1. Licensing Regulations
Chapter 7
Licensing Regulations

2. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Part 97 – The amateur service is defined by and operates according to the rules in Part 97 of the FCC’s rules.
The FCC’s rules are one part of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
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3. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Basis and Purpose
Part 97.1 – The “mission” of Amateur Radio
A voluntary, non-commercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
Contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
Enhance skills in the communications and technical phases of the art.
d. Increase the number of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
e. Continue to enhance international goodwill.
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4. Definitions and Other Stuff
Chapter 7
Licensing Terms
Definitions and Other Stuff
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States.
A license in the amateur radio service allows you to operate anywhere that the FCC regulates the amateur service – the 50 states and all possessions under US government control.
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5. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Definitions
Amateur Service – “A radiocommunications service for the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by amateurs, that is, duly authorized persons interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.”
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6. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Definitions
Amateur operator – “A person named in an amateur operator/primary license station grant on the Universal Licensing System (ULS) consolidated licensee database to be the control operator of an amateur station.”
Amateur station – “A station in an amateur radio service consisting of the apparatus [equipment] necessary for carrying on radio communications.”
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7. Type and Classes of Licenses
Chapter 7
Licensing Terms
Type and Classes of Licenses
There are three types of amateur radio licenses currently being granted:
Technician
General
Amateur Extra
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8. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Examinations
Amateur radio operators develop the question pools for each license class and administer the license exams.
An amateur radio operator who gives the exams and runs the exam sessions is a “Volunteer Examiner” (VE)
A VE is accredited by one or more Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VEC) to administer amateur license exams.
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9. Terms of License and Renewal
Chapter 7
Licensing Terms
Terms of License and Renewal
Your amateur license is good for a term of 10-years.
You can renew it using Form 605 until 90 days of the expiration date. After that date the paper form may not be processed in time to prevent expiration.
Renew on-line
Complete the FCC Form 605 and mail it in.
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10. Term of License and Renewal
Chapter 7
Licensing Terms
Term of License and Renewal
If you license expires you have a two-year grace period in which to renew your license. You do not have to retake the license exam during the grace period.
While your license is expired it’s almost as if you never had one. You cannot legally transmit with an expired license.
If you fail to renew your license within the grace period you must retake the Technician exam but may be given gredit for other licenses if you can prove you held them.
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11. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Responsibilities
Unauthorized Operation – To prevent improper use of your station equipment when you’re not present, simply disconnect the microphone and power cables.
Personal Information – You must maintain a valid current mailing address with the FCC. If mail is returned as “undeliverable” your license can be suspended or revoked.
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12. Chapter 7 Licensing Terms
Responsibilities
Station Inspection – As a federal licensee, you are required to make your station available for inspection upon request by an FCC representative or US government official.
These visits are very rare and only occur when there is reason to believe that your station has been operated improperly.
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13. (Google FCC CORES; it’s easier)
Chapter 7
Working with the FCC
The FCC CORES Web Site
apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do
(Google FCC CORES; it’s easier)
Register with the FCC to get a Federal Registration Number (FRN) before your exam or you’ll have to enter your SSN on the license application.
Bring the confirmation copy of you FRN to the license session.
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14. Chapter 7 Working with the FCC
The FCC ULS Web Site
Register for online access to your license information
Make simple changes to your address & other information
Renew your license
Search for licensees by name, call sign or location
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15. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Frequency Privileges
Table 7-2
For questions dealing with what frequency is in a particular band or vice versa use the following formula:
300
Freq (MHz)
Band (m) =
300
Band (m)
Freq (MHz) =
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16. Technician HF Privileges 200 watts PEP maximum Output
Chapter 7
Bands & Privileges
Frequency Privileges
Technician HF Privileges
200 watts PEP maximum Output
Band (Wavelength)
Frequency (MHz)
80 meters
(CW only)
40 meters
(CW only)
15 meters
(CW only)
10 meters
(CW, RTTY and data)
(CW and SSB)
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17. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Power Limits
Amateur radio operators are required to use the MINIMUM power required to carry out the desired communication.
Measured at the feedline input to the antenna, i.e. at the output of the last amplifier stage before the feedline.
Technicians limited to 200 watts PEP on HF bands.
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18. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Primary and Secondary Allocations
The primary service is always protected from interference from the secondary service.
A user in the secondary service gains access to the shared frequency with the understanding that it cannot cause harmful interference to the users in the primary service.
A user in the secondary service gains access to the shared frequency with the understanding that it must accept interference from users in the primary service.
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19. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Primary and Secondary Allocations
All of the UHF and higher-frequency bands share portions of the frequency spectrum.
Not all US amateur allocations are allocated to amateurs worldwide. Where there are competing allocations, the amateur service is considered to be a secondary user.
If your transmissions in the 23 cm band ( MHz) are causing interference to a radiolocation service outside the U.S., you must stop operating until you can figure out how to stop the interference.
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20. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Band Plans
Band plans organize different types of activity by frequency.
Grouping similar activities together, band plans allow the spectrum to be used more effectively.
Band plans have been developed by hams over time.
Band plans are voluntary arrangement for using different modes or for different activities. They are not “rules” but the FCC considers them to be “good amateur practice”.
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21. A portion of the 2 meter (144-148 MHz) Band Plan
Chapter 7
Bands & Privileges
Band Plans
A portion of the 2 meter ( MHz) Band Plan
EME (CW)
General CW and weak signals
EME and weak-signal SSB
SSB calling frequency
General SSB operation
Propagation beacons
OSCAR [satellite] sub band
Linear translator inputs
FM repeater inputs
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22. Chapter 7 Bands & Privileges
Repeater Coordination
Frequency Coordinators are individuals or groups that recommend repeater input and output frequencies to reduce or eliminate interference between repeaters operating on or near the same frequency in the same geographical area.
Local or regional amateurs whose stations are eligible to be auxiliary or repeater stations select the frequency coordinator.
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23. Chapter 7 International Rules
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) was formed as an agency of the United Nations.
An administrative forum for addressing international telecommunications treaties and laws including frequency allocations that all UN countries agree to abide by.
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24. Chapter 7 International Rules
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
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25. Chapter 7 International Rules
International Operating
If you plan to operate from a foreign country…
The foreign country must permit amateur operation
You must have permission to operate
Within the territorial boundaries including territorial waters of any country, you must operate according to their rules.
You may operate from any vessel of craft that is documented or registered in the United States.
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26. Chapter 7 International Rules
International Operating
There are three ways of getting operating permission:
Reciprocal operating authority
An International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP)
The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Conference (CEPT).
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27. Chapter 7 International Rules
International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP)
Allows U.S. amateurs to operate from countries in North & South America without seeking a special license or permit to enter and operate from that country using their rules.
IARP can be issued by the ARRL (ITU member-society)
Two classes:
Class 1 = Amateur Extra
Class 2 = Technician (issued to Technicians,
Generals and Advanced class licensees.)
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28. Chapter 7 International Rules
Permitted Contacts and Communications
Unless specifically prohibited by the government of either country, any ham can talk to any other ham.
International communications must be limited to the purposes of the amateur service or remarks of a personal nature.
Some countries do not recognize amateur radio (e.g., North Korea).
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29. US Amateur Call Signs in Districts 0-9
Chapter 7
Call Signs
US Call Districts & Call Signs
US Amateur Call Signs in Districts 0-9
Group
License Class
Format A
Amateur Extra
1 x 2 (starting with K, N or W) or 2 x 1 (starting with A, K, N or W) or 2 x 2 starting with A
1 x 2 = K9YF
2 x 1 = WG4K
2 x 2 = AA4JS B
Advanced
2 x 2 starting with K, N or W
KC3HH
NA4EE
WW7ZZ
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30. Chapter 7 Call Signs US Amateur Call Signs in Districts 0-9
US Call Districts & Call Signs
US Amateur Call Signs in Districts 0-9
Group
License Class
Format C
General, Tech and Tech Plus
1 x 3 starting with K, N, or W
N4HMZ
K4LAC
W4RJS D
Tech, Club
2 x 3 starting with K or W
KK4RDL
WB0HSI
Special Event Call Sign
1 x 1 starting with K, N or W
K4D, W4W, N4N, K9K, W1N
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31. Chapter 7 Call Signs KL7=Alaska
KP2 = US Virgin Is. & KP4 = Puerto Rico
KH6 – Hawaii
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32. Chapter 7 Call Signs Portable & Upgrade
If you operate outside the continental U.S., you must add the prefix of the country from which you are operating to your call sign. This includes Alaska (KL7) and Hawaii (KH6).
KCØDE/VE3 = You are operating in Ontario Province,
Canada
W9GPI/KH6 = You are operating from Hawaii
K9GHM/KP2 = You are operating from U.S. Virgin
Islands
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33. Chapter 7 Call Signs Portable & Upgrade
We often append our call signs to indicate a particular activity such as operating mobile or portable.
When operating mobile (Car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) we simply say, “KCØDE mobile”. We might also indicate a district, state, or county if appropriate.
When operating from a temporary location other than our home location we say, “KCØDE portable”. We might also indicate a district, state or county if appropriate.
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34. Chapter 7 Call Signs Portable & Upgrade
When we upgrade our license we have to append our call signs with specific designators until the FCC data base has been updated to show your new license class.
AG = Upgrade from Technician to General
AE = Upgrade from Technician or General to
Amateur extra
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35. Chapter 7 Call Signs Club & Special Event Call Signs
Amateur radio clubs can have their own call signs
Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club – W4LX
There are some rules:
At least 4 members
The FCC can ask for documentation showing the club exists and has meetings.
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36. Chapter 7 Call Signs Club & Special Event Call Signs
Club licenses are granted to the person the club designates as the trustee for the club station.
Clubs apply for a call sign by contacting a Club Station Call Sign Administrator.
After being granted a Group D call sign, the club can apply for a vanity call.
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37. Chapter 7 Call Signs Club & Special Event Call Signs
Any FCC-licensed amateur or club can obtain a special 1 x 1 call sign (e.g., K1D, WØW, K7K, N5N, etc) for a short duration significant event (Anniversary of a club, County fair, etc.) – usually no more than 15 days
Application for a Special Event call is made to a Special Call Sign Coordinator (ARRL can issue)
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38. Chapter 7 Call Signs Club & Special Event Call Signs
The special event call sign must be given once every 10 minutes and at the end of the contact.
The call sign or the amateur or club that requested the special event call must be given once per hour.
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39. Chapter 7 Call Signs Vanity Call Signs
Technician vanity call signs are available in Groups C (1x3) & D (2x3).
Must have license first, then apply for available vanity call.
Available vanity calls:
The FCC does not charge for a vanity license application.
File on-line wireless.fcc.gov/uls using FRN and password received from ARRL
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40. Questions? Chapter 7 Call Signs 4/25/2019
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