ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC Notes) — 1963 Edition

ARRL DX Century Club (DXCC Notes) — 1963 Edition

(Effective July 1, 1963; changes and clarifies 1959, 1960, and 1962 rules)

TYPED TRANSCRIPTION — QST, July 1963, p. 94

DXCC Notes

Discussions concerning the ARRL’s Countries List with regard to country status and the associated criteria have appeared in QST in July 1959 (page 84); April 1960 (page 80); and August 1962 (page 88). These discussions have been presented for the interest that some may have in such matters. For the benefit of those who may not have access to the issues mentioned, we present again a summary of the factors given consideration when requests are made for some specific addition to our Countries List.

The ARRL Countries List is a result of some 26 years of progressive changes in DXing. The full list will not necessarily conform completely with the criteria since some of the listings were set up and recognized from pre-war. The general policy has, however, remained substantially the same in the make up of the list and only specific mileages have been added. The specific mileages in Point 2(a) and Point 3, mentioned in the following, have been used in considerations made prior to April 1960, and after. The specific mileage in Point 2(b) is being used in considerations made in and after April, 1963.

Any land area in the world can be placed in one or more of the following categories. Where the area in question meets at least one of the points in the criteria it may be considered as a separate entity, i.e., a country, for our Countries List:

1. Government/Administration: An area by reason of Government or a distinctively separate administration constitutes a separate entity.

2. Separation by water: An island, or a group of islands, not having its own government, or distinctively separate administration, is considered as a separate entity under the following conditions:

 2(a). Islands situated off shore from their governing or administrative area must be geographically separated by a minimum of 225 miles of open water. This point is concerned with islands off shore from the main land only. This point is not concerned with islands which are part of an island group or are geographically located adjacent to an island group.

 2(b). Islands forming part of an island group or which are geographically located adjacent to an island group, which have a common government or administration, will be considered as separate entities provided there is at least 50 miles of open water separation between the two areas in question.

3. Separation by foreign land: In the case of a Country, such as that covered by Point 1, which has a common government or administration but which is geographically separated by land which is foreign to that Country, if there is a complete separation of the Country in question by a minimum of 75 miles of foreign land, the Country is considered as two separate entities. This 75 miles of land is a requirement which is applicable to land areas only. In cases of areas made up of a chain of islands, there is no minimum requirement concerned with the separation by foreign land.

It is hoped that this information will be of assistance. However, should there be a question on some particular area we shall be glad to give an opinion.

Additional DXCC Notes (Same Issue — Additions/Deletions)

Announcement is hereby made of one addition and five deletions to the ARRL Countries List. The deletions are JZ0 Netherlands New Guinea, PK1-2-3 Java, PK4 Sumatra, PK5 Netherlands Borneo, and PK6 Celebes & Molucca Islands. These deletions are effective as of May 1, 1963.

The addition to the ARRL Countries List is PK—Indonesia. This listing will encompass the entire territory of Indonesia. Confirmations for creditable contacts with Indonesian stations made May 1, 1963 or later may be submitted for DXCC credit starting September 1, 1963.

While the May 1, 1963 date of these deletions and additions does have factual significance with regard to the deletion from the list of JZ0 Netherlands New Guinea, the deletion of the four PK listings and the replacement of these listings by the single listing of Indonesia simply is a reflection and adjustment to a reality.

Attention is called to the fact that at the time of writing, Indonesia is on the ITU “Banned List”.

HISTORY DOCUMENT ENTRY — 1963

1963 DXCC Criteria Expansion and Consolidation

Source: QST, July 1963, p. 94
Section: DXCC Notes