diff --git a/bridge.py b/bridge.py
index d99f436..b0846e7 100755
--- a/bridge.py
+++ b/bridge.py
@@ -127,17 +127,29 @@ def build_bridges(_known_bridges):
 # are not yet implemented.
 def build_acl(_sub_acl):
     try:
+        logger.info('ACL file found, importing entries. This will take about 1.5 seconds per 1 million IDs')
         acl_file = import_module(_sub_acl)
-        for i, e in enumerate(acl_file.ACL):
-            acl_file.ACL[i] = hex_str_3(acl_file.ACL[i])
-        logger.info('ACL file found and ACL entries imported')
-        ACL_ACTION = acl_file.ACL_ACTION
-        ACL = acl_file.ACL
+        sections = acl_file.ACL.split(':')
+        ACL_ACTION = sections[0]
+        entries_str = sections[1]
+        ACL = set()
+        
+        for entry in entries_str.split(','):
+            if '-' in entry:
+                start,end = entry.split('-')
+                start,end = int(start), int(end)
+                for id in range(start, end+1):
+                    ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+            else:
+                id = int(entry)
+                ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+        
+        logger.info('ACL loaded: action "{}" for {:,} radio IDs'.format(ACL_ACTION, len(ACL)))
+    
     except ImportError:
         logger.info('ACL file not found or invalid - all subscriber IDs are valid')
         ACL_ACTION = 'NONE'
-        ACL = []
-
+        
     # Depending on which type of ACL is used (PERMIT, DENY... or there isn't one)
     # define a differnet function to be used to check the ACL
     global allow_sub
diff --git a/confbridge.py b/confbridge.py
index 4c5f9fb..44c9037 100755
--- a/confbridge.py
+++ b/confbridge.py
@@ -149,16 +149,28 @@ def make_bridge_config(_confbridge_rules):
 # are not yet implemented.
 def build_acl(_sub_acl):
     try:
+        logger.info('ACL file found, importing entries. This will take about 1.5 seconds per 1 million IDs')
         acl_file = import_module(_sub_acl)
-        for i, e in enumerate(acl_file.ACL):
-            acl_file.ACL[i] = hex_str_3(acl_file.ACL[i])
-        logger.info('ACL file found and ACL entries imported')
-        ACL_ACTION = acl_file.ACL_ACTION
-        ACL = acl_file.ACL_ACTION
+        sections = acl_file.ACL.split(':')
+        ACL_ACTION = sections[0]
+        entries_str = sections[1]
+        ACL = set()
+        
+        for entry in entries_str.split(','):
+            if '-' in entry:
+                start,end = entry.split('-')
+                start,end = int(start), int(end)
+                for id in range(start, end+1):
+                    ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+            else:
+                id = int(entry)
+                ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+        
+        logger.info('ACL loaded: action "{}" for {:,} radio IDs'.format(ACL_ACTION, len(ACL)))
+    
     except ImportError:
         logger.info('ACL file not found or invalid - all subscriber IDs are valid')
         ACL_ACTION = 'NONE'
-        ACL = []
 
     # Depending on which type of ACL is used (PERMIT, DENY... or there isn't one)
     # define a differnet function to be used to check the ACL
diff --git a/proxy.py b/proxy.py
index 69d10db..2a9eae6 100755
--- a/proxy.py
+++ b/proxy.py
@@ -72,16 +72,28 @@ __email__       = 'n0mjs@me.com'
 # are not yet implemented.
 def build_acl(_sub_acl):
     try:
+        logger.info('ACL file found, importing entries. This will take about 1.5 seconds per 1 million IDs')
         acl_file = import_module(_sub_acl)
-        for i, e in enumerate(acl_file.ACL):
-            acl_file.ACL[i] = hex_str_3(acl_file.ACL[i])
-        logger.info('ACL file found and ACL entries imported')
-        ACL_ACTION = acl_file.ACL_ACTION
-        ACL = acl_file.ACL_ACTION
+        sections = acl_file.ACL.split(':')
+        ACL_ACTION = sections[0]
+        entries_str = sections[1]
+        ACL = set()
+        
+        for entry in entries_str.split(','):
+            if '-' in entry:
+                start,end = entry.split('-')
+                start,end = int(start), int(end)
+                for id in range(start, end+1):
+                    ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+            else:
+                id = int(entry)
+                ACL.add(hex_str_3(id))
+        
+        logger.info('ACL loaded: action "{}" for {:,} radio IDs'.format(ACL_ACTION, len(ACL)))
+    
     except ImportError:
         logger.info('ACL file not found or invalid - all subscriber IDs are valid')
         ACL_ACTION = 'NONE'
-        ACL = []
 
     # Depending on which type of ACL is used (PERMIT, DENY... or there isn't one)
     # define a differnet function to be used to check the ACL
diff --git a/sub_acl_SAMPLE.py b/sub_acl_SAMPLE.py
index a60fa60..78cedf8 100644
--- a/sub_acl_SAMPLE.py
+++ b/sub_acl_SAMPLE.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-ACL_ACTION = "DENY"  # May be PERMIT|DENY
-ACL = [
-    1234001,
-    1234002,
-    1234003
-    ]
\ No newline at end of file
+# The 'action' May be PERMIT|DENY
+# Each entry may be a single radio id, or a hypenated range (e.g. 1-2999)
+# Format:
+# ACL = 'action:id|start-end|,id|start-end,....'
+
+ACL = 'DENY:1-2999,16777215'
\ No newline at end of file