Applications picked up live from ULS (⚡) in advance of the FCC daily files are updated throughout the day, including weekends and holidays. If an available call-sign shows an expiration or cancellaton date that is decades old, then that is the most recent record for the call-sign in the FCC's public license file. We strive to compute the most accurate predictions, but, alas, no one can account for the FCC's randomization of equal applications.
- ●Is any personal information shown?
No. Only call-signs, license levels and states. Names and addresses, although published by the FCC, are never displayed on this page, but can be queried on the Call-Sign Lookup page.