On behalf of the JA 1 UT DX Team.
Ray Gerrard HS0/G3NOM Location: Bangkok, Thailand
That Prefix! ZC6
1. There has been some concern about the recent use of the ZC6 prefix/suffix, both on the Internet DX
Reflector, and on the air.
2. I therefore offer the following information, on behalf of the JA 1 UT group, in the hope that people will
have a better understanding of its present use by the Palestinian Authority.
Firstly, it must be stated that the call-signs used by the JA 1 UT group (/ZC6) were issued in writing by
the Telecommunications Directorate/Ministry of the Palestinian Authority. Therefore, these are not call-
signs arbitrarily chosen or suggested by amateurs but ones which have been issued in a written licence
with appropriate conditions of operation, by the competent authority.
3. Although I have been directly involved in discussion i and correspondence between ITU and the
Palestinian .! Authority (PA) on this issue, I cannot claim to have any official role, or authority, except as
the coordinator of a small United Nations Aid project administered under the ITU Kyoto 1994 aid
agreement on Palestine. In this role, I was asked to communicate with the relevant parties to obtain ITU
help in the assignment of a unique call-sign allocation for Palestine, so that a "conventional" call sign
could be used in the project. This quest is still in progress.
4. I think it is common knowledge that the ZC6 prefix originated from the British Administration of
Palestine as a "mandated territory" by international agreement (League of Nations/United Nations). The
British Forces, and Territorial Administration were present 1923 to 1948 ( I stand to be corrected on the
first date). In 1948 the British Forces, and the Territorial Administration withdrew from Palestine.
However, I am informed by senior Palestinian officials that the withdrawal and termination of
administration, was not internationally agreed, and the relinquishment of the mandate was not formally
declared by Britain. Therefore, technically, in the view of some officials of the PA, Britain still holds a
mandate to administer the territory. Additionally, no orders were received to withdraw the ZC6 prefix.
From 1948 to 1968, the ZC6 prefix, continued to be used, by UN personnel and others, by default.
5. In 1968 the territory of Palestine was occupied by Israel.
6. Since 1991 a series of Peace agreements have confirmed or restored the powers of the PA to assign
and licence Telecommunications Services such as the Amateur Radio Service for the territory of
Palestine.
7. Since October 1994 formal requests have been made to the ITU for the allocation of new prefixes for
the territory, and to advise the PA's intention to use the ZC6 allocation by default. I have copies of the
documents. The ITU has advised the British Telecommunications Administration about the PA's use of
the ZC6. No reaction has been received from the UK by ITU up to 26th June 1996. The PA has advised
the British Foreign Office of the use of the ZC6 prefix also
8. A recent Email on the OX Reflector from Bren G4DYO has indicated that the UK
Radiocommunication Agency, seem to be taking a "Iaisser faire" attitude towards the use of ZC6 by
Palestine.
9. On my recent visit to Palestine, with JA 1 UT, we discussed this matter with the Deputy Minister of the
MPT, the Director General responsible for Amateur Radio affairs, and Dr Sami ZC6B, President of the
Palestinian Wireless Society.
The conclusions drawn from the discussions were:
a) The application to the ITU for new prefixes would be pursued, until these are issued in due course.
b) The continued and future use of ZC6, by default, and in the absence of any new prefixes, would be a
matter for the PA to discuss further with the ITU and the British Telecommunications Administration if
necessary.
(Note: Precedents exist where ex British Ruled Territories have inherited the previous British assigned
prefix on independence. So, it is not inconceivable that Palestine could continue to use this prefix
without violating international convention.)
I hope this information explains the current use of the prefix/suffix, and a little of the history. I hope this
also illustrates that it is not being used in ignorance or in an irresponsible way.
Finally, I think it is incorrect to describe the use of any prefix as "illegal" since, I believe the ITU operates
by international consent and convention. Therefore, at worst it could be described as "un-conventional".
73 de Ray Gerrard G3NOM (SK)
ZC6 Prefix