ok so i just passed my general a few weeks ago and got my sequential callsign assigned, which is fine but its kind of a mouthful and id really like something shorter or maybe with my initials if possible. ive been reading about vanity calls on the FCC website and honestly the way they explain it makes my head spin a little.

from what i can tell you apply through the FCC ULS and there's like a filing window where everyone who applies during a certain period gets considered at the same time? and then it goes by license class so extra class gets priority over general which gets priority over tech? but im not totally sure if i have that right. also i saw something about a 18 month waiting period if you want a callsign that was previously held by someone who is deceased, is that still a thing or did they change that?

also does it cost money now i thought i heard something about a fee being introduced a while back. anyway if anyone has gone through this recently id love to hear how it went for you, the FCC docs are just kind of dense to read through

yeah you basically have the right idea. the FCC processes vanity applications in what they call a batch window — applications submitted during a 30 day window after a callsign becomes available are all treated as simultaneous, so its not like first come first served exactly. license class does matter for priority within that pool, extra class applicants get first crack, then general, then tech. so if you're general and an extra applies for the same call during the same window, the extra wins.

the 18 month hold thing for callsigns of deceased licensees is still the rule as far as i know, that hasnt changed. its meant to give family members a chance to apply if they want to keep it in the family, which honestly makes sense.

and yes there is a $35 fee now, has been for a couple years. you pay through the FCC's payment system when you submit. there are also third party sites like AE7Q that have really good tools for checking whats available and tracking application status, way more usable than the FCC ULS interface which feels like it was designed in 2003 and never touched again

i went through this last year, got my vanity call on the second try actually. first time someone with an extra license applied for the same call during the window and they got it over me since im only general. was a little frustrating but thats just how it works i guess. second call i picked had less competition and it went through no problem, took maybe a week or two after the window closed to show up in ULS. definitely use AE7Q like the other guy said, it shows you how many people have applied for a given call so you can kind of gauge your chances before committing