A formal request for the recognition of Catalonia as a DXCC Entity
Thousands of Catalan amateur radio operators are calling on the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the organization responsible for administering the DX Century Club (DXCC) award program, to recognize Catalonia as a DXCC entity and include it in the official ARRL DXCC List.
This is a formal and legitimate request for equal treatment, consistency, transparency, and recognition within the international amateur radio community.
The DXCC List is an internationally recognized reference used by amateur radio operators around the world to identify and work different geographical entities. Inclusion in the list is not limited exclusively to sovereign states or United Nations member countries. The DXCC system already recognizes numerous territories and entities that have distinct geographical, historical, administrative, cultural, or communications characteristics.
Catalonia deserves to be considered under the same principles and criteria.
Why should Catalonia be included?
Catalonia is a clearly identifiable geographical territory with a distinctive historical, cultural, linguistic, and institutional identity. It has a long-established amateur radio community and its own radio identification prefixes, including:
EA3, EB3, EC3, ED3, EE3, EF3, EG3, EH3, AM3, AN3 & AO3.
These prefixes clearly identify stations operating in Catalonia within the international amateur radio system.
Moreover, the DXCC List already contains numerous entities that are not independent sovereign states, including territories belonging to larger countries. Examples include:
- Scotland (United Kingdom)
- Wales (United Kingdom)
- Isle of Man
- Balearic Islands (Spain)
- Canary Islands (Spain)
- Ceuta and Melilla (Spain)
- Kaliningrad (Russia)
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
The existence of these entities demonstrates that DXCC recognition is not inherently restricted to internationally recognized sovereign states.
This raises a straightforward and legitimate question:
If these territories can be recognized as DXCC entities, on what objective and consistently applied grounds is Catalonia excluded?
That question deserves a clear answer from the ARRL.
A matter of consistency and equal treatment
We are not asking the ARRL to take a political position.
We are asking the ARRL to apply its own DXCC principles consistently and transparently.
Catalonia has a clearly defined territory, a distinctive historical and cultural identity, its own language, established institutions, a substantial amateur radio community, and distinct radio prefixes. These characteristics should at the very least justify a formal and serious review of Catalonia’s status under the DXCC rules and criteria.
The continued exclusion of Catalonia, while other territories with comparable characteristics are included, raises legitimate concerns about the consistency of the criteria being applied.
If Catalonia does not meet the current DXCC requirements, then the ARRL should clearly explain which specific requirements are not met and why.
If, on the other hand, Catalonia does meet the applicable criteria, then there is no reasonable justification for continuing to exclude it.
Thousands of radio amateurs are asking for an answer
This request cannot simply be ignored.
As of today, 2,238 people have signed this petition calling on the ARRL to recognize Catalonia as a DXCC entity.
These signatures represent thousands of radio amateurs and supporters who are asking the world’s leading amateur radio organization to address a straightforward question concerning the recognition and treatment of an established amateur radio community.
The ARRL has a responsibility to listen to its international amateur radio community and to provide a clear, reasoned, and transparent response to legitimate requests concerning the DXCC program.
Silence is not an adequate response.
We therefore call on the ARRL to act
We respectfully but firmly request that the American Radio Relay League:
- Formally acknowledge this petition and the request for Catalonia to be recognized as a DXCC entity.
- Provide a clear explanation of the specific DXCC criteria that prevent Catalonia from being recognized, if the ARRL considers that Catalonia does not currently qualify.
- Explain how those criteria are applied consistently in comparison with other territories and entities already included on the DXCC List.
- Undertake a formal review of Catalonia’s eligibility under the current DXCC rules and criteria.
- Provide a substantive written response to the thousands of amateur radio operators who have signed this petition.
We are not asking for special treatment.
We are asking for equal treatment, transparent criteria, and a fair assessment.
The ARRL has the authority to determine the composition of its DXCC List. With that authority comes a responsibility to ensure that its criteria are applied consistently and that legitimate requests are not simply disregarded.
Catalonia has been part of the international amateur radio community for generations.
Its radio amateurs deserve to know why their territory is excluded from the DXCC List while other territories with comparable characteristics are recognized.
We therefore urge the ARRL to stop ignoring this request, review Catalonia’s eligibility under the applicable DXCC criteria, and provide a clear and substantive answer to the thousands of people who have signed this petition.
Fairness requires consistency.
Transparency requires an explanation.
And the Catalan amateur radio community deserves both.
Support the petition
If you believe that Catalonia should be fairly and consistently considered for DXCC recognition, sign the petition and share it with fellow amateur radio operators around the world.
The objective is simple:
Catalonia must be given a fair, transparent, and serious consideration for recognition as a DXCC entity.
Sign the petition: CataloniaNewCountryDXCC
