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- Before the
- Federal Communications Commission
- Washington, D.C. 20554
-
- PR Docket No. 88-139
-
- In the Matter of
-
- Reorganization and Deregulation
- of Part 97 of the Rules Governing
- the Amateur Radio Services.
-
- NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING
-
- Adopted: March 24, 1988; Released:April 13, 1988
-
- By the Commission:
-
- I. INTRODUCTION
-
- 1. In this NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING (NOTICE) we propose
- to reorganize Part 97 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 47
- C.F.R. Part 97. This rule part governs the amateur radio
- services<1>. This revision is being proposed because advances
- in technology and changes in operation practices have made the
- current rules -- which are based on concepts associated with
- telegraphy and telephony -- difficult to apply to modern
- amateur communication practices. This NOTICE proposes rules to
- create a regulatory environment that will encourage modern
- techniques, technology and uses of amateur radio.
-
- 2. We also desire to eliminate unnecessary rules. Many rules
- in Part 97 are redundant; others are obsolete. Still others
- duplicate extensive details that are contained in other FCC rule
- parts and in the INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU)
- RADIO REGULATIONS. The deletion of these unnecessary rules
- together with a reorganization of the remaining rules will
- reduce the total body of amateur service rules by roughly 40
- percent. This proceeding also provides an excellent opportunity
- to clarify certain rules and to codify certain existing policies
- that have grown in importance as modern amateur communication
- practices have evolved. It is also a timely opportunity to
- clarify the terminology used in the rules.
-
- 3. We wish to recognize and encourage the experimental nature
- of the amateur service. It is appropriate to avoid, to the
- extent possible, placing in the rules detailed regulations and
- specifications for the configuration and operation of various
- amateur communications systems. Such regulations and
- specifications would reduce the flexibility that is a hallmark
- of a service free to branch out and follow an infinite number of
- paths. A basic amateur service license document encompasses
- both an operator license and a station license. Our regulatory
- approach is to state the basic requirements that each amateur
- operator and station must observe. This enables amateur
- operators to utilize their individual stations in creating and
- pioneering communication systems that are limited only by their
- personal interests, imagination and technical skills.
-
- II. BACKGROUND
-
- 4. Part 97 last underwent a major restructuring in 1951<2> at
- a time when most communication systems in the amateur service
- utilized high frequency, hand keyed telegraphy and amplitude
- modulated telephony. Over the years a host of new technologies
- emerged and became popular in the amateur service:
- single-sideband and frequency modulated telephony, very-high and
- ultra-high frequency repeaters, radioteleprinting, satellite
- transponders, digital communications, television, etc. Rule
- additions and revisions to accommodate these technologies have
- been adopted as needed. The result is a patchwork of rules that
- can be confusing, particularly to prospective licensees<3>.
-
- 5. The desire and ability in the amateur community to
- assimilate and apply new technology has led to the development
- of new uses of amateur stations in communication systems<4>.
- The result has been to alter dramatically the landscape of
- amateur radio regulation. Amateur operators continue to find
- new ways to utilize their stations in communication systems,
- particularly for serving the public during communication
- emergency situations. Moreover, enabling legislation<5> has
- made it possible for the FCC to accept the voluntary services of
- amateur operators in performing functions formerly done by FCC
- staff. Amateurs serving as volunteer examiners (VEs) prepare,
- administer and coordinate operator license examinations.
- Amateur operators also assist our Field Operations Bureau with
- monitoring functions. These trends will continue. Therefore,
- it is necessary and timely to reorganize and clarify the rules
- in recognition of these advancements and to lay the framework
- upon which future advancements can be incorporated.
-
- III. PROPOSAL
-
- 6. Our starting point for reorganization of the rules is the
- definition of the amateur service. It is recognized
- internationally and domestically as:
-
- A radiocommunication service for the purpose of
- self-training, intercommunication and technical
- investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, by duly
- authorized persons interested in radio technique solely
- with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest<6>.
-
- This statement of the basis for the amateur service is
- fundamental to the regulations we and telecommunication
- regulatory agencies in other countries are to provide<7>.
-
- 7. In the United States Part 97 embodies the rules for the
- amateur services. it begins with a recitation of fundamental
- purpose, expressed in five principles in Section 97.1, 47 C.F.R.
- %97.1. These principles were adopted by the Commission in
- Docket 9295 (see Paragraph 4 above) as a prospectus of the
- accomplishments expected to result from the activities of a
- healthy radio service functioning within the rules shaped toward
- this end.
-
- Section 97.1 stands as a general statement of objectives for the
- amateur service in the United States, and is continued and
- emphasized in the proposed rules.
-
- 8. We propose to restructure Part 97 into six subparts and
- four appendices as shown in the Appendix. Subpart A, GENERAL
- PROVISIONS, contains those rules concerned principally with
- license and station location requirements. Subpart B,
- FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF THE AMATEUR SERVICE, organizes
- appropriate rules into groupings relating to the five principles
- of purpose expressed in Section 97.1: SERVING THE PUBLIC,
- ADVANCING THE RADIO ART, ADVANCING SKILLS, TRAINING OPERATORS
- AND ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL. Subpart C, STATION
- OPERATION STANDARDS, is comprised of those standards that
- generally apply to all types of amateur station operation.
- Subpart D, SPECIAL OPERATIONS, contains the requirements that
- apply only to non-standard operations such as beacons and
- repeaters, the amateur-satellite service and the RACES. The
- remaining technical standards are organized in Subpart E,
- TECHNICAL STANDARDS. The requirements for the preparation and
- administration of operator examinations are in Subpart F,
- QUALIFYING EXAMINATION SYSTEMS. Appendix 1 lists the geographic
- areas where the amateur service is regulated by the Commission.
- Appendix 2 lists volunteer-examiner coordinator (VEC) regions.
- Appendix 3 is a glossary of terms used in the proposed rules.
- Appendix 4 is summary of the frequency sharing requirements for
- the amateur radio services stated in Sections 2.105 and 2.106,
- 47 C.F.R. %% 2.105 AND 2.106.
-
- 9. In addition to the glossary of terms in Appendix 3, we
- define terms where they first appear in the rules. Each term
- requiring definition is bolded when first used, followed by the
- parenthetical definition. For consistency in references to
- frequencies, the following terminology is sued: frequency range
- (VHF, UHF, etc.), wavelength band (10 m. 70 cm, etc), frequency
- segment (50.1-51.0 MHz, etc.), channel and frequency. Standard
- symbols for technical units are used throughout (dB, W, etc.).
-
- 10. We believe this format will make the rules easier to use
- and understand. We shall discuss each new subpart in detail.
-
- A. NEW SUBPARTS
-
- 11. SUBPART A -- GENERAL PROVISIONS. In this subpart, we
- assembled those rules that are basically concerned with license
- requirements and limitations on station location. The statement
- of the five principles of purpose remain as Section 97.1. We
- brought together into proposed Section 97.3 the definition of
- the three radio services governed by Part 97. The rules that
- establish the various types of operator and station
- authorizations, together with the application and procedural
- requirements, are contained in this subpart. Limitations on the
- location of an amateur station and on the height of an antenna
- and its associated support structure are also incorporated.
- Additionally, Section 97.9 defines the various classes of
- amateur operator licenses.
-
- 12. Section 97.11 includes rules for stations aboard ships or
- aircraft. We propose to delete current Section 97.101(c), 47
- C.F.R. %97.101(c), requiring that the electrical installation of
- an amateur station aboard ship or aircraft be in accord with
- other government rules. This is redundant. However, to promote
- safe aircraft operations during adverse weather conditions, we
- would add language providing that amateur equipment shall not be
- operated while any aircraft is operating under Instrument Flight
- Rules unless the equipment has been found to comply with all
- Federal Aviation Administration rules. Also, we propose to
- clarify that use of a common antenna in voluntary ship radio
- installations does not violate the rule requiring that an
- amateur station must be separate from and independent of all
- other radio apparatus installed on the same ship.
-
- 13. In Section 97.13(b) we state clearly that amateur stations
- in close proximity to Commission field monitoring facilities
- must protect these facilities from harmful interference. The
- Engineer-in-Charge of the local field office may impose
- operating restrictions on any amateur station failing to protect
- Commission monitoring facilities from harmful interference.
-
- 14. In Section 97.25 we update the procedural rules relating to
- Commission modification of an amateur station license. These
- rules are governed by Section 316 of the Communications Act of
- 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C %316. This Section of the Act was
- amended by Public Law No. 98-214, 97 Stat. 1467 (1983).
- Proposed Section 97.25 conforms to the provisions of 47 U.S.C
- %316.
-
- 15. Current Section 97.95, 47 C.F.R. %97.95, specifies rules
- for amateur station operation away from the licensed fixed
- station location. The original concept of a fixed station
- location revolved around an amateur operator's "ham shack" -- a
- room or small building where the station's transmitting and
- receiving devices were located. More often than not, these
- devices were built by the amateur operator, and, because of the
- state of technology at that time, incorporated delicate and
- bulky components including vacuum tubes, transformers and
- capacitors that made the devices not very portable. Today's
- amateur stations often employ commercially manufactured
- equipment. In the age of the microprocessor and the integrated
- circuit this equipment is highly portable. It is common for
- amateur operators to carry hand-held transceivers capable of
- accessing many local repeaters in urban areas and also capable
- of reasonably good line-of-sight communication. It appears that
- the concept of fixed station operation no longer carries with it
- the same connotation it did previously. For this reason, we
- propose to delete current rules that relate to station operation
- away from the authorized fixed station location.
-
- 16. SUBPART B -- FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF THE AMATEUR SERVICE.
- In this subpart, we use each one of the five principles of
- purpose discussed in paragraph 7 above, as a subheading for the
- rules related to that principle.
-
- 17. SERVING THE PUBLIC. Under the first heading, SERVING THE
- PUBLIC, the existing provisions in the rules and the special
- provisions in the ITU RADIO REGULATIONS pertaining to providing
- communications during emergencies are stated. These
- specifically include assisting in meeting essential
- communication needs when normal communications systems are
- overloaded, damaged or disrupted because of a natural
- disaster<8>. We have included the general international
- provision for assisting stations in distress<9>. We have also
- included our existing policy that it is permissible for an
- amateur station to provide communications for public gatherings
- if the public is the main beneficiary. The proposed rules
- provide additional clarity in defining permitted operations
- consistent with providing operating flexibility.
-
- 18. ADVANCING THE RADIO ART. Under the second heading in
- Subpart B, ADVANCING THE RADIO ART, are the emission types
- authorized for the various frequency bands and segments. It is
- our intent that amateur operators in the United States be
- allowed to experiment with the full range of modulation types.
- However, in order to comply with international regulations, we
- are obligated to limit the interference potential of amateur
- stations, especially those transmitting in frequency bands
- shared with other services.
-
- 19. The principal use of emission designators in regulations
- for the amateur service is to relegate the transmission of
- certain inharmonious emission types to different segments of the
- frequency bands. Originally, emission designators were
- generally used to reserve a segment of a frequency band for
- telegraphy transmissions. Although the remainder of each
- frequency band could be used for either telegraphy or telephony
- transmissions, as a practical matter it was regarded as the
- telephony subband. As the amateur service has developed, other
- specific emission types have been authorized in somewhat
- piecemeal fashion.
-
- 20. Authorized emissions became even more confusing when the
- Commission's Rules were revised to incorporate the system of
- designators adopted in the Final Acts of the 1979 WARC<10>.
- Almost 1300 designators replaced the previous system of 14
- designators used in Part 97. The greater specificity had the
- unintended effect of restricting previously permitted
- operations. We propose to remedy this with a much simpler
- system using terminology that is already familiar to most
- amateur operators<11>. This approach should eliminate the
- inadvertently imposed restrictions while continuing necessary
- emission type segregation. Additionally, the designators would
- be unambiguous and easy to understand, even for prospective
- Novice operators. The multitude of designators are categorized
- under the following nine terms and cross referenced to Part 2 of
- the Rules<12>.
-
- 1. CW -- Single-channel amplitude-shift-keyed
- telegraphy emissions in international Morse
- code for aural or automatic reception.
-
- 2. MCW -- Single-channel modulated tone
- telegraphy emissions in international Morse
- code for aural or automatic reception.
-
- 3. PHONE -- Telephony emissions.
-
- 4. IMAGE -- Single-channel emissions for facsimile
- and television.
-
- 5. RTTY -- Single-channel emissions for narrowband
- direct-printing.
-
- 6. DATA -- Data emissions, including packet radio.
-
- 7. PULSE -- Pulse emissions.
-
- 8. SS -- Spread-spectrum emissions.
-
- 9. TEST -- Emissions containing no modulation or no
- information for on-the-air transmitter adjustment,
- two-tone amplifier linearity testing, antenna
- measurements, direction finding, ranging, etc.
-
- 21. Certain rule provisions for digital and spread-spectrum
- transmissions currently include exceptions to permit
- international use if special arrangements are made between the
- United States and the administration of any other country
- concerned. We propose to delete these exceptions. No such
- arrangements currently exist. Should the United States ever
- make such arrangements, we will provide public notice as we
- currently do for international third-party traffic and
- reciprocal arrangements.
-
- 22. ADVANCING SKILLS. Today's society is increasingly
- electronics-oriented. Maintenance of a pool of persons
- knowledgeable in electronics and innovative communications
- technology is clearly in the public interest<13>. There is a
- critical shortage of personnel skilled in the electronic arts
- and sciences. Yet there is a close vocational and avocational
- relationship between electronic competency and the skills and
- techniques of amateur radio<14>. Amateur radio is the only
- national reserve of trained communicator/technicians<15>. For
- this reason, it is in the public interest, convenience and
- necessity to maintain and enlarge the pool of amateur operators.
- Our primary tool to achieve this end is in providing the
- motivation to upgrade class of license through increased
- privileges to each higher operator license class.
-
- 23. The incentive licensing structure was established to assure
- that amateur operators enhance their skills as they remain in
- the amateur service. (See "Report and Order", Docket 15928, 32
- Fed. Reg. 12682 (1967)). In the past ten years, we have seen
- the highest of the five amateur operator classes, Amateur Extra,
- more than double from 18,794 amateur operators as of January 31,
- 1978, to 43,902 amateur operators as of December 31, 1987. The
- proportion of licensed amateur operators that are Amateur Extra
- has almost doubled as well. As of January 31, 1978, 5.68% of
- all amateur operators were Amateur Extra. As of December 31,
- 1987, that figure had risen to 10.12%.
-
- 24. To help clarify the privileges associated with each
- operator class, we propose to restructure the frequency table
- without actually affecting amateur operator frequency
- privileges. We reorganized and relocated to Appendix 4 the
- summary of frequency sharing limitations that are specified in
- Sections 2.105 and 2.106, 47 C.F.R. %%2.105 and 2.106. We
- provide a cross-reference to these rule sections in proposed
- Section 97.203(a) to make amateur operators aware that
- additional considerations in the use of a particular frequency
- segment may apply. We expect that annotated versions of our
- rules offered by publishers will continue to bring relevant
- frequency sharing requirements to the attention of amateur
- operators.
-
- 25. TRAINING OPERATORS. The fourth heading in Subpart B,
- TRAINING OPERATORS, incorporates operator examination
- requirements. These are the rules that place all amateur
- operators on notice of what they need to know to advance in the
- amateur service. Each amateur operator license conveys broad
- privileges to the holder. These privileges are many and they
- are diverse. Amateur operators are allowed to communicate using
- telegraphy, voice, teleprinting, packet radio, facsimile,
- television and other modes. They are allowed to communicate
- with amateur operators in other countries and, in some cases,
- send messages for third parties. An amateur operator is allowed
- to build, repair and modify amateur station transmitters. For
- such a flexible radio service to be practical, all amateur
- operators must thoroughly understand their responsibilities and
- have the skills necessary to operate an amateur station
- properly. Preparation for the various operator examinations
- helps operators to learn and hone the required skills. This
- subpart clearly defines the requirements for examinations at
- each skill level.
-
- 26. INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL. The rules derived from the amateur
- service international communications requirements now in
- Appendix 2 are under the fifth heading, ENHANCING INTERNATIONAL
- GOODWILL. Transmissions between amateur stations of different
- countries are limited by international law to messages of a
- technical nature relating to tests and to remarks of a personal
- character that are so unimportant as not to justify recourse to
- the public telecommunications service<16>. We noted under this
- heading that we issue public notice of international
- arrangements for the amateur service upon notification from the
- U.S. State Department that an exchange of notes has occurred.
-
- 27. The amateur service is the only service outside of the
- common carrier services where two-way communications between
- private individuals in different countries are permitted.
- Practically every country allows some form of amateur radio
- communication. As a result, the amateur service is a
- potentially strong and credible projector of a nation's image
- abroad. A large segment of the world's radio amateur population
- regularly engages in distant contacts. In these contacts,
- amateur operators of different nations engage in personal
- dialogue. The amateur operator is usually representative of
- his/her country at the "grass roots" level. The amateur
- operator talks about subjects that are of day-to-day interest to
- other amateur operators contacted in other countries. This
- one-on-one dialogue that is made possible by worldwide amateur
- radio is an important cultural exchange<17>. International
- amateur communications are a basis for opinions formed of the
- United States worldwide. That is why one of the fundamental
- purposes of the amateur service in the United States is to
- foster international goodwill. The importance of this aspect of
- the amateur service is highlighted in this subpart.
-
- 28. ALIEN RECIPROCAL OPERATING PRIVILEGES. Over the past
- decade we have issued approximately 130 alien reciprocal
- operating permits in the amateur service each month. At any
- given time about 1,500 of these authorizations are outstanding.
- Currently Subpart G of Part 97 contains the regulations for
- operating in accord with these permits. We propose to eliminate
- Subpart G in favor of conveying necessary information concerning
- alien operator privileges in the new Subpart B and information
- on obtaining an alien permit in the new Subpart A. Much of the
- latter information is also contained in FCC application form
- 610-A, APPLICATION OF ALIEN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSEE FOR PERMIT TO
- OPERATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
-
- 29. SUBPART C -- STATION OPERATION STANDARDS. In this subbpart
- we centralize all amateur station operation standards. This
- subpart includes much of current Subparts D and E. We divide
- the amateur station operation standards into two sets. The
- basic standards are those common to all amateur station
- operations. The special operations are rules for specific types
- of amateur station operation.
-
- 30. FREQUENCY SHARING. We do not assign stations or designate
- transmitting frequency channels in the amateur service. Rather,
- we rely upon the control operator to select the station's
- transmitting channel from those frequencies available prior to
- causing or allowing the station to transmit. The frequency
- agility of amateur stations makes it possible for all amateur
- operators to cooperate in sharing all authorized amateur service
- frequency bands. Good amateur practice requires that the
- control operator monitor prospective transmitting channels and
- then select a channel where the station's transmissions will not
- cause harmful interference and will minimize incidental
- interference to other on-going communications. We propose to
- codify this concept under Subpart C with a new Section 97.203
- called "frequency sharing." Certain duties are inherent in any
- shared frequency environment -- namely, cooperation in channel
- selection and use to prevent harmful interference and to make
- the most effective use of the frequencies. We propose to state
- these duties explicitly in the rules.
-
- 31. With the exception of frequency subbands that are currently
- designated in part 97 to protect telegraphy and certain other
- forms of non-voice communication, the Commission and amateur
- operators rely upon informal arrangements within the amateur
- community, called voluntary band plans, to assist in achieving
- the goal of preventing harmful interference. It has been our
- experience that, consistent with good amateur practice, amateur
- operators adhere to these voluntary band plans with excellent
- results for the service. As a general proposition, we favor
- voluntary band plans over Commission-imposed subbands in the
- amateur service. Rule-mandated band plans may result in station
- operation inflexibility and increased enforcement and regulatory
- burdens.
-
- 32. STATION LICENSEE RESPONSIBILITIES. In proposed Section
- 97.205, the responsibilities of an amateur station licensee are
- stated. Section 97.205(c) clarifies Commission authority to
- inspect amateur stations. This authority is currently spread
- among three separate rules addressing authorized apparatus and
- amateur station and operator licenses. (See 47 C.F.R.
- %%97.81(b), 97.82 and 97.83. The new rule would unify
- Commission inspection authority contained in these rules and
- clarify current Commission policy that the amateur station,
- including station records.
-
- 33. CONTROL OPERATOR DUTIES. In proposed Section 97.207, the
- duties of a licensed station control operator are stated. By
- making decisions about equipment suitability, frequency
- selection, emission modes, message content, etc., the control
- operator is the key to proper operation of an amateur station.
- Without the control operator, unidentified and unauthorized uses
- of the frequencies are possible. Should this occur, the
- legitimacy of the service is imperiled<18>. Section 97.209
- defines control point. Section 97.211 addresses specific forms
- of station control. In Section 97.211(c) we propose to clarify
- our authority to require any station under automatic control to
- discontinue operation upon notification from the
- Engineer-in-Charge of a Commission field office that the station
- is transmitting improperly or causing harmful interference to
- other stations.
-
- 34. POINTS OF COMMUNICATION AND PERMISSIBLE ONE-WAY
- COMMUNICATIONS. We are expanding and clarifying the rules
- relating to points of communication and permissible one-way
- communications. This includes the blanket waiver for the
- retransmission of space shuttle communications authorized by the
- Chief, Private Radio Bureau, on September 6, 1983<19>. In
- proposed Section 97.217, we simplify the rules concerning
- station identification procedures. In Section 97.21(b)(4) we
- make provisions for amateur stations transmitting television to
- perform the station identification procedure using our color
- broadcast standards as well as monochrome. We also add Section
- 97.217(g) to provide for a self-assigned identifier to be
- appended to a station call sign in the identification procedure.
- Such an identifier can be useful to the station as an efficient
- means of announcing the fact that the station is participating
- in a contest or a special event. Additionally, we specifically
- incorporate in the rules the basic premise that the amateur
- service has its own objectives and is not intended to be used as
- an alternative to other radio services or communications
- facilities<20>.
-
- 35. SWAP NETS. Business communications are prohibited in the
- amateur service. (See 47 C.F.R % 97.110) We relocated this
- prohibition in proposed Section 97.219(c). We added the
- exception that communications to inform other amateur operators
- of the availability of, or the need for, amateur station
- apparatus are not considered to be business communications.
- This type of communication is usually found in the context of
- "swap nets." A swap net is a series of communications between
- two or more amateur stations conducted for the purpose of buying
- and selling amateur radio equipment.
-
- 36. Current policy permits amateur stations to transmit
- information about the availability of amateur radio equipment,
- notwithstanding Section 97.110, 47 C.F.R % 97.110, prohibiting
- business communications. In this context, amateur radio
- equipment is equipment normally used in an amateur station by an
- amateur operator. An asking price may be mentioned, but no
- subsequent negotiations or bartering may take place, If
- interest is expressed, the amateur operators should exchange
- mailing addresses or telephone numbers and finish negotiations
- using means of communication other than amateur service
- frequencies. Dealers may not take advantage of this exception.
- Amateur operators who derive a profit by buying and selling
- amateur radio equipment on a regular basis are considered
- dealers and violate the business prohibition if they use amateur
- service frequencies for this purpose. Proposed Section
- 97.219(c) codifies these policies.
-
- 37. BROADCAST-RELATED ACTIVITIES. Questions frequently arise
- concerning the amateur service and broadcast-related activities.
- Broadcasting and broadcast-related activities are prohibited in
- the amateur service. (See 47, C.F.R %97.113) An amateur station
- may not be used for any activity directly related to program
- production or newsgathering for broadcast purposes. However, in
- 1985 and 1986 we indicated in the texts of orders relating to
- amateur and broadcast services that we would permit amateur
- stations to convey news information in certain limited and
- unique circumstances. Those circumstances are if; (1) the event
- is unforeseen; (2) the news information is directly related to
- the event; (3) the event involves the safety of human life or
- the immediate protection of property; and (4) the news
- information cannot be transmitted by any means other than
- amateur radio because of the remote location of the originating
- transmission or because normal communications have been
- disrupted<21>. We propose to incorporate this policy in Section
- 97.219(f).
-
- 38. QUIET HOURS. We propose to remove certain specific time
- periods for the imposition of restrictions against amateur
- station transmissions in Sections 97.131(a), 97.133 and 97.135,
- 47 C.F.R %% 97.131(a), 97.133 and 97.135. Their purpose is to
- protect the domestic broadcast service from harmful
- interference. We believe that the necessary authority is
- contained in current Section 97.131(b), 47 C.F.R % 97.131(b).
- We have recodified this rule as proposed Section 97.221, which
- states that the Commission may restrict operations of amateur
- stations as necessary to prevent harmful interference.
-
- 39. DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT. We propose to remove current Section
- 97.127, 47 %97.127, prohibiting a licensed amateur operator from
- damaging any radio apparatus or installation in any licensed
- station. This rule inherently involves an overlap of federal
- and local jurisdiction. The underlying facts of such a
- violation would also necessarily constitute vandalism. We often
- receive complaints from people whose equipment was damaged
- seeking help based upon this rule. Complaints in the first
- instance in such a circumstance should be directed to local law
- enforcement authorities, who are in a position to provide some
- immediate assistance . Removal of this rule would not in any
- way diminish our authority to suspend an amateur operator
- license for such conduct. (See 47 U.S.C % 303(m)(1)(C)
-
- 40. NOTICES OF VIOLATION. Finally, we remove rules that
- specify what an amateur station licensee must do upon receipt of
- a notice of violation. Such rules are unnecessary. The
- correspondence itself specifies what is required, and clearly
- states any penalties that may result from failure to respond or
- comply.
-
- SUBPART D -- SPECIAL OPERATIONS
-
- 41. In this subpart we assemble present and proposed
- provisions for those particular types of amateur operations that
- require special explanations or limitation. We propose to
- include auxiliary, beacon and repeater operations, remote
- control of amateur stations and model craft, and amateur-
- satellite and RACES operations in this subpart.
-
- 42. AUXILIARY OPERATION. We propose to delete the provisions
- of current Section 97.86(b), 47 C.F.R % 97.86(b). This rule was
- intended to facilitate so-called "split-site-repeaters," where
- an auxiliary link is used to relay signals received at a distant
- receiving site to the station in repeater operation. It appears
- this provision is unnecessary. No amateur service rule
- prohibits such a practice.
-
- 43. BEACON OPERATION. We conformed the minimum interval for an
- amateur station in beacon operation to perform the station
- identification procedure to the interval for all other forms of
- amateur station operation -- once every 10 minutes.
-
- 44. REMOTE CONTROL. In some cases, particularly in instances
- where an amateur station is situated on a hilltop or atop a tall
- building, it is neither desirable nor practical to have the
- control operator physically present at the transmitter site.
- The control operator may perform the necessary duties from a
- remote control point through a control link. This control link
- can be a dedicated wire line or public telephone interconnection
- from the control point to the remotely controlled station.
- Alternatively, an amateur station in auxiliary operation at the
- control point can be used to transmit control commands to the
- remotely controlled station. (See 47 C.F.R % 97.88 (radio
- remote control of an amateur station)) We redrafted this rule
- as proposed Section 97.307.
-
- 45. The control operator must be able to control the station
- from the remote control point just as effectively as at a
- control point physically at the station site. Should the
- control link fail, the remotely controlled station's
- transmissions must cease after no more than three minutes. Many
- remotely controlled amateur stations operators include a
- three-minute time out timer in the control circuitry in order to
- meet this requirement. We believe, however, that the
- requirement to cease transmissions in three minutes may be
- unduly restrictive, particularly with respect to repeaters that
- are otherwise functioning properly. Therefore, we request
- comments on whether this limit would be appropriate. Further,
- we have removed the provisions of Section 97.88(c), 47 C.F.R.
- %97.88(c), that require the control operator of a remotely
- controlled amateur station to monitor continuously the station's
- transmitting and receiving frequencies. These provisions would
- no longer be necessary because of the consolidation of control
- operator duties in proposed Section 97.207 and explicit
- frequency sharing requirements in proposed Section 97.203.
-
- 46. AMATEUR SATELLITE SERVICE. This subpart also includes the
- rules that apply to the amateur-satellite service. This service
- epitomizes the experimental nature of the amateur radio services
- and the dedication and ability of amateur operators to
- contribute to the advancement of the radio art. It has enabled
- amateur operators to participate directly in space programs and
- has generated tremendous interest in space communications by
- amateur operators. OSCAR 1, the first amateur radio satellite,
- was launched into orbit in December, 1961. Since that time,
- with a series of OSCAR satellites, amateur operators have
- continued their efforts to experiment to achieve reliable,
- predictable long-distance and long-duration radio communications
- on HF and shorter wavelength bands. The amateur-satellite
- service was incorporated into the amateur service rules
- following its recognition in the Final Acts of the 1971 Space
- WARC (World Administrative Radio Conference). Today, amateur
- OSCAR satellites are used for real-time and delayed
- transmissions from anywhere beyond the major portion of the
- earth`s atmosphere. We have replaced current detailed
- notification of intended space operation in the
- amateur-satellite service by reference to the requirements in
- the ITU Radio Regulations.
-
- SUBPART E -- TECHNICAL STANDARDS
-
- 47. This subpart is comprised of the technical standards that
- must be met by amateur stations. We assembled the limitations
- on spurious emissions under proposed Section 97.401 and the
- limitations on maximum transmitting power under proposed Section
- 97.403. The provisions for digital and spread spectrum
- communications and external radio frequency power amplifiers are
- also consolidated in this subpart. We eliminated the redundant
- requirement that stations transmitting spread spectrum take
- steps to protect amateur stations in repeater operation.
- Repeater operation is adequately protected by the control
- operator and frequency sharing requirements.
-
- 48. As discussed in paragraph 30 above, we do not assign
- specific frequency channels to amateur stations. Nor do we
- divide the amateur service frequency bands into specific
- channels of a particular bandwidth. Therefore, considering the
- multitude of different emission types that could be transmitted,
- there is no need to specify precisely the maximum bandwidth that
- a transmitted signal may occupy. Our primary spectrum
- conservation approach is to encourage the good amateur practice
- of each amateur station transmitting in a manner that ensures
- that its signals are not unnecessarily broad. To this end,
- proposed Section 97.401 generally requires an amateur station
- transmission to occupy no more channel bandwidth than necessary
- for the information rate and emission type being transmitted.
-
- 49. While proposed Section 97.405 for digital communications is
- under this subpart, as a practical matter most of the relevant
- information about availability of particular channels for
- certain types of digital communications would be contained in
- proposed Section 97.131 (authorized emission types). We
- currently authorize certain standard digital communication, such
- as baudot, ASCII and AMTOR, that use personal computers or
- teleprinting machines with alphanumeric keyboards<22>.
-
- 50. We also permit the transmission of experimental digital
- codes on the 6 meter and shorter wave length bands in the
- amateur services. Amateur operators have taken advantage of
- this provision to be innovative in the area of digital
- transmissions. Packet radio is a currently burgeoning digital
- communications field. Packets are individual short bursts of
- digitally encoded data that take only milliseconds to send.
- Packet radio employs the time sharing capabilities of digital
- technology to conserve spectrum. The proposed rules provide
- flexibility to encourage continued development of efficient
- digital codes.
-
- SUBPART F
-
- 51. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION SYSTEMS. This subpart centralizes
- the rules concerning the preparation, administration and
- coordination of amateur operator examinations. The commission
- prepared, administered and coordinated examinations for
- Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra Class operator
- licenses until the VEC system became fully operational in 1984.
- On December 1, 1983, final rules went into effect pursuant to
- Public Law 97-259, 96 Stat. 1087 (1982), that authorized the
- Commission to accept and employ the voluntary and uncompensated
- services of amateur operators in the preparation and
- administration of amateur operator examinations. (See Report
- and Order, PR Docket No. 83-27, 48 Fed. Reg. 45653 (1983)).
- Subsequently, the Communications Act was Further amended to
- allow limited reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs incurred by
- VEs and VECs in connection with the preparation, processing or
- administration of examinations for amateur operator licenses.
- (See Public Law 98-214, 97 Stat. 1467 (1983)). We then adopted
- rules to implement this legislation. (See Report and Order, PR
- Docket No. 84-265, 49 Fed. Reg. 30472 (1984)).
-
- 52. Two volunteer examiner systems -- one for the Novice Class
- operator license and one for all other operator class licenses
- -- are now in place. All rules relating to the way in which VEs
- must conduct the preparation and administration of amateur
- operator examinations are under the heading of operator license
- examinations. All rules relating to the way in which
- volunteer-examiner coordinators (VECs) must coordinate amateur
- operator examinations are under the heading of
- volunteer-examiner coordinators. A final separate heading
- covers examination expense reimbursement. Additionally, we
- deleted the references to disposition and retention of
- examination papers in Sections 97.26(f), 97.27(d) and 97.28(h),
- 47 C.F.R. %%97.26(f), 97.27(d) and 97.28(h). The rules should
- not hamper the increasing use of personal computers in
- administering paperless examinations.
-
- 53. APPENDICES. We removed the current appendices to Part 97.
- Classification of emissions, now in Appendix 3, would be
- replaced by the system proposed in Subpart B. The other
- appendices are extracts or excerpts from international treaties
- and conventions. To the extent required, they are directly
- incorporated into the proposed rules. Four new appendices would
- be added. New Appendix 1 lists the geographic areas where the
- amateur service is regulated by the Commission. New Appendix 2
- specifies the VEC regions currently listed in Section 97.507(b),
- 47 C.F.R % 97.507(b). New Appendix 3 is a glossary index,
- listing the locations throughout the rules where terms are
- defined. New Appendix 4 is a summary of the sharing
- requirements currently listed in Section 97.7(g), 47 C.F.R. %
- 97.7(g).
-
- CONCLUSION
-
- 54. This reorganization of the rules achieves the objectives
- we delineated at paragraphs 2 through 8 above. We seek comments
- on the proposed rules, and we urge interested parties to
- recommend additional consolidations, clarifications and
- reductions in regulatory burdens. We also seek the comments of
- publishers and distributors of commercial versions of Part 97.
- Accordingly, we propose to revise Part 97 to modify, clarify and
- update the amateur radio services rules, as set forth in
- Appendix A. Cross reference lists for the current and proposed
- rules are set forth in Appendices B and C.
-
- 55. For purposes of this non-restricted notice and comment
- rule making proceeding, members of the public are advised that
- ex parte presentations are permitted except during the Sunshine
- Agenda period. (See generally 47 C.F.R. % 1.1206(a)). The
- Sunshine Agenda period is the period of time which commences
- with the release of a public notice that a matter has been
- placed on the Sunshine Agenda and terminates when the Commission
- (1) releases the text of a decision or order in the matter; (2)
- issues a public notice stating that the matter has been deleted
- from the Sunshine Agenda; or (3) issues a public notice stating
- that the matter has been returned to the staff for further
- consideration, whichever occurs first. 47 C.F.R % 1.202(f).
- During the Sunshine Agenda period, no presentations, ex parte or
- otherwise, are permitted unless specifically requested by
- Commission or staff for the clarification or adduction of
- evidence or the resolution of issues in the proceeding. 47 C.F.R
- % 1.1203.
-
- 56. In general, an ex parte presentation is any presentation
- directed to the merits or outcome of the proceeding made to
- decision-making personnel which (1) if written, is not served on
- the parties to the proceeding, or (2), if oral, is made without
- advance notice to the parties to the proceeding and without
- opportunity for them to be present. 47 C.F.R % 1.1202(b). Any
- person who submits a written ex parte presentation must provide
- on the same day it is submitted a copy of same to the
- Commissions`s secretary for inclusion in the public record. Any
- person who makes an oral ex parte presentation that presents
- data or arguments not already reflected in that person's
- previously-filed written comments, memoranda, or filings in the
- proceeding must proved on the day of the oral presentation a
- written memorandum to the Secretary ( with a copy to the
- Commissioner or staff member involved) which summarizes the data
- and arguments. Each ex parte presentation described above must
- state on its face that the Secretary has been served, and must
- also state by docket number the proceeding to which it relates.
- 47 C.F.R. % 1.1206.
-
- 57. Authority for issuance of this NOTICE is contained in
- Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as
- amended, 47 U.S.C. %% 154(i) and 303(r). Pursuant to applicable
- procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the
- Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. %% 1.415 and 1.419, interested
- parties may file comments on or before August 31, 1988 and reply
- comments on or before October 31, 1988. All relevant and timely
- comments will be considered by the Commission before final
- action is taken in this proceeding. To file formally in this
- proceeding, participants must file an original and five copies
- of all comments, reply comments and supporting comments. If
- participants want each Commissioner to receive a personal copy
- of their comments, an original and nine copies must be filed.
- Comments and reply comments should be sent to Office of the
- Secretary, Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC
- 20554. Comments and reply comments will be available for public
- inspection during regular business hours in the Dockets
- Reference Room (Room 239) of the Federal Communications
- Commission, 1919 M Street N.W.Washington DC 20554.
-
- 58. In accordance with Section 605 of the Regulatory
- Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. % 605, the Commission
- certifies that these rules would not, if promulgated, have a
- significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
- entities, because these entities may not use the amateur radio
- services for commercial radiocommunication. (See 47 C.F.R. %
- 97.3(b)). Moreover, the proposed rules would not require the
- use of or significantly enhance the sale of any additional
- amateur radio services apparatus.
-
- 59. The proposal contained herein has been analyzed with
- respect to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 and found to
- contain no new or modified form, information collection and/or
- record keeping, labeling, disclosure, or record retention
- requirements; and will not increase or decrease burden hours
- imposed on the public.
-
- 60. IT IS ORDERED, That the Secretary shall cause a copy of
- this NOTICE to be served upon the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of
- the Small Business Administration.
-
- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
-
- H. Walker Feaster III
- Acting Secretary
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- APPENDIX A
-
- Part 97 of Chapter 1 of Title 47 of the "Code of Federal Regula-
- tions" is amended, as follows:
-
- 1. The authority citation for Part 97 would continue to read
- as follows:
-
- Authority citation: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47
- U.S.C. 154, 303. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-
- 1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609, unless otherwise
- noted.
-
- 2. Part 97 would be revised as follows:
-
- PART 97 - AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
-
- Subpart A - General Provisions
-
- Sec.
- 97.1 Basis and purpose.
- 97.3 The amateur radio services.
- 97.5 Station license required.
- 97.7 Control operator required.
- 97.9 Operator license.
- 97.11 Stations aboard ships or aircraft.
- 97.13 Restrictions on the station location.
- 97.15 Antenna structure hazard to aircraft.
- 97.17 Application for license.
- 97.19 Renewed or modified license.
- 97.21 Mailing address and station location.
- 97.23 License term.
- 97.25 FCC modification of station license.
- 97.27 Replacement license.
-
- Subpart B - Fundamental Purposes of the Amateur Service
-
- Serving the Public
- 97.101 Operation during a disaster.
- 97.103 Safety of life and protection of property.
- 97.105 Station in distress.
- 97.107 Communications for public gatherings.
-
- Advancing the Radio Art
- 97.131 Authorized emission types.
-
- Advancing Skills
- 97.151 Control operator frequency privileges.
- 97.153 Alien control opeator privileges.
-
- Training Operators
- 97.171 Qualifying for an amateur operator license.
- 97.173 Examination elements and standards.
- 97.175 Examination requirements.
-
- Enhancing International Goodwill
- 97.191 International communications.
-
- Subpart C - Station Operation Standards
-
- 97.201 Good amateur practice.
- 97.203 Frequency sharing.
- 97.205 Station licensee responsibilities.
- 97.207 Control operator duties.
- 97.209 Control point.
- 97.211 Station control.
- 97.213 Authorized transmissions.97.215 Third-party traffic.
- 97.217 Station identification procedure.
- 97.219 Prohibited transmissions.
- 97.221 Restricted operation.
-
- Subpart D - Special Operations
-
- 97.301 Auxiliary operation.
- 97.303 Beacon operation.
- 97.305 Repeater operation.
- 97.307 Remote control of an amateur station.
- 97.309 Remote control of model craft.
- 97.311 Space operation.
- 97.313 Earth operation.
- 97.315 Telecommand operation.
- 97.317 RACES operation.
-
- Subpart E - Technical Standards
-
- 97.401 Purity of transmissions.
- 97.403 Maximum transmitting power.
- 97.405 Digital communications.
- 97.407 Spread spectrum communications.
- 97.409 Type acceptance of external RF power amplifiers.
- 97.411 Standards for type acceptance of external RF power
- amplifiers.
-
- Subpart F - Qualifying Examination Systems
-
- Operator License Examinations
- 97.501 Examination adminstration procedures.
- 97.503 Examination preparation.
- 97.505 Examination element credit.
- 97.507 Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra operator
- examination administration.
- 97.509 Novice operator examination administration.
- 97.511 Volunteer examiner requirements.
- 97.513 Volunteer examiner conduct.
-
- Volunteer-Examiner Coordinators
- 97.521 Agreement required.
- 97.523 VEC qualifications.
- 97.525 Coordination examinations.
- 97.527 VEC question pools
- 97.529 Accrediting VEs.
-
- Examination Expense Reimbursement
- 97.541 Reimbursement for expenses.
-
- Appendix 1 Places Where Amateur Radio Services Are Regulated by
- the FCC.
- Appendix 2 VEC Regions.
- Appendix 3 Glossary of Terms.
- Appendix 4 Frequency Sharing Requirements.
-
- Subpart A - General Provisions
-
- 97.1 Basis and purpose.
- The rules and regulations in this part are designed to pro-
- vide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as
- expressed in the following principles:
- (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur
- service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication
- service, particularly with respect to providing emergency com-
- munications.
- (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's provenability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
- (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service
- through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the com-
- munication and technical phases of the art.
- (d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur
- radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics
- experts.
- (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique
- ability to enhance international goodwill.
-
- 97.3 The amateur radio services.
- (a) The "amateur service" is a radio communication service
- for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and techni-
- cal investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly author-
- ized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal
- aim and without pecuniary interest.
- (b) The "amateur-satellite service" is a radiocommunication
- service using stations on earth satellites for the same purpose
- as those of the amateur service.
- (c) The RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)
- provides for amateur station operation for civil defense com-
- munications during periods of local, regional or national civil
- emergencies.
-
- 97.5 Station license required.
- (a) When an apparatus is transmitting on any amateur service
- frequency from a geographic location within the major portion of
- the earth's atmosphere where the amateur service is regulated by
- the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) (see Appendix 1), the
- person having physical control of the apparatus must old a writ-
- ten authorization for an "amateur station" (a station in the
- amateur service including necessary apparatus at a particular
- location used for transmitting).
- (b) When an apparatus is transmitting on any amateur service
- frequency from any vessel or craft registered in the United
- States or owned or operated by a United States citizen or entity
- and the vessel or craft is within or beyond the major portion of
- the earth's atmosphere, the person having physical control of the
- apparatus must hold a written authorization for an amateur sta-
- tion.
- (c) The types of written authorizations that permit amateur
- license where the amateur services are regulated by the FCC are:
- (1) An amateur operator/primary amateur station license (on
- FCC Form 660) issued to the person by the FCC. A primary
- amateur station license is issued only to a person together with
- an amateur operator license on the same document. Every amateur
- operator licensed by the FCC must have one, but only one, primary
- amateur station license. Except for a representative of a for-
- eign government, any person who qualifies by examination is
- eligible to apply for an amateur operator/primary station
- license.
- (2) An amateur service club station license (on FCC Form 660)
- issued to the person by the FCC. A club station license is
- issued only to the person who is the license trustee designated
- by an officer of the club. The trustee must hold an FCC-issued
- Amateur Extra, Advanced, General or Technician operator license.
- The trustee must not be a representative of a foreign
- government. The club must be composed of at least two persons and
- must have a name, a constitution, management and a primary pur-
- pose devoted to amateur service activities consistent with these
- rules. (Note: No new license for a club station will be issued;
- however, existing licenses may be renewed or modified upon proper
- application.)
- (3) An amateur service military recreation station license
- (on FCC Form 660) issued to the person by the FCC. A military
- recreation station license is issued only to the person who isthe license custodian designated by the official in charge of
- United States military recreational premises where the station is
- situated. The custodian must not be a representative of a for-
- eign government. The custodian does not have to hold an amateur
- operator license. (Note: No new license for a military recrea-
- tion station will be issued; however, existing licenses may be
- renewed or modified upon proper application.)
- (4) A RACES station license (on FCC Form 660) issued to the
- person by the FCC. A RACES station license is issued only to the
- person who is the license custodian designated by the official
- responsible for the governmental agency served by that civil
- defense organization. The custodian does not have to hold an
- amateur operator license. The custodian must be the civil
- defense official responsible for coordination of all civil
- defense activities in the area concerned. The custodian does not
- have to hold an amateur operator license. (Note: No new license
- for a RACES station will be issued; however, existing licenses
- may be renewed or modified upon application.)
- (5) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (on FCC
- Form 610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC. A reciprocal
- permit for alien amateur licensee is issued only to an alien who
- is a citizen of a country with which the United States has
- arrangements to grant reciprocal operating permits to visiting
- alien amateur operators. The alien must hold an amateur service
- license from the country of citizenship. The alien must not be a
- representative of a foreign government. No person who is a
- citizen of the United States, regardless of any other citizenship
- also held, is eligible for a reciprocal permit. No person hold-
- ing an FCC-issued amateur service license is eligible to also
- hold a reciprocal permit for alien amateur license. (Note:
- Reciprocal permits are not renewable; however, existing licenses
- may be renewed or modified upon proper application.)
- (6) An amateur service license issued to the person by the
- Government of Canada. The person must be a citizen of Canada.
- The person must not be a representative of a foreign government.
- (d) The written authorization for an amateur station author-
- izes the use in accordance with FCC rules of all transmitting
- apparatus under the physical control of the station licensee at
- points where the amateur radio services are regulated by the FCC.
- The original written authorization document or a photocopy
- thereof must be retained at the station.
-
- 97.7 Control operator required.
- When transmitting, each amateur station must have a control
- operator. The control operator must be an "amateur operator" (a
- person holding a written authorization to be the control operator
- of an amateur station). Only a person holding at least one of
- the following documents may be the control operator of an amateur
- station:
- (a) An amateur operator/primary station license (on FCC Form
- 610) issued to the person by the FCC.
- (b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (on FCC
- Form 610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC.
- (c) An amateur service license issued to the person by the
- Government of Canada. The person must be a citizen of Canada.
-
- 97.9 Operator license.
- (a) There are 5 classes of operator licenses: Novice, Tech-
- nician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra. The degree of skill
- and knowledge an applicant demonstrates by examination determines
- the class of operator license for which the person is qualified.
- (b) An amateur operator license authorizes the holder to be
- the control operator of an amateur station with the privileges of
- the operator class specified. The license document or a
- photocopy thereof must be in the personal possession of the
- licensee at all times when the person is control operator of anamateur station.
- (c) A Novice, Technician, General, or Advanced operator who
- has properly filed with the FCC an application for a higher
- operator class which is not yet been acted upon, and who holds a
- CSCE (Certificate of Successful Completion of an Examination)
- indicating that the person completed the necessary examinations
- within the previous 365 days is authorized to exercise the rights
- and privileges of the higher operator class.
-
- 97.11 Stations aboard ships or aircraft.
- (a) The installation and operation of an amateur station on a
- ship or aircraft must be approved by the master of the ship or
- pilot in command of the aircraft.
- (b) The station must be separate from and independent of all
- other radio apparatus installed on the same ship or aircraft,
- except antennas in the use of voluntary ship radio installations.
- (c) Transmissions from the station must not cause inter-
- ference to any other apparatus installed on the same ship or air-
- craft.
- (d) The station must no constitute a hazard to the safety of
- life or property.
- (e) The equipment shall not be operated while the aircraft is
- operating under Instrument Flight Rules, as defined by the Fed-
- eral Aviation Administration (FAA) unless the amateur equipment
- has been found to comply with all applicable FAA rules.
-
- 97.13 Restrictions on the station location.
- (a) Before placing an amateur station on land of environmen-
- tal or historical importance (such as a site significant in
- American history, architecture or culture), the licensee may be
- required to take certain actions prescribed by 1.1305-1.1319 of
- the FCC Rules.
- (b) An amateur station within 1600 m (meters) of an FCC
- monitoring facility must protect that facility from harmful
- interference. Failure to do so could result in imposition of
- operating restrictions upon the amateur station by the EIC
- (Engineer-in-Charge of an FCC field facility) pursuant to 97.221
- of the FCC Rules. Geographical coordinates of the facilities
- that require protection are listed in 0.121(c) of the FCC Rules.
-
- 97.15 Antenna structure hazard to aircraft.
- An amateur station antenna structure (the radiating elements,
- tower, supports, and all appurtenances mounted thereon) no higher
- than 6.1 m (20 feet) above any other type of structure it is
- mounted upon, is exempt from the requirements of this Section.
- (a) Before placing an antenna on an existing antenna struc-
- ture more than 61 m (200 feet) above ground level at its site,
- the licensee must notify the FCC on FCC Form 854, and receive
- prior approval from the FCC.
- (b) Before placing an antenna structure higher than the fol-
- lowing limits, the licensee must notify both the FAA (Federal
- Aviation Administration) on FAA Form 7460-1 and the FCC on FCC
- Form 854, and receive prior approval from the FCC.
- (1) An antenna structure more than 61 m (200 feet) above
- ground level at its site.
- (2) An antenna structure at an airport or heliport that is
- available for public use and is listed in the "Airport Directory"
- of the current "Airman's Information Manual" or in either the
- "Alaska" or "Pacific Airman's Guide and Chart Supplement"; or at
- an airport or heliport under construction that is the subject of
- a notice or proposal on file with the FAA, and except for mili-
- tary airports, it is clearly indicated that the airport will be
- available for public use; or at an airport or heliport that is
- operated by the armed forces of the United States; or at a place
- near any of these airports or heliports that is to be:
- (i) More than 1 m higher than the airport elevation for each100 m from the nearest runway longer than 1 km within 6.1 km of
- the antenna structure.
- (ii) More than 2 m higher than the airport elevation for each
- 100 m from the nearest runway longer that 1 km within 3.1 km of
- the antenna structure.
- (iii) More than 4 m higher than the airport elevation for
- each 100 m from the nearest landing pad within 1.5 km of the
- antenna structure.
- (c) Further details as to whether an aeronautical study
- and/or obstruction marking and lighting may be required, and
- specifications for obstruction marking and lighting, are con-
- tained in Part 17 of the FCC rules, "Construction, Marking, and
- Lighting of Antenna Structures".
-
- 97.17 Application for license.
- (a) Any qualified person, except a representative of a for-
- eign government, is eligible to apply for an amateur service
- license or permit.
- (b) Each application for an operator/primary station license
- must be made on FCC Form 610. Each application for a club, mili-
- tary recreation or RACES station license must be made on FCC Form
- 610-B. Each application for a reciprocal permit for alien
- amateur licensee must be made on FCC Form 610-A.
- (c) Each application for a new operator/primary station
- license and each application involving a change in operator class
- must be submitted by the applicant to the volunteer examiners
- (VEs) administering the qualifying examination.
- (d) Each application for a reciprocal permit for alien
- amateur licensee must be submitted to the FCC, P.O. Box 1020,
- Gettysburg, PA 17326.
- (e) No person shall obtain or attempt to obtain, or assist
- another person to obtain or attempt to obtain, an amateur
- operator license or reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee
- by fraudulent means.
- (f) A call sign will be assigned to each amateur station on a
- systematic basis. The FCC will issue public announcements
- detailing the policies and procedures of the call sign assignment
- system. The FCC will not grant any request for a specific call
- sign.
-
- 97.19 Renewed or modified license.
- (a) Each application for a renewed or modified amateur serv-
- ice license must be accompanied by a photocopy of the license
- document or the original document. Except for a modification
- involving a change in operator class, the application must be
- submitted to: FCC, P.O. box 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326.
- (b) When the licensee has submitted a sufficient application
- for renewal of an unexpired license (between 60 and 90 days prior
- to the end of the license term is recommended), the license will
- not expire until the disposition of the application has been
- determined. After an amateur service license expires, applica-
- tion for renewal may be made during a grace period of 2 years
- after the expiration date. During this grace period, the expired
- license is not valid. A license renewed during the grace period
- will be dated as of the date of the renewal.
-
- 97.21 Mailing address and station location.
- Each application for an amateur service license and each
- application for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee
- must show a mailing address and a station location (the addresses
- may be the same) in an area where the amateur service is regu-
- lated by the FCC. The mailing address must be one where the
- licensee can receive from the FCC mail delivery by the United
- States Post Office. The station location must be a place where a
- station can be physically located. (A postal box, RFD number, or
- general delivery is unsuitable as a station location.)
- 97.23 License term.
- (a) Amateur operator/primary station licenses and club,
- military recreation and RACES station licenses are normally
- issued for a 10 year term.
- (b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur license is normally
- issued only for a 1 year term.
-
- 97.25 FCC modification of station license.
- (a) The FCC may modify an amateur station license, either for
- a limited timer or for the duration of the term thereof, if it
- determines:
- (1) that such action will promote the public interest, con-
- venience and necessity; or
- (2) that such action will cause the provisions of the Com-
- munications Act of 1934, as amended, or any treaty ratified by
- the United States, to be more fully complied with.
- (b) When the FCC makes such a determination, it will issue an
- order of modification. The order of modification will not become
- final until the licensee is notified in writing of the proposed
- action and the grounds and reasons thereof. The licensee will be
- given reasonable opportunity of no less than thirty days to
- protest the modification; except that, where safety of life or
- property is involved, a shorted period of notice may be provided.
- Any protest by a licensee of an FCC order of modification will be
- handled in accord with the provisions of 47 U.S.C 316.
-
- 97.25 Replacement license.
- Each licensee or permittee whose original document is lost,
- mutilated or destroyed must request a replacement. The request
- must be made to: FCC, P.O. Box 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326. A
- statement of how the document was lost, mutilated or destroyed
- must be attached to the request. A replacement license must bear
- the same expiration date as the license for which it is a
- replacement.
-
- Subpart B - Fundamental Purposes of the Amateur Service
-
- Serving the Public
-
- 97.101 Operation during a disaster.
- (a) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged
- or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to
- occur, in an area where the amateur service is regulated by the
- FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet
- essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions.
- (b) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged
- or disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is
- likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is not
- regulated by the FCC, an amateur station assisting in meeting
- essential communication needs and facilitating relief actions may
- do so only in accord with ITU (International Telecommunications
- Union) Resolution No. 640 (Geneva, 1979). The HF (high fre-
- quency) 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 15 m and 12 m bands and the
- VHF (very-high frequency) 2 m band may be used for these pur-
- poses.
- (c) When a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in
- a particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of com-
- munication emergency. The declaration will set forth any special
- conditions and special rules to be observed by amateur stations
- during the communication emergency. A request for a declaration
- of a temporary state of emergency should be directed to the EIC
- in the area concerned.
- (d) An amateur station may transmit emission J3E and R3E on
- the channel at 5.176 MHz (megahertz) within Alaska or within 80.5
- km of Alaska for emergency communications with other stationsauthorized to use this frequency in Alaska. The frequency must
- be shared with stations licensed in the Alaska private fixed
- service which may also transmit non-emergency communications.
- The transmitter power must not exceed 150 W (watts).
-
- 97.103 Safety of life and protection of property.
- No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur
- station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to
- provide essential communication needs in connection with the
- immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of prop-
- erty when normal communication systems are not available.
-
- 97.105 Station in distress.
- (a) No provision of these rules prevents the use by an
- amateur station in distress of any means at its disposal to
- attract attention, make known its condition and location, and
- obtain assistance.
- (b) No provision of these rules prevents the use by an
- amateur station, in the exceptional circumstances described in
- paragraph (a), of any means of radiocommunications at its dis-
- posal to assist a station in distress.
-
-
- 97.107 Communications for public gatherings.
- An amateur station may transmit communications in support of
- a public gathering (parade, race, marathon, etc.) only where the
- main beneficiary of such communications is the public. An
- amateur station may not be used for logistical support of any
- sponsoring organization.
-
- Advancing the radio art
-
- 97.131 Authorized emission types.
- (a) The following terms are used in this part to indicate
- emission types. (Refer to 2.201 of the FCC rules, "Emission,
- modulation and transmission characteristics", for information on
- emission type designators.)
- (1) "Test" (emissions containing no information or no modula-
- tion; test does not include pulse emissions with no information
- or no modulation unless pulse emissions are also authorized in
- the frequency band.
- (2) "Amplitude-modulated" and "angle-frequency/phase-
- modulated" emission types:
- (i) CW (international Morse code telegraphy emissions having
- A, C, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the second symbol; A or
- B as the third symbol; J2A and J2B.)
- (ii) MCW (tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy
- emissions having A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the first symbol; 2 as
- the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol.)
- (iii) "Phone" (speech emissions having A, C, D, F, G, H, J or
- R as the first symbol; 1, 2 or 3 as the second symbol; E as the
- third symbol; and speech emissions having B as the first symbol;
- 7, 8 or 9 as the second symbol; E as the third symbol). MCW for
- the purpose of performing the station identification procedure,
- and MCW for the purpose of providing telegraphy practice inter-
- spersed with speech, and incidental tones for the purpose of
- selective calling or alerting or to control the level of a
- demodulated signal may also be consider phone.
- (iv) "Image" (facsimile and television emissions having A, C,
- D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2 or 3 as the second
- symbol; C or F as the third symbol; and B as the first symbol; 7,
- 8 or 9 as the second symbol; W as the third symbol.)
- (3) RTTY (narrow-band direct-printing emissions using Inter-
- national Telegraph Alphabet Number 2, American Standard Code for
- Information Interchange ANSI X3.4-[1977], or International Radio
- Consultative Committee Recommendation CCIR 476-2 [1978], 476-3[1982], 476-4 [1986] or 625 [1986], as appropriate, Mode A or B,
- having A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the
- second symbol; B as the third symbol; and emission J2B.) Inter-
- national Morse code telegraphy angle modulation emissions may
- also be considered RTTY.
- (4) "Data" (telemetry, telecommand, and data [including
- packet radio] emissions having A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the
- first symbol; as the second symbol; D as the third symbol and
- emission J2D.)
- (5) "Pulse" (emissions having K, L, M, P, Q, V or W as the
- first symbol; 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 or X as the second symbol; N,
- A, B, C, D, E, F, W or X as the third symbol.)
- (6) SS (spread-spectrum using bandwidth-expansion modulation
- emissions A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; X as the
- second symbol; X as the third symbol.)
- (b) An amateur station may transmit CW on any frequency
- otherwise authorized to the control operator.
- (c) An amateur station may transmit a test emission on any
- frequency otherwise authorized to the control operator for brief
- periods for experimental purposes, except that no pulse modula-
- tion emission may be transmitted on any frequency where pulse is
- not specifically authorized.
- (d) An amateur station may transmit the following emission
- types on frequencies otherwise authorized to the control operator
- on the amateur service frequencies indicated, subject to the
- standards specified in paragraph (e).
-
- WAVELENGTH FREQUENCIES EMISSION TYPES STANDARDS
- BAND AUTHORIZED (paragraph (e))
-
- MF - (MEDIUM FREQUENCY)
-
- 160m entire band phone,image,RTTY,data....1,2,3
-
- HF
-
- 80m entire band RTTY, data...............3,10
- 75m entire band phone,image..............1,2
- 40m 7.000-7.075 RTTY,data................3
- -do- 7.075-7.100 phone,image..............1,2,12
- -do- 7.100-7.150 RTTY,data................3
- -do- 7.150-7.300 phone,image..............1,2
- 30m entire band RTTY,data................3
- 20m 14.00-14.15 RTTY,data................3
- -do- 14.15-14.35 phone,image..............1,2
- 15m 21.00-21.20 RTTY,data................3,10
- -do- 21.20-21.45 phone,image..............1,2
- 12m 24.89-24.93 RTTY,data................3
- -do- 24.93-24.99 phone,image..............1,2
- 10m 28.00-28.30 RTTY,data................4,10
- -do- 28.30-29.50 phone,image..............1,2,11
- -do- 28.50-29.00 phone,image..............1,2
- -do- 29.00-29.70 phone,image..............2
-
- VHF
-
- 6m 50.1-51.0 MCW,phone,image,
- RTTY,data................2,5,7,14
- -do- 51.0-54.0 MCW,phone,image,
- RTTY,data,test...........2,5,7,14
- 2m 144.1-148.0 MCW,phone,image,
- RTTY,data,test...........2,5,7,14
- 1.25m entire band MCW,phone,image,
- RTTY,data,test...........2,5,7,14
-
- UHF (ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY)
-
- 70cm entire band MCW,phone,image
- RTTY,data,SS,test........6,8,13,14
- 33cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 23cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test.............6,9,13,14
- 13cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
-
- SHF (SUPER-HIGH FREQUENCY)
-
- 9cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 5cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 3cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test.............6,9,13,14
- 1.2cm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
-
- EHF (EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCY)
-
- 6mm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 4mm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 2.5mm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 2mm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
- 1mm entire band MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,8,13,14
- ---- above 300 Ghz MCW,phone,image,RTTY
- data,SS,test,pulse.......6,9,13,14
-
- (e) Emission standards (refer to paragraph (d)):
- (1) No angle-modulated emission transmitted on this frequency
- band may have a modulation index greater than 1 at the highest
- modulation frequency.
- (2) No non-phone emission transmitted on this frequency band
- may exceed the bandwidth of a communications quality phone emis-
- sion of the same modulation type. An independent sideband emis-
- sion (having B as the first symbol) or a multiplexed image and
- phone emission may be transmitted on this frequency band provided
- that the total bandwidth does no exceed that of a communications
- quality emission A3E transmission.
- (3) For RTTY and data emissions transmitted on this frequency
- band, the sending speed must not exceed 300 baud, or the fre-
- quency shift between mark and space must not exceed 1 kHz.
- (4) For RTTY and data emissions transmitted on this frequency
- band, the sending speed must not exceed 1200 baud, or the fre-
- quency shift between mark and space must not exceed 1 kHz.
- (5) For RTTY and data emissions transmitted on this frequency
- band, the sending speed must not exceed 19.6 kilobaud, or the
- frequency shift between mark and space must not exceed 1 kHz.
- (6) For RTTY and data emissions transmitted on this frequency
- band, the sending speed must not exceed 56 kilobaud, or the fre-
- quency shift between mark and space must not exceed 1 kHz.
- (7) RTTY and digital emissions using any digital code may be
- transmitted on this frequency band only to points where the
- amateur service is regulated by the FCC. The "authorized band-
- width" (the width of the frequency band outside of which the mean
- power of the total emission must be attenuated at least 26 dB
- (decibels) below the mean power of the total emission) is 20 kHz.
- (8) RTTY and digital emissions using any digital code may be
- transmitted on this frequency band only to points where the
- amateur service is regulated by the FCC. The authorized band-
- widht is 100 kHz.
- (9) RTTY and digital emissions using any digital code may be
- transmitted on this frequency band only to points where the
- amateur service is regulated by the FCC.
- (10) A station having a Novice or Technician control operatormay only transmit a CW emission on this frequency band.
- (11) A station having a Novice or Technician control operator
- may only transmit CW emissions and phone single-sideband emis-
- sions J3E and R3E on this frequency band.
- (12) Amplitude-modulated and angle-modulated emissions may be
- transmitted on this frequency band only by amateur stations
- located in ITU Regions 1 and 3, and by amateur stations located
- within ITU Region 2 that are west of 130 degrees West longitude
- or south of 20 degrees North latitude.
- (13) Multiplexed signals on the same RF (radio frequency)
- carrier are permitted on this frequency band where the resulting
- emission bandwidth does not exceed that of the greatest author-
- ized bandwidth for this frequency band.
- (14) A RTTY emission having 2, 7 or 9 as the second symbol is
- also permitted within bandwidth limitations. A data emission
- having A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2, 7
- or 9 as the second symbol; and D or W as the third symbol is also
- permitted.
-
- Advancing skills
-
- 97.151 Control operator frequency privileges.
- The following transmitting frequency bands are available to
- amateur stations having a control operator of the license class
- designated and located within the major portion of the earth's
- atmosphere, including aeronautical, land and marine locations
- within the ITU Region designated, except where the amateur serv-
- ice is regulated by another country or United States agency:
-
- [INSERT Table from Page 15]
-
- [INSERT Table from Page 16]
-
- 97.154 Alien control operator privileges.
- (a) The control operator privileges available to an amateur
- station having a control operator holding an amateur service
- license issued by the Government of Canada are:
- (1) The terms of the "Convention Between the United States
- and Canada (TIAS No. 2508) Relating to the Operation by Citizens
- of Either Country of Certain Radio Equipment or Stations in the
- Other Country";
- (2) The operating terms and conditions of the amateur service
- license issued by the Government of Canada;
- (3) The applicable provisions of FCC rules, but not to exceed
- the control operator privileges of an FCC-issued Amateur Extra
- operator license.
- (4) Any further conditions the FCC may impose.
- (b) The control operator privileges available to an amateur
- station having a control operator holding an FCC-issued recipro-
- cal permit for alien amateur licensee are:
- (1) The terms of the bilateral agreement between the alien's
- government and the United States;
- (2) The operating terms and conditions of the amateur service
- license issued by the alien's government.
- (3) The applicable provisions of FCC rules, but not to exceed
- the control operator privileges of an FCC-issued Amateur Extra
- license;
- (4) Any further conditions the FCC may impose.
- (5) None, if the holder of the reciprocal permit has obtained
- an FCC-issued amateur operator/primary amateur station license.
- (c) At any time the FCC may, in its discretion, modify,
- suspend, or cancel the amateur service privileges within or over
- any area where radio services are regulated by the FCC of any
- Canadian amateur service licensee or alien reciprocal permittee.
-
- Training operators
-
- 97.171 Qualifying for an amateur operator license. Examination is required for the issuance of a new amateur
- operator license, and for each change in operator class.
-
- 97.173 Examination elements and standards.
- (a) A telegraphy examination must be such as to prove that
- the examinee has the ability to send correctly by hand and to
- receive correctly by ear texts in the international Morse code at
- not less than the prescribed speed during a minimum 5 minute test
- period. The examinee is responsible for knowing all the letters
- of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark,
- slant mark and prosigns ar, bt and sk.
- (1) Element 1(A); 5 words per minute;
- (2) Element 1(B); 13 words per minute;
- (3) Element 1(C); 20 words per minute.
- (b) A written examination must be such as to prove that the
- examinee possesses the operational and technical qualifications
- required to perform properly the duties of an amateur service
- licensee. The minimum passing score for each examination is 74%.
- Each written examination must be comprised of a "question set" (a
- series of examination questions) as follows:
- (1) Element 2: At least 30 questions concerning the
- privileges of a Novice operator license.
- (2) Element 3(A): At least 25 questions concerning the addi-
- tional privileges of a Technician operator license.
- (3) Element 3(B): At least 25 questions concerning the addi-
- tional privileges of a General operator license.
- (4) Element 4(A): At least 50 questions concerning the addi-
- tional privileges of an Advanced operator license.
- (5) Element 4(B): At least 40 questions concerning the addi-
- tional privileges of an Amateur Extra operator license.
- (c) The topics and percentage of questions in each question
- set must be that listed for the appropriate examination element:
-
- [INSERT Table from Page 18]
-
- 97.175 Examination requirements.
- Applicants for operator licenses must pass (or otherwise
- receive examination credit for) the following examination ele-
- ments:
- (a) Amateur Extra operator: Elements 1(C), 2, 3(A), 3(B),
- 4(A) and 4(B);
- (b) Advanced operator: Elements 1(B), 2, 3(A), 3(B) and 4(A);
- (c) General operator: Elements 1(B), 2, 3(A) and 3(B);
- (d) Technician operator: Elements 1(A), 2 and 3(A);
- (e) Novice operator: Elements 1(A) and 2.
-
- Enhancing international goodwill
-
- 97.191 International communications.
- Transmissions between amateur stations of different
- countries, when permitted, must be limited to messages of a tech-
- nical nature relating to tests, and, to remarks of a personal
- character for which, by reason of their unimportance, recourse to
- the public telecommunications service is not justified.
- Radiocommunication with an amateur station in a different country
- is forbidden if the administration of that country has given
- notice that it objects to such radiocommunications. The FCC will
- make public notice of current arrangements for international com-
- munications.
-
- Subpart C - Station Operation Standards
-
- 97.201 Good amateur practice.
- In all respects not specifically covered by these rules each
- amateur station must be operated in accordance with good
- engineering and good amateur practice.
- 97.203 Frequency sharing.
- (a) In each ITU Region, each frequency band allocated to the
- amateur service is designated as either a secondary service or a
- primary service. [A station in a secondary service must not cause
- "harmful interference" (interference that seriously degrades,
- obstructs or repeatedly interrupts the operation of a radio serv-
- ice) to, and must accept interference from, stations in a primary
- service. See 2.105 and 2.106 of the FCC rules, "United States
- Table of Frequency Allocations" for sharing requirements.]
- Where, in adjacent ITU Regions or Subregions, a band of frequen-
- cies is allocated to different services of the same category, the
- basic principle is the equality of right to operate. An amateur
- station in one ITU Region or Subregion may only transmit so as
- not to cause harmful interference to services in other ITU
- Regions or Subregions.
- (b) No frequency will be assigned for the exclusive use of
- any amateur station. Each amateur operator must cooperate in the
- selection and use of amateur service frequencies in order to make
- the most effective use of the frequencies.
-
- 97.205 Station licensee responsibilities.
- (a) The station licensee is responsible for the proper opera-
- tion of the station in accordance with the rules of this part.
- When the control operator is a different person than the station
- licensee, both persons are equally responsible for proper opera-
- tion of the station.
- (b) The station licensee must designate the person to be the
- station control operator. The FCC will presume that the station
- licensee is also the control operator, unless documentation to
- the contrary is in the station records.
- (c) The station licensee must make the station and the sta-
- tion records available for inspection upon request by an FCC rep-
- resentative. When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure com-
- pliance with FCC rules, the station licensee must maintain a
- record of station operations containing such items of information
- as the EIC may require under 0.314(x) of the FCC rules.
-
- 97.207 Control operator duties.
- (a) The control operator must ensure the proper operation of
- an amateur station whenever the control operator causes or allows
- the station to transmit.
- (b) An amateur station may only be operated in the manner and
- to the extent permitted by the privileges authorized for the
- class of operator license held by the control operator.
- (c) When an amateur station is transmitting, the control
- operator must be present at the control point, except when the
- station is under automatic control or in space operation.
-
- 97.209 Control point.
- Each amateur station must have at lease one "control point"
- (the operating position of the station where the control operator
- function is performed).
-
- 97.211 Station control.
- (a) When an amateur station is transmitting under "local con-
- trol" (the use of a control operator who directly manipulates the
- operating adjustments in an amateur station to achieve compliance
- with FCC rules), the control operator must be at the control
- point. Any amateur station may be under local control.
- (b) When an amateur station is transmitting under "remote
- control" (the use of a control operator who manipulates the
- operating adjustments in an amateur station through a control
- link to achieve compliance with FCC rules), the control operator
- must be at the control point. Any amateur station may be under
- remote control. For purposes of this subpart, ancillary func-tions of an amateur station in repeater operation that are avail-
- able to users on the input channel are not considered remote con-
- trol functions of the station.
- (c) When an amateur station is transmitting under "automatic
- control" (the use of devices and procedures in an amateur station
- to achieve compliance with FCC rules), the control operator need
- not be at the control point. Only stations in specific types of
- operation designated elsewhere in this part may be under
- automatic control. Automatic control must cease upon notifica-
- tion by an EIC that the station is transmitting improperly or
- causing harmful interference to other stations. Automatic con-
- trol must not be resumed without prior approval of the EIC.
- (d) No amateur station may be operated under automatic con-
- trol while transmitting third-party traffic, except a station
- retransmitting digital packet radio communications on the 6 m and
- shorter wavelength bands. Such stations must be using the AX.25
- "Amateur Packet-Radio Link-Layer Protocol, Version 2.0", October
- 1984 (or compatible). The retransmitted messages must originate
- at an amateur station that is under local control or remote con-
- trol.
-
- 97.213 Authorized transmissions.
- (a) An amateur station may transmit "intercommunications" (an
- exchange of messages between amateur stations) only with:
- (1) Another amateur station, except with one in any country
- whose administration has given notice that it objects to such
- radiocommunications.
- (2) A station in another service licensed by the FCC, neces-
- sary to providing communications under 97.101, 97.103, and 97.105
- of the FCC rules.
- (3) A United States government station, necessary to provid-
- ing communications in RACES.
- (4) A station that is authorized by the FCC to intercommuni-
- cate with amateur stations.
- (b) An amateur station may only transmit the following types
- of one-way communications:
- (1) "Brief" (less than 1-minute) transmissions necessary to
- make adjustments to the station;
- (2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing a two-way
- intercommunication with other stations;
- (3) Transmissions while the station is in "auxiliary opera-
- tion" (transmitting point-to-point communications within a system
- of amateur stations), such as a "control link" (wireline or radio
- apparatus for the control operator to manually manipulate the
- operating adjustments of a remotely controlled station from the
- control point).
- (4) Transmissions while the station is in "beacon operation"
- (transmitting communications to facilitate measurement of radio
- apparatus characteristics, adjustment of radio apparatus, obser-
- vation of propagation or transmission phenomena, or other related
- activities);
- (5) Transmissions necessary to control a device from a remote
- location;
- (6) Transmissions necessary for communications directly
- relating to the immediate safety of life of individuals or the
- immediate protection of property.
- (7) Transmissions necessary for "telecommand operation"
- (earth-to-space communications from an amateur station that is
- within the major portion of the earth's atmosphere to initiate,
- modify or terminate functions of an amateur station in space
- operation);
- (8) Transmissions necessary for "telemetry" (space-to-earth
- communications from an amateur station in space operations of
- results of measurements made in the station including those
- relating to the function of the station);
- (9) Transmissions necessary to disseminate "information bul-letins" (messages directed only to amateur operators that consist
- solely of subject matter having direct interest to the amateur
- service as such);
- (10) Transmissions necessary for "telegraphy practice" (mes-
- sages directed only to persons learning or improving proficiency
- in the international Morse code).
- (11) Retransmission of "space shuttle communications" (com-
- munications transmitted on United States Government frequencies)
- between a space shuttle and its associated earth stations. Prior
- approval for such retransmissions must be obtained from the
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Such retransmis-
- sions must be for the exclusive use of amateur operators.
-
- 97.215 Third-party traffic.
- (a) An amateur station may transmit "third-party traffic"
- [messages from the control operator (first party) of the station
- to another amateur station control operator (second party) on
- behalf of another person (third party)] except to an amateur sta-
- tion in a country whose administration has not made arrangements
- with the United States to allow amateur stations to be used for
- transmitting international communications on behalf of third
- parties.
- (b) The third party may participate in stating the third-
- party traffic if:
- (1) The control operator is present at the control point and
- is continuously monitoring and supervising the third party's par-
- ticipation; and
- (2) The third party is not a prior amateur service licensee
- whose license was revoked; suspended for less than the balance of
- the license term and the suspension is still in effect; suspended
- for the balance of the license term and relicensing has not taken
- place; or surrendered for cancellation following notice of
- revocation, suspension or monetary forfeiture proceedings. The
- third party may not be subject of a cease and desist order which
- relates to amateur service operation and which is still in
- effect.
- (c) At the end of an exchange of international third-party
- traffic, the station must also transmit in the station identifi-
- cation procedure the call sign of the station with which third-
- party traffic was exchanged.
-
- 97.127 Station identification procedure.
- (a) Each amateur station, except a station in space operation
- or telecommand operation, must transmit its assigned call sign on
- its transmitting frequencies at the end of each communication,
- and every ten minutes or less during a communication, for the
- purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from
- the station known to those receiving the transmissions. No sta-
- tion may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or
- transmit in the station identification procedure a call sign not
- authorized to the station.
- (b) The station identification must be transmitted using an
- emission authorized for the transmittig frequencies in one of the
- following ways:
- (1) By a CW emission (when keyed by an automatic device used
- only for identification, the speed must no exceed 20 words per
- minute);
- (2) By a phone emission in the English language (use of a
- nationally or internationally recognized standard phonetic
- alphabet as an aid for correct telephone identification is
- encouraged);
- (3) By a RTTY emission when all or part of the communications
- are transmitted in the same digital code as the station identifi-
- cation or when the communications consist of a data emission
- transmitted on the VHF 6 m or shorter wavelength band.
- (4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable trans-mission standards, either color or monochrome, of Section
- 73.682(a) of the FCC Rules, 47 C.F.R. 73.682(a), when all or part
- of the communications are transmitted in the same image emission.
- (5) By a CW or phone emission for spread spectrum communica-
- tions on a narrow bandwidth frequency segment. Alternatively, by
- the changing of one or more parameters of the emission such that
- a conventional CW or phone emission receiver can be used to
- determine the station call sign.
- (c) When an "identifier" (words, letters or numerals appended
- to the call sign) is included with the station call sign in the
- identification procedure, it must be separated from the call sign
- by the slant mark or by the word 'stroke'.
- (d) When the operator license class held by the control
- operator exceeds those of the station licensee, the call sign
- assigned to the control operator's amateur station must be
- included after the call sign.
- (e) When the amateur station control operator is using
- privileges on the basis of holding a CSCE, an identifier must be
- included after the station call sign in the identification proce-
- dure as follows:
- (1) KT for Technician operator;
- (2) AG for General operator;
- (3) AA for Advanced operator;
- (4) AE for Amateur Extra operator.
- (f) When the station is operated under a reciprocal permit
- for alien amateur licensee or an amateur service license issued
- by the Government of Canada, an identifier consisting of the
- appropriate letter-numeral designating the station location must
- be included after the call sign issued to the station by the
- licensing country. At least once during each communication, the
- station must indicate in the English language the geographical
- location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth or
- possession.
- (g) A self-assigned identifier may be included after the call
- sign. The identifier must not conflict with any other identifier
- specified by FCC rules or by a prefix assigned to another
- country.
-
- 97.219 Prohibited transmissions.
- (a) No amateur station shall transmit communications that are
- normally transmitted by other authorized radio services, except
- as necessary for "emergency communications" (amateur radio com-
- munications directly relating to the immediate safety of life of
- individuals or the immediate protection of property).
- (b) No amateur station shall transmit messages for hire, nor
- for communication for material compensation, direct or indirect,
- paid or promised. The control operator of a club station may
- accept compensation for such periods of time during which the
- station is transmitting telegraphy practice or information bul-
- letins provided that:
- (1) The station transmits the telegraphy practice and
- information bulletins for at least 40 hours per week;
- (2) The station schedules operations on all amateur service
- MF and HF bands using reasonable measures to maximize coverage;
- (3) The schedule of normal operating times and frequencies is
- published at least 30 days in advance of the actual transmis-
- sions;
- (4) The control operator does not accept any direct or
- indirect compensation for periods during which the station is
- transmitting any other material.
- (c) No amateur station shall transmit "business communica
- tions" (any transmission or communication the purpose of which is
- to facilitate the regular business or commercial affairs of any
- party except as necessary for emergency communications, unless
- they are incidental to the communication. Communications to
- inform other amateur operators of the availability of apparatusnormally used in an amateur station are not considered business
- communications.
- (d) No amateur station shall transmit communications in order
- to engage in any form of "broadcasting" (the dissemination of
- radio communications intended to be received by the public
- directly or by the intermediary of relay stations), nor to engage
- in any activity related to program production or newsgathering
- for broadcasting purposes.
- (e) No amateur station shall retransmit programs or signals
- emanating from any type of radio station other than an amateur
- station, unless specifically authorized in this Part. No amateur
- station, except a station in repeater operation or auxiliary
- operation, may automatically retransmit the radio signals of
- other amateur stations.
- (f) No amateur station shall transmit communications to con-
- vey news information about an event for dissemination to the pub-
- lic unless all of the following conditions are present:
- (1) The information is critical to protecting the immediate
- safety of life of individuals or the immediate protection of
- property;
- (2) The news information is directly related to event;
- (3) The event is unforeseen; and
- (4) The news information cannot be transmitted by any means
- other than an amateur station because normal communication
- systems have been disrupted or because there are no other com-
- munication systems available at the place where the information
- is originated.
- (g) No amateur station shall transmit: music; radiocom-
- munications or messages for any purpose, or in connection with
- any activity, that is contrary to federal, state or local law;
- messages in codes or ciphers where the intent is to obscure the
- meaning; obscene, indecent, or profane words, language, or mean-
- ing; and/or false or deceptive messages or signals.
- (h) No amateur operator shall willfully or maliciously cause
- any device to transmit in a manner that causes harmful inter-
- ference.
-
- 97.221 Restricted operation.
- The FCC may restrict operations as necessary to prevent harm-
- ful interference.
-
- Subpart D - Special Operations
-
- 97.301 Auxiliary operation.
- (a) When an amateur station is in auxiliary operation under
- the provisions of this section, the identifier "a", "aux" or
- "auxiliary" must be included after the call sign during the sta-
- tion identification procedure.
- (b) A station in auxiliary operation may transmit only one-
- way communications to stations shown in the "system network
- diagram" (a drawing showing each station in the system and its
- relationship to the other stations in the system, and to all con-
- trol points). The system network diagram must be retained in the
- station records during any period of operation.
- (c) A station in auxiliary operation may transmit only on VHF
- 1.25 m and shorter wavelength bands, exept the 220.0-220.5 MHz
- segment and the UHF 431-433 MHz and 435-438 MHz segments;
- (d) Where an amateur station in auxiliary operation causes
- harmful interference to another amateur station in "repeater
- operation" [other than auxiliary operation, retransmitting "auto-
- matically" (without any direct, positive action by the control
- operator) the radio signals of other amateur stations] or
- auxiliary operation, the two stations are equally and fully
- responsible for resolving the interference unless one station's
- operation is recommended by a "frequency coordinator" (an entity
- recognized in a local or regional area by licensees of amateurstations eligible to engage in auxiliary operation or repeater
- operation that recommends frequencies and, where necessary, asso-
- ciated operating and technical parameters for stations in
- auxiliary operation or repeater operation in order to avoid or
- minimize potential interference) and the other station's is not.
- In that case, the station engaged in non-coordinated operation
- has primary responsibility to resolve the interference.
- (e) An amateur station in auxiliary operation may be under
- automatic control only when it is part of a system that includes
- a station in repeater operation also under automatic control.
- (f) No station may be auxiliary operation when the control
- operator or station licensee is a Novice operator.
-
- 97.303 Beacon operation.
- (a) When an amateur station is in beacon operation under the
- provisions of this section, the identifier "b", "bcn" or "beacon"
- must be included after the call sign during the station identifi-
- cation procedure.
- (b) An amateur station in beacon operation must not con-
- currently transmit on more than 1 channel in the same amateur
- service frequency band, from the same point.
- (c) The transmitter power of an amateur station in beacon
- operation must not exceed 100 W.
- (d) An amateur station in beacon operation may be operated
- under automatic control when it is transmitting on:
- (1) VHF 28.20-28.30 MHz, 50.06-50.08 MHz, 144.05-144.06 MHz,
- 220.5-220.06 MHz and 222.05-222.06 MHz segments;
- (2) UHF 432.07-432.08 MHz segment;
- (3) UHF 33 cm and shorter wavelength bands.
- (e) Before changing the transmitting frequency, transmitter
- power, antenna height or directivity, or the location of an
- existing amateur station in beacon operation under automatic con-
- trol in the "National Radio Quiet Zone" (the area bounded by 39
- degrees 15'N on the north, 78 degrees 30'W on the east, 37
- degrees 30'N on the south and 80 degrees 30'W on the west), or
- before establishing such an amateur station in the National Radio
- Quiet Zone, the station licensee must give written notification
- thereof to the Director, National Radio Astronomy Observatory,
- P.O. Box 2, Green Bank, WV 24944.
- (1) The notification must include the geographical coor-
- dinates of the antenna, antenna structure height, antenna direc-
- tivity, proposed frequency, type of emission, and transmitter
- power.
- (2) If an objection to the proposed operation is received by
- the FCC from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green
- Ban, Pocahontas County, WV, for itself or on behalf of the Naval
- Research Laboratory at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County, WV, within
- 20 days from the date of notification, the FCC will consider all
- aspects of the problem and take whatever action is deemed
- appropriate.
- (f) A station in beacon operation must cease transmissions
- upon notification by an EIC that the station is operating
- improperly or causing undue interference to other operations.
- Beacon operation may no resume without prior approval of the EIC.
- (g) No station may be in beacon operation when the control
- operator or station licensee is a Novice operator.
-
- 97.305 Repeater operation.
- (a) When an amateur station is in repeater operation under
- the provisions of this section, the identifier "r", "rpt" or
- "repeater" must be included after the call sign during the sta-
- tion identification procedure.
- (b) A station in repeater operation may retransmit only on
- and from the HF 10 m and shorter wavelength frequency bands
- except:
- (1) HF 28.0-29.5 MHz segment; (2) VHF 50.0-52.0 MHz, 144.0-144.5 MHz, 145.5-146.0 MHz and
- 220.0-220.5 MHz segments;
- (3) UHF 431.0-433.0 MHz and 435.0-438.0 MHz segments.
- (c) No station in repeater operation may concurrently trans-
- mit from the same location on more than 1 channel in the same
- amateur service frequency band.
- (d) Where the transmissions of a station in repeater opera-
- tion cause harmful interference to another station in repeater or
- auxiliary operation, the two stations are equally and fully
- responsible for resolving the interference unless the operation
- of one station is recommended by a frequency coordinator and the
- operation of the other station is not. In that case, the station
- engaged in non-coordinated operation has primary responsibility
- to resolve the interference.
- (e) A station in repeater operation may be under automatic
- control.
- (f) Transmissions from a station in repeater operation must
- be discontinued within 5 seconds after cessation of transmission
- by the user amateur station.
- (g) Provisions to limit automatically the use of a station in
- repeater operation to only certain user amateur stations may be
- incorporated.
- (h) A station in repeater operation may be under radio remote
- control only when the control link uses frequencies other than
- the input (receiving) frequencies of the station in repeater
- operation.
- (i) Before changing the transmitting frequency, transmitting
- power, antenna height or directivity, or the location an existing
- station in repeater operation in the National Radio Quiet Zone or
- before establishing such a station in the National Radio Quiet
- Zone the station licensee must give written notification thereof
- to the Director, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, P.O. Box
- 2, Green Bank, WV 24944.
- (1) The notification must include the geographical coor-
- dinates of the station antenna, antenna structure height, antenna
- directivity, proposed frequency, type of emission, and trans-
- mitter power.
- (2) If an objection to the proposed operation is received by
- the FCC from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green
- Bank, Pocahontas County, WV, for itself or on behalf of the Naval
- Research Laboratory at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County, WV, within
- 20 days from the date of notification, the FCC will consider all
- aspects of the problem and take whatever action is deemed
- appropriate.
- (j) No station may be repeater operation when the control
- operator or station licensee is a Novice operator.
-
- 97.307 Remote control of an amateur station.
- (a) An amateur station may be under remote control where:
- (1) There is a control link between the control point and the
- station sufficient for the control operator to perform his/her
- duties. The control link must be wireline, fiber optic cable or
- radio. If by radio, the control link must use an amateur station
- in auxiliary operation. (A radio control link using another
- telecommunication service is considered wireline.)
- (2) Provisions are to be incorporated to limit transmission
- by the station to a period of no more than 3 minutes in the event
- of malfunction in the control link.
- (3) The station is protected against being caused to make
- unauthorized transmissions.
- (4) A photocopy of the station license and the name, address,
- and telephone number of the station licensee and at least one
- designated control operator is posted in a conspicuous place at
- the station location.
- (5) During any period the station is under remote control,
- the station records must include the names, addresses, and callsigns of designated control operators and a functional block
- diagram of the control link and a technical explanation suffi-
- cient to describe its operation.
- (b) A station in "space operation" (transmitting space-to-
- earth and space-to-space communications from a station that is
- beyond, is intended to go beyond, or has been beyond the major
- portion of the earth's atmosphere) is exempt from the require-
- ments of this section.
-
- 97.309 Remote control of model craft.
- An amateur station transmitting signals to control a model
- craft may be operated as follows:
- (a) The station identification procedure is not required for
- transmissions directed only to the model craft provided that a
- writing indicating the station call sign and the station
- licensee's name and address is affixed to the station trans-
- mitter.
- (b) The control signals are not considered codes or ciphers
- intended to obscure the meaning of the communication.
- (c) The transmitter power must not exceed 1 W.
-
- 97.311 Space operation.
- (a) An amateur station in space operation must be capable of
- effecting a cessation of transmissions by commands transmitted by
- a station in telecommand operation whenever such cessation is
- ordered by the FCC. There must be in place sufficient amateur
- stations, licensed by the FCC, capable of telecommand operations
- to effect cessation of space operation, whenever such is ordered
- by the FCC.
- (b) The following frequencies are authorized to stations in
- space operation:
- (1) HF 7.0-7.1 MHz and 14.00-14.25 MHz segments and the 15 m,
- 12 m and 10 m bands.
- (2) VHF 144-146 MHz segment.
- (3) UHF 1290-1270 MHz and 2400-2450 GHz segments;
- (4) SHF 3.40-3.41 GHz, 5.83-5.85 GHz, 10.45-10.50 GHz and
- 24.00-24.05 GHz segments;
- (5) EHF 6 mm, 4mm, 2mm and 1 mm bands.
- (c) A station in space operation may automatically retransmit
- the radio signals of other stations in earth operation and sta-
- tions in space operation.
- (d) Telemetry transmitted by a station in space operation may
- consist of specially coded messages intended to facilitate com-
- munications.
- (e) Only an amateur station licensed to an Amateur Extra
- operator is eligible for space operation. The station licensee
- may permit an amateur operator to be the control operator, sub-
- ject to the privileges of the control operator.
- (f) The licensee of each station in space operation must give
- two written pre-space notifications to the Private Radio Bureau,
- FCC, Washington, DC 20554. Each notification must be in accord
- with the provisions of Articles 11 and 13 of the ITU "Radio
- Regulations" (Geneva, 1979).
- (1) The first notification is required no less than 27 months
- prior to initiating space operation and must specify the informa-
- tion required by Appendix 4, ITU "Radio Regulations" (Geneva,
- 1979), to the extent required by ITU Resolution No. 642.
- (2) The second notification is required no less than 5 months
- prior to initiating space operation and must specify the informa-
- tion required by Appendix 3, ITU "Radio Regulations" (Geneva,
- 1979) to the extent required by ITU Resolution No. 642.
- (g) The licensee of each station in space operation must give
- a written in-space operation notification to the Private Radio
- Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554, no later than 7 days following
- initiation of the space operation. The notification must update
- the information contained in the pre-space operation notifica-tion.
- (h) The licensee of each station in space operation must give
- a written post-space operation notification to the Private Radio
- Bureau, FCC, Washington, DC 20554 no later than 3 months after
- termination of the space operation. When the termination is
- ordered by the FCC, notification is required no later than 24
- hours after termination.
-
- 97.313 Earth operation.
- (a) The following frequencies are authorized to stations in
- "earth operation" (transmitting earth-to-space communications
- from a station within the major portion of the earth's atmos-
- phere):
- (1) HF 8.7-7.1 MHz and 14.00-14.25 Mhz segments and the HF 15
- m, 12 m, and 10 m bands;
- (2) VHF 144-146 MHz segment;
- (3) UHF 435-438 MHz, 1260-1270 MHz and 2400-2450 MHz seg-
- ments;
- (4) SHF 3.40-3.41 GHz, 5.65-5.67 GHz, 5.83-5.85 GHz, 10.45-
- 10.50 GHz and 24.00-24.05 GHz segments;
- (5) EHF 6mm, 4mm, 2mm and 1 mm bands.
- (b) A station in earth operation within the military areas
- designated in footnote US7 2.106 of the FCC rules, may transmit
- on the UHF 435-438 MHz segment with a maximum of 611 W effective
- radiated power (1 kW equivalent isotropically radiated power)
- without the authorization otherwise required by 97.403(f) of the
- FCC rules. The transmitting antenna elevation angle between the
- lower half-power (-3 dB relative to the peak or antenna bore
- sight) point and the horizon must always be greater than 10
- degrees.
- (c) Any amateur station is eligible for earth operation.
-
- 97.315 Telecommand operation.
- (a) A station in telecommand operation may transmit special
- codes intended to obscure the meaning of telecommand messages to
- the station in space operation.
- (b) The following frequencies are authorized to stations in
- telecommand operation:
- (1) HF 7.0-7.1 MHz and 14.00-14.25 MHz segments and the HF 15
- m, 12 m and 10 m bands;
- (2) VHF 144-146 MHz segments;
- (3) UHF 435-438 MHz, 1260-1270 MHz and 2400-2450 MHz seg-
- ments;
- (4) SHF 3.40-3.41 GHz, 5.65-5.67 GHz, 5.83-5.85 GHz, 10.45-
- 10.50 GHz and 24.00-24.05 GHz segments;
- (5) EHF 6 mm, 4 mm, 2mm and 1 mm bands.
- (c) A station in telecommand operation within the military
- areas designated in footnote US7 2.106 of the FCC rules, may
- transmit on the UHF 435-438 MHz segment with a maximum of 611 W
- effective radiated power (1kW equivalent isotropically radiated
- power) without the authorization otherwised required by 97.403(f)
- of the FCC rules. The transmitting antenna elevation angle
- between the lower half-power (-3 dB relative to the peak or
- antenna bore sight) point and the horizon must always be greater
- than 10 degrees.
- (d) Any amateur station designated by the licensee of a sta-
- tion in space operation is eligible to conduct telecommand opera-
- tion of the station in space operation.
-
- 97.317 RACES operation.
- (a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-
- licensed primary, club, or military recreation station and is
- certified by a civil defense organization as registered in that
- organization, or is an FCC- licensed RACES station. No person
- may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may be the
- control operator of an amateur station transmitting RACES unlessthat person holds a FCC-issued amateur operator license and is
- certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that
- organization.
- (b) The frequencies and emissions authorized to the control
- operator are available to stations transmitting communications in
- RACES on a shared basis with the amateur service. In the event
- of an emergency which necessitates the invoking of the Presi-
- dent's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of Section 706
- of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C 606,
- RACES stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may
- only transmit on the following frequencies:
- (1) HF 1800-1825 kHz, 1975-200 kHz, 3.50-3.55 MHz, 3.93-3.98
- MHz, 3.984-4.000 MHz, 7.079-7.125 MHz, 7.245-7.255 MHz, 10.10-
- 10.15 MHz, 14.047-14.053 MHz, 14.22-14.23 MHz, 14.331-14.350 MHz,
- 21.047-21.053 MHz, 21.228-21.267 MHz, 28.55-28.75 MHz, 29.237-
- 29.273 Mhz and 29.45-29.65 MHz segments;
- (2) VHF 50.35-50.75 MHz, 52-54 MHz, 144.50-145.71 MHz and
- 146-148 MHz segments and 1.25 m band;
- (3) UHF 70 cm and 23 cm bands, and UHF 2390-2450 MHz segment.
- (4) Channels at 3.997 MHz and 53.30 MHz may be used in
- emergency areas when required to make initial contact with a
- military unit and for communications with military stations on
- matters requiring coordination.
- (c) A RACES station may only intercommunicate with:
- (1) Another RACES station;
- (2) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organ-
- ization;
- (3) A station in the Disaster Communications Service (Part
- 99, FCC rules);
- (4) A United States Government station authorized by the
- responsible agency to intercommunicate with RACES stations;
- (5) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such
- intercommunication is authorized by the FCC;
- (d) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organ-
- ization may only intercommunicate with:
- (1) A RACES station licensed to the civil defense organiza-
- tion with which the amateur station is registered;
- (2) The following stations upon authorization of the
- responsible civil defense official for the organization in which
- the amateur station is registered:
- (A) A RACES station licensed to another civil defense organi-
- zation;
- (B) An amateur station registered with the same or another
- civil defense organization;
- (C) A station in the Disaster Communications Service;
- (D) A United States Government station authorized by the
- responsible agency to intercommunicate with RACES stations;
- (E) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such
- intercommunication is authorized by the FCC;
- (e) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifi-
- cally authorized by the civil defense organization for the area
- served. Only civil defense communications of the following types
- may be transmitted:
- (1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeop-
- ardizing the public safety, or affecting the national defense or
- security during periods of local, regional, or national civil
- emergencies.
- (2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life
- of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance
- of law and order, alleviation o fhuman suffering and need, and
- the combating of armed attack or sabotage.
- (3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dis-
- semination of public information or instructions to the civilian
- population essential to the activities of the civil defense
- organization or other authorized governmental or relief agencies.
- (4) Communications for training drills and tests necessary toensure the establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient
- operation of the RACES as ordered by the responsible civil
- defense organization served. Such tests and rills may not exceed
- a total time of 1 hour per week.
- (5) Brief one-way transmission for the testing and adjustment
- of equipment.
- (f) No station in the RACES may transmit messages for hire,
- nor provide communications for material compensation, direct or
- indirect, paid or promoted.
- (g) All messages that are transmitted in connection with
- drills or tests shall be clearly identified as such by use of the
- words "drill" or "test," as appropriate, in the body of the mes-
- sages.
-
- Subpart E - Technical Standards
-
- 97.401 Purity of transmissions.
- (a) No amateur station transmission shall occupy more band-
- width than necessary for the information rate and emission type
- being transmitted, in accordance with good amateur practice.
- (b) Emissions resulting from modulation must be confined to
- the transmitting band available to the control operator. Emis-
- sions outside the necessary bandwidth must not cause splatter or
- keyclick interference to operations on adjacent frequencies.
- (c) All spurious emissions from an amateur station trans-
- mitter must be reduced to the greatest extent practicable. If
- any spurious emission, including chassis or power line radiation,
- causes harmful interference to the reception of another radio
- station, the licensee of the interfering amateur station may be
- required to take steps to eliminate the interference, in accord-
- ance with good engineering practice.
- (d) The mean power of any spurious emission from an amateur
- station transmitter of "external RF power amplifier" (a device
- that when used in conjunction with a transmitter as a signal
- source, is capable of amplification of that signal, and which is
- not an integral part of the transmitter as manufactured) trans-
- mitting on a frequency below 30 MHz must be at least 40 dB below
- the mean power of the fundamental without exceeding the power of
- 50 mW. For a transmitter of mean power less than 5 W, the
- attenuation must be at least 30 dB. A transmitter built before
- April 15, 1977 or first marketed before January 1, 1978 is exempt
- from this requirement.
- (e) The mean power of any spurious emission from an amateur
- station transmitter or external RF power amplifier transmitting
- on a frequency between 30-225 MHz must be at least 60 dB below
- the mean power of the fundamental. For a transmitter having a
- mean power of 25 W or less, the mean power of any spurious radia-
- tion supplied to the antenna transmission line must be at least
- 40 dB below the mean power of the fundamental without exceeding
- the power of 25 uW, but need not be reduced below the power of 10
- uW. A transmitter built before April 15, 1977 or first marketed
- before January 1, 1978 is exempt from this requirement.
-
- 97.403 Maximum transmitting power.
- (a) An amateur station must use the minimum "transmitter
- power" (the average power during one RF cycle at the crest of the
- modulation envelope under normal operating conditions that is
- present at the antenna terminals where the antenna transmission
- line, or the antenna if no transmission line, is connected)
- necessary to carry out the desired communications.
- (b) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 1.5 kW. Until June 2, 1990, a station may transmit emission
- A3E with transmitter power exceeding 1.5 kW provided the power
- input (both RF and direct current) to the final amplifying stage
- supplying RF power to the antenna feed line does not exceed 1 kW,
- exclusive of power for heating the cathodes of vacuum tubes. (c) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 200 W on:
- (1) HF 3.70-3.75 Mhz, 7.10-7.15 MHz, 10.10-10.15 MHz and
- 21.1-21.2 MHz segments.
- (2) HF 28.1-28.5 MHz segment when the control operator is a
- Novice or Technician operator.
- (3) HF 7.050-7.075 MHz segment when the station is within ITU
- Regions 1 or 3.
- (d) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 25 W on the VHF 1.25 m band when the control operator is a
- Novice operator.
- (e) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 5 W on the UHF 23 cm band when the control operator is a
- Novice operator.
- (f) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 50 watts on the UHF 70 cm band from an area specified in
- footnote US7 2.106 of the FCC rules, unless expressly authorized
- by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis,
- between the EIC of the appropriate field facility and the MAFC
- (military area frequency coordinator) at the applicable military
- base.
- (g) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceed-
- ing 50 watts on the UHF 33 cm band from within 241 km of the
- boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range. Its boundaries are
- those portions of Texas and New Mexico bounded on the south by
- latitude 31 degrees 41' North, on the east by longitude 104
- degrees 11' West, on the north by latitude 34 degrees 30 'North,
- and on the west by longitude 107 degrees 30' West.
-
- 97.405 Digital communications.
- (a) An amateur station may be operated under automatic con-
- trol while transmitting digital communications on the VHF 6 m or
- shorter wavelength bands.
- (d) Digital communication transmissions must not be used for
- the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any communication.
- (c) When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with
- FCC rules, an amateur station must:
- (1) Cease the transmission of digital codes;
- (2) Restrict the transmission of digital codes to the extent
- instructed;
- (3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original "informa-
- tion" (voice, data, image, etc.), of all coded communications
- transmitted.
-
- 97.407 Spread spectrum communications
- (a) Spread spectrum transmissions are authorized only for
- communications between points within areas where the amateur
- service is regulated by the FCC. Spread spectrum transmissions
- must not be used for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any
- communication.
- (b) Amateur stations transmitting spread spectrum must not
- cause harmful interference to stations employing other authorized
- emissions, and must accept all interference caused by stations
- employing other authorized emissions. (For the purposes of this
- paragraph, unintended triggering of carrier operated repeaters is
- not considered to be harmful interference.)
- (c) Only the following types of spread spectrum transmissions
- are authorized (hybrid spread spectrum transmissions involving
- both spreading techniques are prohibited):
- (1) "Frequency hopping." (The carrier of the transmitted sig-
- nal is modulated with unciphered information and changes fre-
- quency at fixed intervals under the direction of a high speed
- code sequence.)
- (2) "Direct sequence." (The information is modulo-2 added to
- a high speed code sequence. The combined information and code
- are then used to modulate the RF carrier. The high speed codesequence dominates the modulation function, and is the direct
- cause of the wide spreading of the transmitted signal.)
- (d) The only spreading sequences that are authorized must be
- from the output of one binary linear feedback shift register
- (which may be implemented in hardware or software).
- (1) Only the following sets of connections may be used:
-
- Number of stages Taps used
- in shift register in feedback
-
- 7 7, 1
- 13 13, 4, 3, 1
- 19 19, 5, 2, 1
-
- (2) The shift register must not be reset other than by its
- feedback during an individual transmission. The shift register
- output sequence must be used without alteration.
- (3) The output of the last stage of the binary linear feed-
- back shift register must be used as follows:
- (i) For frequency hopping transmissions using x frequencies,
- n consecutive bits from the shift register must be used to select
- the next frequency from a list of frequencies sorted in ascending
- order. Each consecutive frequency must be selected by a consecu-
- tive block of n bits. (Where n is the smallest integer greater
- than log2 x.)
- (ii) For direct sequence transmissions using m-ary modula-
- tion, consecutive blocks of log2 m bits from the shift register
- must be used to select the transmitted signal during each inter-
- val.
- (e) The station records must document all spread spectrum
- transmissions and must be retained for a period of 1 year follow-
- ing the last entry. The station records must include sufficient
- information to enable the FCC, using the information contained
- therein, to demodulate all transmissions. The station records
- must contain at least the following:
- (1) A technical description of the transmitted signal.
- (2) Pertinent parameters describing the transmitted signal
- including the frequency or frequencies of operation and, where
- applicable, the chip rate, the code rate, the spreading function,
- the transmission protocol(s) including the method of achieving
- synchronization, and the modulation type.
- (3) A general description of the type of information being
- conveyed, (voice, text, memory dump, facsimile, television,
- etc.);
- (4) The method and, if applicable, the frequency or frequen-
- cies used for station identification.
- (5) The date of beginning and the date of ending use of each
- type of transmitted signal.
- (f) When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with
- the rules of this part, a station licensee must:
- (1) Cease spread spectrum transmissions;
- (2) Restrict spread spectrum transmission to the extent
- instructed;
- (3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original informa-
- tion (voice, text, image, etc.) of all spread spectrum com-
- munications transmitted.
- (g) The transmitter power must not exceed 100 W.
-
- 97.409 Type acceptance of external RF power amplifiers.
- (a) No more than 1 unit of 1 model of an external RF power
- amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed
- or modified during any calendar year by an amateur operator for
- use at an amateur station without a grant of type acceptance. No
- amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed
- or modified by a non-mateur operator without a grant of type
- acceptance from the FCC. (b) Any external RF power amplifier or "external RF power
- amplifier kit" (a number of electronic parts, usually provided
- with a schematic diagram or printed circuit board, which, when
- assembled in accordance with instructions, results in an external
- RF power amplifier, even if additional parts are required to com-
- plete assembly) marketed (see in 2.815 of the FCC rules),
- manufactured, imported or modified for use in an amateur station
- or attached at any amateur station must be type accepted for use
- in the amateur service in accordance with Subpart J of Part 2 of
- the FCC rules. This requirement does not apply if one or more of
- the following conditions are met:
- (1) The amplifier is not capable of operation on frequencies
- below 144 MHz. For the purpose of this part, an amplifier will
- be deemed to be incapable of operation below 144 MHz if it is not
- capable of being easily modified to increase its amplification
- characteristics below 120 Mhz and either:
- (i) The mean output power of the amplifier decreases, as fre-
- quency decreases from 144 MHz, to a point where 0 dB or less gain
- is exhibited at 120 MHz; or
- (ii) The amplifier is not capable of amplifying signals below
- 120 MHz even for brief periods without sustaining permanent
- damage to its amplification circuitry.
- (2) The amplifier was originally purchased before April 28,
- 1978, by an amateur operator for use at that licensee's amateur
- station.
- (3) The amplifier was:
- (i) Constructed by the licensee, not from an external RF
- power amplifier kit, for use at the licensee's amateur station;
- or
- (ii) Modified by the licensee for use at the licensee's
- amateur station.
- (4) The amplifier is sold by an amateur radio operator to
- another amateur radio operator or to a dealer.
- (5) The amplifier is purchased in used condition by an equip-
- ment dealer from an amateur radio operator and the amplifier is
- further sold to another amateur radio operator for use at that
- operator's amateur station.
- (6) The amplifier was manufactured before April 28, 1978 and
- has been issued a marketing waiver for the FCC.
- (c) A list of type accepted equipment may be inspected at FCC
- headquarters in Washington, DC or at any FCC field location. Any
- external RF power amplifier appearing on this list as type
- accepted for use in the amateur service may be marketed for use
- in the amateur service.
-
- 97.411 Standards for type acceptance of external RF power
- amplifiers.
- (a) To receive a grant of type acceptance under this part,
- the amplifier must satisfy the spurious emission limitations of
- 97.401(d) or (e) of the FCC rules, as applicable, when the
- amplifier is:
- (1) Operated at its full output power;
- (2) Placed in the "standby" or "off" positions, but still
- connected to the transmitter; and
- (3) Driven with at least 50 W mean RF input power (unless a
- higher drive level is specified).
- (b) To receive a grant of type acceptance under this part,
- the amplifier must not be capable of operation on any frequency
- or frequencies between 24 MHz and 35 MHz. The amplifier will be
- deemed incapable of such operation if it:
- (1) Exhibits no more than 6 dB gain between 24 MHz and 26 MHz
- and between 28 MHz and 35 MHz. (This gain will be determined by
- the ratio of the input RF driving signal (mean power measurement)
- to the mean RF output power of the amplifier); and
- (2) Exhibits no amplification (0 dB gain) between 26 MHz and
- 28 MHz. (c) Type acceptance may be denied when denial would prevent
- the use of these amplifiers in services other than the amateur
- service. The following features will result in dismissal or
- denial of an application for type acceptance:
- (1) Any accessible wiring which, when altered, would permit
- operation of the amplifier in a manner contrary to FCC rules;
- (2) Circuit boards or similar circuitry to facilitate the
- addition of components to change the amplifier's operating char-
- acteristics in a manner contrary to FCC rules;
- (3) Instructions for operation or modification of the
- amplifier in a manner contrary to FCC rules;
- (4) Any internal or external controls or adjustments to
- facilitate operation of the amplifier in a manner contrary to the
- FCC rules;
- (5) Any internal RF sensing circuitry or any external switch,
- the purpose of which is to place the amplifier in the transmit
- mode;
- (6) The incorporation of more gain in the amplifier than is
- necessary to operate in the amateur service. For purposes of
- this paragraph, the amplifier must:
- (i) No be capable of achieving designed output power when
- driven with less than 50 W mean RF input power;
- (ii) Not be capable of amplifying the input RF driving signal
- by more than 15 dB, unless the amplifier has a designed trans-
- mitter power of less than 1.5 kW. In such a case, gain may be
- reduced by the same number of dB as the transmitter power rela-
- tionship to 1.5 kW. (This gain limitation is determined by the
- ration of the input RF driving signal to the RF output power of
- the amplifier where both signals are expressed in peak envelope
- power or mean power.);
- (iii) Not exhibit more gain than permitted by paragraph
- (d)(6)(ii) of this section when driven by an RF input signal of
- less than 50 W mean power; and
- (iv) Be capable of sustained operation at its designed power
- level.
- (7) Any attenuation in the input of the amplifier which, when
- removed or modified, would permit the amplifier to function at
- its designed transmitter power when driven by an RF frequency
- input signal of less than 50 W mean power.
- (8) Any other features designed to facilitate operation in a
- telecommunication service other than the Amateur Radio Services,
- such as the Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service.
-
- Subpart F - Qualifying Examination Systems
-
- Operator License Examinations
-
- 97.501 Examination administration procedures.
- (a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be
- administered at a location and a time specified by the
- administering VEs. Each administering VE must be present and
- observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The
- administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and
- necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs
- must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the
- examinee to comply with the instructions.
- (b) Each examinee must comply with the instructions given by
- the administering VEs.
- (c) No examination that has been compromised shall be
- administered to any examinee. Neither the same telegraphy mes-
- sage nor the same question set may be readministered to the same
- examinee.
- (d) Upon completion of each examination element, the
- administering VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers.
- The administering VEs are responsible for determining the cor-
- rectness of the examinee's answers. (e) When the examinee is credited for all examination ele-
- ments required for the operator license sought, the administering
- VEs must certify on the examinee's application form that the
- applicant is qualified for the license and report the basis for
- the qualification.
- (f) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an
- examination element, the administering VEs must return the appli-
- cation form to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade.
- (g) VEs must accommodate examinees whose physical dis-
- abilities require special procedures.
- (h) The FCC may:
- (1) Administer any examination element itself;
- (2) Readminister any examination element previously
- administered under the VEC system, either itself or under the
- supervision of VEs designated by the FCC; or
- (3) Cancel the operator license of an licensee who fails to
- appear for readministration of an examination when directed by
- the FCC, or who does not successfully complete any required ele-
- ment which is readministerd. In an instance of such cancella-
- tion, the person will be issued an operator license consistent
- with completed examination elements that have not been
- invalidated by not appearing for or by failing the examination
- upon readministration.
-
- 97.503 Examination preparation.
- (a) Each telegraphy message and each written question set
- administered to an examinee must be prepared by a VE holding an
- FCC-issued operator license as follows:
- (1) Elements 1(B), 1(C), 4(A) and 4(B): Amateur Extra
- operator;
- (2) Element 3(B): Amateur Extra or Advanced operator;
- (3) Elements 1(A) and 4(A): Amateur Extra, Advanced or Gen-
- eral operator;
- (4) Element 2: Amateur Extra, Advanced, General or Technician
- operator.
- (b) Each question set administered to an examinee must util-
- ize questions taken from the applicable VEC (volunteer-examiner
- coordinator) question pool.
- (c) Each telegraphy message and each written question set
- administered to an examinee for a Technician, General, Advanced,
- or Amateur Extra operator license must be prepared by the
- administering VEs according to instructions from the coordinating
- VEC or obtained by the administering VEs from the coordinating
- VEC.
- (d) Each telegraphy message and each written question set
- administered to an examinee for a Novice operator license must be
- prepared by the administering VEs.
- (e) A telegraphy examination must consist of a message sent
- in the international Morse code at no less than the prescribed
- speed for 5 minutes. No message known to the examinee may be
- administered in a telegraphy examination. Each 5 letters of the
- alphabet must be counted as 1 word. Each numeral, punctuation
- mark and prosign must be counted as 2 letters of the alphabet.
-
- 97.505 Examination element credit.
- (a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below
- to an examineee holding any of the following documents:
- (1) An unexpired (or within the grace period) FCC-issued
- amateur operator license: Elements required for the license
- held.
- (2) A CSCE: Each element the CSCE indicates the examinee
- passed within the previous 365 days.
- (3) A photocopy of a FCC Form 610 which was submitted to the
- FCC indicating the examinee qualified for a Novice operator
- license within the previous 365 days: Elements 1(A) and 2.
- (4) An unexpired (or expired less than 5 years) FCC-issuedcommercial radiotelegraph operator license or permit: Element
- 1(A), 1(B) or 1(C).
- (b) No examination credit, except as herein provided, shall
- be allowed on the basis of holding or having held any other
- license.
-
- 97.507 Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra operator
- examination administration.
- (a) Each examination for Technician, General, Advanced and
- Amateur Extra operator license must be coordinated by a VEC.
- Each administering VE must be accredited by the coordinating VEC.
- (b) Each examination for a Technician operator license must
- be administered by 3 administering VEs, each of whom must hold an
- FCC-issued Amateur Extra or Advanced operator license.
- (c) Each examination for a General, Advanced and Amateur
- Extra operator license must be administered by 3 administering
- VEs, each of whom must hold an FCC-issued Amateur Extra operator
- license.
- (d) The administering VEs must make a public announcement
- before administering an examination for Technician, General,
- Advanced and Amateur Extra operator license. The number of
- candidates at any examination may be limited.
- (e) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee
- who scores a passing grade on an examination element.
- (f) Within 10 days of the administration of a successful
- examination for the Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur
- Extra operator license, the administering VEs must submit the
- examinee's application to the coordinating VEC.
-
- 97.509 Novice operator examination administration.
- (a) Each examination for a Novice operator license must be
- administered by 2 VEs. The VEs do not have to be accredited.
- Each administering VE must hold a current FCC-issued Amateur
- Extra, Advanced or General operator license.
- (b) Withing 10 days of the administration of a successful
- examination for a Novice operator license, the administering VEs
- must submit the examinee's completed application form to: FCC,
- P.O. Box 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326.
-
- 97.511 Volunteer examiner requirements.
- (a) Each administering VE must be at least 18 years of age.
- (b) Any person who owns a significant interest in, or is an
- employee of, any company or other entity that is engaged in the
- manufacture or distribution of equipment used in connection with
- amateur radio transmissions, or in the preparation or distrib-
- ution of any publication used in preparation for obtaining
- amateur station operator licenses, is ineligible to be an
- administering VE. An employee who does not normally communicate
- with that part of an entity engaged in the manufacture or dis-
- tribution of any publication used in preparation for obtaining
- amateur operator licenses, is eligible to be an administering VE.
- (c) No person may be a VE if that person's amateur station
- license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or
- suspended.
- (d) No VE may administer an examination to that VE's spouse,
- parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-
- in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent or grandchild.
-
- 97.513 Volunteer examiner conduct.
- No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent
- means or for monetary or other consideration including reimburse-
- ment in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of
- this provision may result in the revocation of the VE's amateur
- station license and the suspension of the VE's amateur operator
- license.
- Volunteer-examiner coordinators
-
- 97.521 Agreement required.
- No organization may serve as a VEC unless it has entered into
- a written agreement with the FCC to do so. The VEC must abide by
- the terms of the agreement.
-
- 97.523 VEC qualifications.
- In order to be eligible to propose to the FCC to be a VEC,
- the entity must:
- (a) Be an organization that exists for the purpose of fur-
- thering the amateur service;
- (b) Be capable of serving as a VEC in the VEc region pro-
- posed;
- (c) Agree to coordinate examinations for Technician, General,
- Advanced, and Amateur Extra operator licenses;
- (d) Agree to assure that for any examination every examinee
- qualified under these rules is registered without regard to race,
- sex, religion, national origin or membership (or lack thereof) in
- any amateur service organization;
- (e) Not to be engaged in the manufacture or distribution of
- equipment used in connection with amateur station transmissions,
- or in the preparation or distribution of any publication used in
- preparation for obtaining amateur licenses unless persuasive
- showing is made to the FCC that preventive measures have been
- taken to preclude any possible conflict of interest.
-
- 97.525 Coordinating examinations.
- (a) A VEC may coordinate examinations administered in the VEC
- region it serves. A VEC may also coordinate examinations
- administered outside of the other VEC regions. VECs must coor-
- dinate the efforts of VEs in preparing and administering examina-
- tions according to instructions provided by the FCC.
- (b) At the completion of each examination coordinated, the
- coordinating VEC must collect the examinee's application form and
- test results from the administering VEs. The VEC must screen and
- forward all completed and authentic applications within 10 days
- of its receipt from the administering VEs to: FCC, P.O. Box
- 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326.
- (c) Each VEC must make any examination records available to
- the FCC upon request.
-
- 97.526 VEC question pools.
- (a) All VECs must cooperate in maintaining one standard ques-
- tion pool for each written examination element. Each VEc ques-
- tion pool must contain at least ten times the number of questions
- required for a single examination. Each question pool mut be
- published and made available to the public prior to its use for
- making a question set. No question may be administered in a VEC-
- coordinated examination unless it appears on the appropriate
- standard question pool.
- (b) Each question on each VEC questions pool must be prepared
- by a VE holding the required FCC-issued operator license. See
- 97.503(a) of the FCC rules.
-
- 97.529 Accrediting VECs.
- (a) No VEC may accredit a person as a VE if:
- (1) The person does not meet minimum VE statutory qualifica-
- tions or minimum qualifications as prescribed by the rules;
- (2) The FCC does not accept the voluntary and uncompensated
- services of the person;
- (3) The VEC determines that the person is not competent to
- perform the VE functions;
- (4) The VEC determines that questions of the person's
- integrity or honesty could compromise the examinations.
- (b) Each VEC must seek a broad representation of amateuroperators to be VEs. No VEC may discriminate in accrediting VEs
- on the basis of race, sex, religion or national origin; nor on
- the basis of membership (or lack thereof) in an amateur service
- organization; nor on the basis of the person accepting or declin-
- ing to accept reimbursement.
-
- Examination Expense Reimbursement
-
- 97.541 Reimbursement for expenses.
- (a) VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by examinees for out-of-
- pocket expenses incurred in preparing, processing, or administer-
- ing an examination for a Technician, General, Advanced, or
- Amateur Extra operator license.
- (b) The maximum amount of reimbursement from any one examinee
- for any one examination at a particular session regardless of the
- number or examination elements taken must not exceed that
- announced by the FCC in a Public Notice. (The basis for the max-
- imum fee is $4.00 for 1984 adjusted annually each January 1
- thereafter for changes in the Department of Labor Consumer Price
- Index.)
- (c) No reimbursement may be accepted by an VE or VEC for
- preparing, processing, or administering an examination for a
- Novice operator license.
- (d) Each VE and each VEC accepting reimbursement must main-
- tain records of out-of-pocket expenses and reimbursements for
- each examination session. Written certifications must be filed
- with the FCC each year that all expenses for the period from
- January 1 to December 31 of the preceding year for which reimbur-
- sement was obtained were necessarily and prudently incurred.
- (e) The expense and reimbursement records must be retained by
- each VE and each VEC for 3 years and be made available to the FCC
- upon request.
- (f) Each VE must forward the certification by January 15 of
- each year to the coordinating VEC for the examinations for which
- reimbursement was received. Each VEC must forward all such cer-
- tifications and it sown certification to the FCC on or before
- January 31 of each year.
- (g) Each VEC must desaccredit any VE failing to provide the
- certification. The VEC must advise the FCC on January 31 of each
- year of any VE that it has disaccredited for this reason.
-
- Appendix 1 - Places Where Amateur Radio Services Are Regualted By
- The FCC.
- (a) In ITU Regio 2, the amateur service is regulated by the
- FCC within the territorial limits of the fifty United States,
- District of Columbia, Caribbean Insular areas [Commonwealth of
- Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands (50 islets and cays)
- and Navassa Island], and Johnston Island (Islets East, Johnston,
- North and Sand) and Midway Island (Islets Eastern and Sand) in
- the Pacific Insular areas.
- (b) In ITU Region 3, the amateur service is regulated by the
- FCC within the Pacific Insular territorial limits of American
- Samoa (seven islands), Baker Island, Commonwealth of Northern
- Mariannas Islands, Guam Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island,
- Kingman Reef, Palmyr Island (more than 50 islets) and Wake Island
- (Islets Peale, Wake and Wilkes).
-
- Appendix 2 - VEC Regions.
- Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
- Rhode Island and Vermont;
- Region 2: New Jersey and New York;
- Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and
- Pennsylvania;
- Region 4; Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North
- Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia;
- Region 5: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico,Oklahoma and Texas;
- Region 6: California;
- Region 7: Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
- Washington and Wyoming;
- Region 8: Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia;
- Region 9: Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin;
- Region 10: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
- Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota;
- Region 11: Alaska;
- Region 12: Caribbean Insular areas;
- Region 13: Hawaii and Pacific Insular areas.
-
- Appendix 3 - Glossary of Terms
- The definitions of terms used in Part 97 are:
- "Authorized bandwidth." The width of the frequency band out-
- side of which the mean power of the total emission must be
- attenuated at least 26 decibels below the mean power of the total
- emission.
- "Automatic control." The use of devices and procedures in an
- amateur station to achieve compliance with FCC rules.
- "Auxiliary operation." Transmitting point-to-point com-
- munications within a system of amateur stations.
- "Beacon operation." Transmitting communications to facili-
- tate measurement of radio apparatus characteristics, adjustment
- of radio apparatus, observation of propagation or transmission
- phenomena, or other related activities.
- "Brief." Less than 1-minute.
- "Business communications." Any transmission or communication
- the purpose of which is to facilitate the regular business or
- commercial affairs of any party.
- "Control link." Wireline or radio apparatus for the control
- operator to manipulate the operating adjustments of a remotely
- controlled station from the control point.
- "Control point." The operation position of the station where
- the control operator function is performed.
- CSCE. Certificate of successful completion of an examina-
- tion.
- CW. Internation Morse code telegraphy emissions having A, C,
- H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the second symbol; A or B as
- the third symbol; J2A and J2B.
- "Data." Telemetry, telecommand, and data emissions having A,
- C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the second sym-
- bol; D as the third symbol; and emission J2D.
- "Earth operation." Transmitting earth-to-space communica-
- tions from a station within the major portion of the earth's
- atmosphere.
- EIC Engineer-in-Charage of an FCC Field Facility.
- "Emergency communications." Amateur radio communications
- directly relating to the immediate safety of life of individuals
- or the immediate protection of property.
- "External RF power amplifier." A device that when used in
- conjunction with a transmitter as a signal source, is capable of
- amplification of that signal, and which is not an integral part
- of the transmitter as manufactured.
- "Frequency coordinator." An entity recognized in a local or
- regional area by licensees of amateur stations eligible to engage
- in auxiliary operation or repeater operation that recommends fre-
- quencies and, where necessary, associated operating and technical
- parameters for stations in auxiliary operation or repeater opera-
- tion in order to avoid or minimize potential interference.
- "Frequency hopping." The carrier of the transmitted signal
- is modulated with unciphered information and changes frequency at
- fixed intervals under the direction of a high speed code
- sequence.
- "Harmful interference." Interference that seriously
- degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts the operation of aradio service.
- "Identifier." Words, letters or numerals appended to the
- call sign during the station identification procedure.
- "Image." Facsimile and television emissions having A, C, D,
- F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2 or 3 as the second
- symbol; C or F as the third symbol; and B as the first symbol; 7,
- 8 or 9 as the second symbol; W as the third symbol.
- "Information." Voice, data, image, etc.
- "Information bulletins." Messages directed only to amateur
- operators that consist solely of subject matter having direct
- interest to the amateur service as such.
- "Intercommunications." An exchange of messages between
- amateur stations.
- "Local control." The use of a control operator who directly
- manipulates the operating adjustments in an amateur station to
- achieve compliance with the FCC rules.
- MAFC. Military area frequency coordinator.
- MCW. Tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy
- emissions having A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the first symbol; 2 as
- the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol.
- "National Radio Quiet Zone." The area in Maryland, Virginia
- and West Virginia bounded by 39 degrees 15'N on the north, 78
- degrees 30'W on the east, 37 degrees 30'N on the south and 80
- degrees 30'W on the west.
- "Phone." Speech emissions having A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as
- the first symbol; 1, 2 or 3 as the second symbol; E as the third
- symbol; and speech emissions having B as the first symbol; 7, 8
- or 9 as the second symbol; E as the third symbol.
- "Pulse." Emissions having K, L, M, P, Q, V or W as the first
- symbol; 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 or X as the second symbol; N, A, B,
- C, D, E, F W or X as the third symbol.
- "Question set." A series of examination questions.
- "Remote control." The use of a control operator who manipu-
- lates the operating adjustments in an amateur station through a
- control link to achieve compliance with the FCC rules.
- "Repeater operation." Other than auxiliary operation,
- retransmitting automatically the radio signals of other amateur
- stations.
- RF. Radio frequency.
- RTTY. Narrow-band direct-printing emissions using Interna-
- tional Telegraph Alphabet Number 2, American Standard Code for
- Information Interchange, ANSI X3.4 [1977], or International Radio
- Consulting Committee Recommendation CCIR 476-2 [1978], 476-3
- [1082], 476-4 [1986] or 625 [1986], as appropriate. Mode A or B,
- having A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the
- second symbol; B as the third symbol; and emission J2B.
- "Space operation." Transmitting space-to-earth and space-to-
- space communications from a station that is beyond, is intended
- to go beyond, or has been beyond the major portion of the earth's
- atmosphere.
- SS. Spread-spectrum using bandwidth-expansion modulation
- emissions A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; X as the
- second symbol; X as the third symbol.
- "System network diagram." A drawing showing each station in
- the system and its relationship to the other stations in the
- system, and to all control points.
- "Telegraphy practice." Messages directed only to persons
- learning or improving proficiency in the international Morse
- code.
- "Test." Emissions containing no information or no modula-
- tion; test does not include pulse emissions with no information
- or no modulation unless pulse emissions are also authorized in
- the frequency band.
- "Third-party traffic." Messages from the control operator
- (first party) of the station to another amateur station control
- operator (second party) on behalf of another person (thirdparty).
- "Transmitter power." The average power during one RF cycle
- at the crest of the modulation envelope under normal operating
- conditions that is present at the antenna terminals where the
- antenna transmission line, or the antenna if no transmission
- line, is connected.
- VEC. Volunteer-examiner coordinator.
- VEs Volunteer examiners.
-
- Appendix 4 - Frequency Sharing Requirements.
- The following is a summary of the frequency sharing require-
- ments for the amateur service and the amateur satellite service.
- See 2.105 and 2.106 of the FCC rules, "United States Table of
- Frequency Allocations" for complete requirements. Also see
- 97.151 of the FCC rules.
- (1) Where, in adjacent regions or subregions, a band of fre-
- quencies is allocated to different services of the same category,
- the basic principle is the equality of right to operate. Accor-
- dingly, the stations of each service in one region must operate
- so as not to cause harmful interference to services in other
- regions or subregions. (See ITU "Radio Regulations," RR 346
- (Geneva, 1979).)
- (2) Amateur stations in the 1900-2000 kHz segment of the 160
- m band, the 1.25 m band, the 70 cm band, the 33 cm band, the 13
- cm band, the 9 cm band, the 5 cm band, the 3 cm band, the 24.05-
- 24.24 GHz segment of the 1.2 cm band, the 76-81 GHz segment of
- the 4 mm band, the 1440149 GHz segment of the 2 mm band and the
- 241-248 GHz segment of the 1 mm band must not cause harmful
- interference to, and are not protected from interference due to
- the operation of, the government radiolocation service.
- (3) Amateur stations in the 1900-2000 kHz segment of the 160
- m band, the 3 cm band, the 76-81 GHz segment of the 4 mm band,
- the 144-149 GHz segment of the 2 mm band and the 241-248 GHz seg-
- ment of the 1 mm band must not cause harmful interference to, and
- are not protected from interference due to the operation of, sta-
- tions in the non-government radiolocation service.
- (4) Amateur stations in the 30 meter band must not cause
- harmful interference to stations authorized by other nations in
- the fixed service. Amateur stations shall make all necessary
- adjustments (including termination of transmissions) if harmful
- interference is caused.
- (5) Amateur stations in the 12 meter band must not cause
- harmful interference to stations authorized by other nations in
- the fixed service. Amateur stations must make all necessary
- adjustments (including termination of transmissions) if harmful
- interference is caused. (Assignments in the fixed service in
- this band shall be terminated no later than 1 July 1989.
- (6) The 1.25 m band is allocated to the amateur, fixed and
- mobile services in the United States on a co-primary basis. The
- basic principle that applies is the equality of right to operate.
- Amateur, fixed and mobile stations must operate so as not to
- cause harmful interference to each other.
- (7) In the 70 cm band:
- (a) No amateur station shall operate north of Line A in the
- 420-430 MHz segment.
- (b) The 420-430 MHz segment is allocated to the amateur serv-
- ice in the United States on a secondary basis, but is allocated
- in the fixed and mobile (except aeronautical mobile) services in
- the International Trade of allocations on a primary basis.
- Amateur stations operating in this band must not cause harmful
- interference to, are not protected from interference due to the
- operation of, stations authorized by other nations in the fixed
- and mobile (except aeronautical mobile) services.
- (c) The 430-440 MHz segment is allocated to the amateur serv-
- ice on a secondary basis in ITU Regions 2 and 3. Amateur sta-
- tions in this band in ITU Regions 2 and 3 must not cause harmfulinterference to, and are not protected from interference due to
- the operation of, stations authorized by other nations in the
- radiolocation service. In ITU Region 1, the 430-440 MHz segment
- is allocated to the amateur service on a co-primary basis with
- the radiolocation service. As between these two services in this
- band in Region 1, the basic principle that applies is the equal-
- ity of right to operate. Amateur stations authorized by the
- United States and radiolocation stations authorized by other
- nations in Region 1 must operate so as not to cause harmful
- interference to each other.
- (d) Amateur stations in the 449.5-450 MHz segment must not
- cause interference to and are not protected from interference due
- to the operation of stations in the space operation service, the
- space research service or for space telecommand.
- (8) In the 33 cm band:
- (a) Amateur stations shall not operate within the States of
- Colorado and Wyoming, bounded by the area of 39 degrees N to 42
- degrees N and longitude 105 degrees W to 108 degrees W. This
- band is allocated on a secondary basis to the amateur service
- subject to not causing harmful interference to, and not receiving
- protection from any interference due to the operation of, indus-
- trial, scientific and medical devices, automatic vehicle monitor-
- ing systems of Government stations authorized in this band.
- (b) Amateur stations shall not operate in those portions of
- the States of Texas and New Mexico bounded on the south by lati-
- tude 31 degrees N, on the east by longitude 104 degrees 11'W, on
- the north by latitude 34 degrees 30' N and on the west by longi-
- tude 107 degrees 30'W.
- (9) Amateur stations in the 23 cm band, the 3 cm band, the
- 24.05-24.25 GHz segment of the 1.2 cm band, the 76-81 GHz segment
- of the 4 mm band, the 144-149 GHz segment of the 2 mm band and
- the 241-248 GHz segment of the 1 mm band must not cause harmful
- interference to, and are not protected from interference due to
- the operation of, stations authorized by other nations in the
- radiolocation service.
- (10) In the 1240-1260 MHz segment of the 23 cm band, amateur
- stations must not cause harmful intereference to, and are not
- protected from interference due to the operation of, stations in
- the radionavigation-satellite service.
- (11) In the 13 cm band:
- (a) The amateur service is allocated on a secondary basis in
- all ITU Regions. In ITU Region 1, stations in the amateur serv-
- ice must not cause harmful intereference to, and are not pro-
- tected from interference due to the operation of, stations
- authorized by other nations in the fixed service. In ITU Regions
- 2 and 3, stations in the amateur service must not cause harmful
- intereference to, and are not protected from interference due to
- the operation of, stations authorized by other nations in the
- fixed, mobile and radiolocation services.
- (b) In the United States, the 2300-2310 MHz segment is allo-
- cated to the amateur service on a co-secondary basis with the
- Government fixed and mobile services. In this segment, the fixed
- and mobile services must not cause harmful intereference to the
- amateur service. Amateur stations in the 2400-2450 MHz segment
- of the 13 cm band are not protected from interference due to the
- operation of industrial, scientific and medical devices on 2450
- MHz.
- (12) Amateur stations in the 3.332-3.339 GHz and 3.3458-
- 3.3525 GHz segments of the 9 cm band, the 2.5 mm band, 144.68-
- 144.98 GHz, 145.45-145.75 and 146.82-147.12 GHz segments of the 2
- mm band and the 343-348 GHz segment must not cause harmful inter-
- ference to stations in the radio astronomy service. Amateur sta-
- tions in the 300-302 GHz, 324-326 GHz, 345-347 GHz, 363-365 GHz
- and 379-381 GHz segments must not cause harmful interference to
- stations in the space research service (passive) or Earth
- exploration-satellite service (passive). (13) in the 9 cm band:
- (a) In ITU Regions 2 and 3, the band is allocated to the
- amateur service on a secondary basis.
- (b) In the United States, the band is allocated to the
- amateur service on a co-secondary basis with the non-government
- radiolocation service.
- (c) In the 3.3-3.4 GHz segment, amateur stations must not
- cause harmful intereference to, and are not protected from inter-
- ference due to the operation of, stations authorized by other
- nations in the radiolocation service.
- (d) In the 3.4-3.5 GHz segment, amateur stations must not
- cause harmful intereference to, and are not protected from inter-
- ference due to the operation of, stations authorized by other
- nations in the fixed and fixed-satellite service.
- (14) In the 5 cm band:
- (a) In the 5.650-5.725 GHz segment, the amateur service is
- allocated in all ITU Regions on a co-secondary basis with the
- space research (deep space) service.
- (b) In the 5.725-5.850 GHz segment, the amateur service is
- allocated in all ITU Regions on a secondary basis. Amateur sta-
- tions must not cause harmful intereference to, and are not pro-
- tected from interference due to the operation of, stations
- authorized by other nations in the fixed-satellite service in ITU
- Region 1.
- (c) Amateur stations in the 5.725-5.875 GHz segment are not
- protected from interference due to the operation of industrial,
- scientific and medical devices operating on 5.8 GHz.
- (d) In the 5.650-5.850 GHz segment, amateur stations must not
- cause harmful intereference to, and are not protected from inter-
- ference due to the operation of, stations authorized by other
- nations in the radiolocation service.
- (e) In the 5.850-5.925 GHz segment, the amateur service is
- allocated in ITU Region 2 on a co-secondary basis with the
- radiolocation service. In the United States, the segment is
- allocated to the amateur service on a secondary basis to the non-
- government fixed-satellite service. Amateur stations must not
- cause harmful intereference to, and are not protected from inter-
- ference due to the operation of, stations authorized by other
- nations in the fixed, fixed-satellite and mobile services.
- Amateur stations must not cause harmful intereference to, and are
- not protected from interference due to the operation of, stations
- in the non-government fixed-satellite service.
- (15) In the 3 cm band:
- (a) In the United States, the 3 cm band is allocated to the
- amateur service on a co-secondary basis with the non-government
- radiolocation service.
- (b) In the 10.00-10.45 segment in ITU Regions 1 and 3,
- amateur stations must not cause harmful intereference to, and are
- not protected from interference due to the operation of,stations
- authorized by other nations in the fixed and mobile services.
- (16) Amateur stations in the 1.2 cm band are not protected
- from interference due to the operation of industrial, scientific
- and medical devices on 24.125 GHz. In the United States, the
- 24.05-24.25 GHz segment is allocated to the amateur service on a
- co-secondary basis with the non-government radiolocation and
- Government and non-government Earth exploration-satellite
- (active) services.
- (17) The 2.5 mm band is allocated to the amateur service on a
- secondary basis. Amateur stations in this band must not cause
- harmful intereference to, and are not protected from interference
- due to the operation of, stations in the fixed, inter-satellite
- and mobile services.
- (18) Amateur stations in the 244-246 GHz segment of the 1 mm
- band are not protected from interference due to the operation of
- industrial, scientific and medical devices on 245 GHz.
-
- [INSERT APPENDIX B -- CROSS REFERENCE -- CURRENT PART 97 TO
- PROPOSED PART 97]
-
- [INSERT APPENDIX C -- CROSS REFERENCE PROPOSED PART 97 TO
- CURRENT PART 97]
-
- [INSERT -- FOOTNOTES]
-
- <EOF>