12Using call signs

12 Using call signs

(1) Subject to this section, a person must, when operating an amateur station, transmit the person’s call sign at each of the following times: (a) the beginning of each transmission; (b) the end of each transmission; (c) if a transmission lasts more than 10 minutes – at least once every 10 minutes during the transmission. (2) If a person is supervised by a qualified person (supervisor) when operating an amateur station, for the purposes of complying with subsection (1), the person may transmit the supervisor’s call sign at the times required by subsection (1). (3) If a person has a call sign assigned to them by or on behalf of the administration of another country, the person must add the letters VK at the start of the call sign when transmitting it in Australia. (4) If the call sign assigned to a person commences with the letters VK, the person may substitute those letters with the letters AX when complying with subsection (1) on the following dates each year: (a) 26 January; (b) 25 April; (c) 17 May.

Note: 26 January is Australia Day, 25 April is ANZAC Day, and 17 May is World Telecommunication Day.

Note: Example: On a date specified in subsection (4), a person who is assigned the VK1ZZZ call sign may use instead the AX1ZZZ call sign.

(5) If a contest call sign is assigned to a person, the person must not transmit the contest call sign otherwise than when competing in a contest conducted by a body or organisation, whether or not in Australia, that exists primarily for amateur purposes. (6) If a special event call sign is assigned to a person, the person must not transmit the special event call sign otherwise than in relation to the relevant event. (7) If a person is assigned a call sign with the prefix VK0, the person must not transmit the call sign unless the person is located in the Territory.

Note: See sections 15 and 313 of the Act.

(8) If a person is assigned a call sign with the prefix VK9, the person must not transmit the call sign unless the person is located in an external Territory other than the Territory.

Note 1: See section 15 of the Act.

Note 2: External Territory has the meaning given by the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

(9) In subsections (7) and (8), the Territory has the meaning given by the Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954. (10) If section 14 applies to a person in relation to a transmission, this section does not apply to the person in relation to that transmission.