ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC Notes) — 1962 Edition

ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC Notes) — 1962 Edition

(Effective August 1, 1962; augmenting previous rules)

DXCC Notes — August 1962 (QST, p. 88)

Operating News Section — Country Criteria and Program Status

I. SOURCE

• Publication: QST

• Date: August 1962

• Section: Operating News

• Page: 88

• Author: F.E.H.

• Context: DXCC program status update and explanation of country criteria

II. TRANSCRIBED TEXT (EDITED FOR CLARITY)

DXCC. During 1961, ARRL’s DX Century Club desk checked some 120,472 cards, handling 4,277 pieces of mail, not counting certificates. Records indicate that, post-war, over 8,000 certificates have been issued.

The annual December QST listing of DXCC members now credits all DXCC activity for the previous 24 months. The December listing of nearly 2,000 amateurs is a barometer of continuing high interest. Last year there were nine country additions and no deletions approved by the ARRL staff committee; two disqualifications were made and 140 advisory letters were sent concerning Rule 11.

DXCC endorsements for 1961 were up, probably as a result of the new African countries introduced the preceding year, offsetting the radio conditions associated with this part of the sunspot cycle.

For the benefit of newcomers to the DX game, the present basis that determines country status in the ARRL Countries List is briefly reviewed.

The League’s DXCC developed pre-war from country discussions in QST. It soon became apparent that a standard reference list of countries was needed. Like other awards that carry prestige, the rules are based on policies and precedent, not merely responsive to the wishes or pressures of those working for the award.

Some might prefer a “frozen” list with no additions or deletions. Others suggest island areas that, in their opinion, ought to be raised to country status. However, a countries list must reflect the combined political and geographic realities of the world. Changes are made not for their own sake, but to reflect a changing world.

An important point is that the official ARRL Countries List (Operating Aid No. 7) is the same for all applicants. The list is revised once or twice a year to incorporate interim information published in “DXCC Notes” and indexed annually in the December issue of QST.

Country Criteria

The pre-war DXCC list served as the foundation for the present list. It was developed through consultation and reference to recognized authorities. Much of that list was retained as generally acceptable, although not all entries were universally agreed upon on purely academic grounds (e.g., Scotland and England).

Following World War II, a more formal set of criteria was needed. Three general criteria were adopted, in addition to prior precedents, to guide country determination:

1. Degree of political-administrative independence

2. Geographic separation

3. Presence of foreign land between areas

In cases of dispute, ARRL relied on the U.S. Department of State and leading geographical societies for authoritative information.

Geographic separation alone may qualify an area, even if political independence does not. Where foreign territory separates two parts of a country, a minimum of 75 miles of foreign land is required. This requirement does not apply to island groups.

For areas lacking political or administrative sovereignty, a minimum distance of 225 miles from the nearest administratively associated land is required for separate country status. This does not apply to islands within a natural island grouping (e.g., the Marquesas).

Because of these multiple factors, DXCC determinations are made by a seven-member ARRL staff DXCC Awards Committee to ensure decisions are not based on individual opinion or external pressure.