With this telegram, ARRL added the Sovereign Military Order of Malta as a DXCC Award-eligible entity. Starting January 1st, 1982 the cards of QSOs with 1A began to be checked and approved to the great pleasure of all who would pursue DXCC. Now, more than 40 years the prefix is still quite needed by DXers from the amateur Radio community.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is not a high priority most wanted entity for DXCC but it is an interesting contact for many radio amateurs around the world, especially as a new one on certain bands for a DXCC challenge or as a new one for a lot of OMs in Asia and in the western part of the United States.