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FCC Part 97 Subpart A
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APPENDIX A
Part 97 of Chapter 1 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations is amended, as follows:
1. The authority citation for Part 97 continues to read as
follows:
AUTHORITY: 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 is revised as follows:
PART 97 -- AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
Subpart A -- General Provisions
Sec.
97.1 Basis and purpose.
97.3 Definitions.
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 station location.
97.15 Station antenna structures.
97.17 Application for new license.
97.19 Application for 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 -- Station Operation Standards
97.101 General standards.
97.103 Station licensee responsibilities.
97.105 Control operator duties.
97.107 Alien control operator privileges.
97.109 Station control.
97.111 Authorized transmissions.
97.113 Prohibited transmissions.
97.115 Third-party traffic.
97.117 International communications.
97.119 Station identification.
97.121 Restricted operation.
Subpart C -- Special Operations
97.201 Auxiliary station.
97.203 Beacon station.
97.205 Repeater station.
97.207 Space station.
97.209 Earth station.
97.211 Telecommand station.
97.213 Remote control of a staiton.
97.215 Remote control of model craft.
Subpart D -- Technical Standards
97.301 Authorized frequency bands.
97.303 Frequency sharing requirements.
97.305 Authorized emission types.
97.307 Emission standards.
97.309 RTTY and data emission digital codes.
97.311 SS emission types.
97.313 Transmitter power standards.
97.315 Type acceptance of external RF power amplifiers.
97.317 Standards for type acceptance of external RF power
amplifiers.
Subpart E -- Providing Emergency Communications
97.401 Operation during a disaster.
97.403 Safety of life and proteciton of property.
97.405 Station in distress.
97.407 Radio amateur civil emergency service.
Subpart F -- Qualifying Examination Systems
97.501 Qualifying for an amateur operator license.
97.503 Element standards.
97.505 Element credit.
97.507 Preparing an examination.
97.509 Administering an examination.
97.511 Technician, General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra
Class operator license examination.
97.513 Novice Class operator license examination.
97.515 Volunteer examiner requirements.
97.517 Volunteer examiner conduct.
97.519 Coordinating examination sessions.
97.521 VEC qualifications.
97.523 Question pools.
97.525 Accrediting VEs.
97.527 Reimbursement for expenses.
Appendix 1 Places where the amateur service is regulated by
the FCC.
Appendix 2 VEC Regions.
Subpart A -- General Provisions
S 97.1 Basis and prupose.
The rules and regulations in this Part are designed to
provide 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
communications.
(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven
ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
© Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service
through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the
communication 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.
S 97.3 Definitions.
(a) The definitions of terms used in Part 97 are:
(1) Amateur operator. A person holding a written
authorization to be the control operator of an amateur station.
(2) Amateur radio services. The amateur service, the
amateur-satellite service and the radio amateur civil emergency
service.
(3) Amateur -- satellite service. A radiocommunication
service using stations on Earth satellites for the same purpose
as those of the amateur service.
(4) Amateur srvice. A radiocommunication 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.
(5) Amateur station. A station in an amateur radio service
consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on
radiocommunications.
(6) Automatic control. The use of devices and procedures for
control of a station when it is transmitting so that compliance
with the FCC Rules is achieved without the control operator being
present at a control point.
(7) Auxiliary station. An amateur station transmitting
communications point-to-point within a system of cooperating
amateur stations.
(8) Bandwidth. The width of a frequency band outside of
which the mean power of the total emission is attenuated at least
26 dB below the mean power of the total emission, including
allowances for transmitter drift or Doppler shift.
(9) Beacon. An amateur station transmitting communications
for the purposes of observation of propagation and reception or
other related experimental activites.
(10) Broadcasting. Transmissions intended for reception by
the general public, either direct or relayed.
(11) Control operator. An amateur operator designated by the
licensee of a station to be responsible for the transmissions
from that station to assure compliance with the FCC Rules.
(12) Control point. The location at which the control
operator function is performed.
(13) CSCE. Certificate of successful completion of an
examination.
(14) Earth station. An amateur station located on, or within
50 km of, the Earth's surface intended for communications with
space stations or with other Earth stations by means of one or
more other objects in space.
(15) EIC. Engineer in Charge of an FCC Field Facility.
(16) External RF power amplifier. A device capable of
increasing power output when used in conjunction with, but not an
integral part of, a transmitter.
(17) External RF power amplifier kit. A number of electronic
parts, which, when assembled, is an external RF power amplifier,
even if additional parts are required to complete assembly.
(18) FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.
(19) FCC. Federal Communications Commission.
(20) Frequency coordinator. An entity, recognized in a local
or regional area by amateur operators whose stations are eligible
to be auxiliary or repeater stations, that recommends
transmit/receive channels and associated operating and technical
parameters for such stations in order to avoid or minimize
potential interference.
(21) Harmful interference. Interference which endangers the
functioning of a radionavigation service or of other safety
services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly
interrupts a radiocommunication service operating in accordance
with the Radio Regulations.
(22) Indicator. Words, letters or numerals appended to and
separated from the call sign during the station identification.
(23) Information bulletin. A message directed only to
amateur operators consisting solely of subject matter of direct
interest to the amateur service.
(24) International Morse code. A dot-dash code as defined in
International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee
(CCITT) Recommendation F.1 (1984), Division B, I. Morse code.
(25) ITU. International Telecommunication Union.
(26) Line A. Begins at Aberdeen, WA, running by great circle
arc to the interseciton of 48\o/N, 120\o/W, thence along parallel
48\o/N, to the intersection of 95\o/W, thence by great circle arc
through the southernmost point of Duluth, MN, thence by great
circle arc to 45\o/N, 85\o/W, thence southward along meridian
85\o/W, to its intersection with parallel 41\o/N, thence along
parallel 41\o/N, to its intersection with meridian 82\o/W, thence
by great circle arc through the southernmost point of Bangor, ME,
thence by great circle arc through the southernmost point of
Searsport, ME, at which point it terminates.
(27) Local control. The use of a control operator who
directly manipulates the operating adjustments in the station to
achieve compliance with the FCC Rules.
(28) National Radio Quiet Zone. The area in Maryland,
Virginia and West Virginia Bounded by 39\o/ 15'N on the north,
78\o/ 30'W on the east, 37\o/ 30'N on the south and 80\o/ 30'W on
the west.
(29) Question pool. All current examination questions for a
designated written examination element.
(30) Question set. A series of examination questions on a
given examination selected from the question pool.
(31) Radio Regulations. The latest ITU Radio Regulations to
which the United States is a party.
(32) RACES (radio amateur civil emergency service). A radio
service using amateur stations for civil defense communications
during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies.
(33) Remote control. The use of a control operator who
indirectly manipulates the operating adjustments in the station
through a control link to achieve compliance with the fCC Rules.
(34) Repeater. An amateur station that automatically
retransmits the signals of other stations.
(35) Space station. An amateur station located more than 50
km above the earth's surface.
(36) Spurious emission. An emission, on frequencies outside
the necessary bandwidth of a transmission, the level of which may
be reduced without affecting the information being transmitted.
(37) Telecommand station. An amateur station that transmits
communications to initiate, modify or terminate functions of a
space station.
(38) Third party communications. A message from the control
operator (first party) of an amateur station to another amateur
station control operator (second party) on behalf of another
person (third party).
(39) VE. Volunteer examiner.
(40) VEC. Volunteer-examiner coordinator.
(b) The definitions of technical symbols used in this Part
are:
(1) EHF (extremely high frequency). The frequency range 30-
300 GHz.
(2) HF (high frequency). The frequency range 3-30 MHz.
(3) Hz. Hertz.
(4) m. Meters
(5) MF (medium frequency). The frequency range 300-3000 kHz.
(6) PEP (peak envelope power). The average power supplied to
the antenna transmission line by a transmitter during one RF
cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope taken under normal
operating conditions.
(7) RF. Radio frequency.
(8) SHF (super-high frequency). The frequency range 3-30
GHz.
(9) UHF (ultra-high frequency). The frequency range 300-3000
MHz.
(10) VHF (very-high frequency). The frequency range 30-300
mHz.
(11) W. Watts.
© The following terms are used in this Part to indicate
emission types. Refer to S 2.201 of the FCC Rules, Emission,
modulation and transmission characteristics, for information on
emission type designators.
(1) CW. International Morse code telegraphy emissions having
designators with A, C, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1 as the
second symbol; A or B as the third symbol; and emissions J2A and
J2B.
(2) Data. Telemetry, telecommand and computer communications
emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the
first symbol; 1 as the second symbol; D as the third symbol; and
emission J2D. Only a digital code of a type specifically
authorized in this Part may be transmitted.
(3) Image. Facsimile and television emissions having
designators with 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
emissions having B as the first symbol; 7, 8 or 9 as the second
symbol; W as the third symbol.
(4) MCW. Tone-modulated international Morse code telegraphy
emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H or R as the
first symbol; 2 as the second symbol; A or B as the third symbol.
(5) Phone. Speech and other sound emissions having
designators with 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. Also 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, or for providing telegraphy
practice interspersed with speech. Incidental tones for the
purpose of selective calling or alerting or to control the level
of a demodulated signal may also be considered phone.
(6) Pulse. Emissions having designators with 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; A, B, C, D, E, F, N, W or X as the third symbol.
(7) RTTY. Narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy emissions
having designators with 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. Only a digital code of a type specifically
authorized in this Part may be transmitted.
(8) SS. Spread-spectrum emissions using bandwidth-expansion
modulation emissions having designators with A, C, D, F, G, H, J
or R as the first symbol; X as the second symbol; X as the third
symbol. Only a SS emission of a type specifically authorized in
this Part may be transmitted.
(9) Test. Emissions containing no information having the
designators with N as the third symbol. Test does not include
pulse emissions with no information or modulation unless pulse
emissions are also authorized in the frequency band.
S 97.5 Station license required.
(a) When a station is transmitting on any amateur service
frequency from a geographic location within 50 km of the Earth's
surface where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, the
person having physical control of the apparatus must hold an FCC-
issued written authorization for an amateur station.
(b) When a station is transmitting on any amateur service
frequency from a location within 50 km of the Earth's surface and
aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in
the United States, the person having physical control of the
apparatus must hold an FCC-issued written authorizaiton for an
amateur station.
© When a station is transmitting on any amateur-sattelite
service frequency from a location more than 50 km above the
Earth's surface aboard any craft that is documented or registered
in the United States, the person having physical control of the
apparatus must hold an FCC-issued written authorization for an
amateur station.
(d) The types of written authorizations that permit amateur
station operation where the amateur service is regulated by the
FCC are:
(1) An operator/primary station license (FCC Form 660)
issued to the person by the FCC. A primary station license is
issued only to a person, together with an operator license on the
same document. Every amateur operator licensed by the FCC must
have one, but only one, primary station license. Except a
representative of a foreign government, any person who qualifies
by examination is eligible to apply for an operator/primary
station license.
(2) A club station license (FCC form 660) issued to the
person by the FCC. A club station license is issued only to the
rperson 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 club must
be composed of at least two persons and must have a name, a
document of organization, management and a primary purpose
devoted to amateur service activities consistent with this Part.
(3) A military recreation station license (FCC Form 660)
issued to the person by the FCC. A military recreation station
license is issued only to the person who is the license custodian
designated by the official in charge of the United States
military recreational premises where the station is situated. The
custodian must not be a representative of a foreign government.
The custodian need not hold an amateur operator license.
(4) A RACES station license (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 must not be a representative
of a foreign government. The custodian must be the civil defense
official responsible for coordination of all civil defense
activities in the area concerned. The custodian need not hold an
amateur operator license.
(5) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (FCC Form
610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC. A reciprocal permit for
alien amateur licensee is issued only to a person who is a
citizen of a country with which the United States has
arrangements to grant recirpocal operating permits to visiting
alien amateur operators. The person must be a citizen of the same
country that issued the amateur service license. No person who is
a citizen of the United States, regardless of any other
citizenship also held, is eligible for a reciprocal permit for
alien amateur licensee. No person holding an FCC-issued amateur
service license will be issued a reciprocal permit for alien
amateur license.
(6) An amateur service license issued to the person by the
Government of Canada. The person must be a Canadian citizen.
(e) The written authorization for an amateur station
authorizes the use in accordance with the FCC Rules of all
transmitting apparatus under the physical control of the station
licensee at points where the amateur service is regulated by the
FCC. The original written authorizaiton document or a photocopy
thereof must be retained at the station.
S 97.7 Control operator required.
When transmitting, each amateur station must have a control
operator. Only a person holding one of the following documents
may be the control operator of a station:
(a) An operator/primary station license (FCC Form 660)
issued to the person by the FCC.
(b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (FCC Form
610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC.
© An amateur service license issued to a Canadian citizen
by the Government of Canada.
S 97.9 Operator license.
(a) There are 5 classes of operator licenses: Novice,
Technician, General, Advanced and Amateur Extra. An operator
license authorizes the holder to be the control operator of a
station with the privileges of the operator class specified on
the license. The license document or a photocopy thereof must be
in the personal possession of the licensee at all times when the
person is the control operator of a staiton.
(b) A person holding a Novice, Technician, general, or
Advanced Class operator license who has properly filed with the
FCC an application for a higher operator class which has not yet
been acted upon, and who holds a CSCE 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.
S 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 ship or aircraft, except a
common antenna may be shared with a voluntary ship radio
installation. The station's transmissions must not cause
interference to any other apparatus installed on the ship or
aircrarft.
© The station must not constitute a hazard to the safety
of life or property. For a station aboard an aircraft, the
apparatus shall not be operated while the aircraft is operating
under Instrument Flight Rules, as defined by the FAA, unless the
station has been found to comply with all applicable FAA Rules.
S97.13 Restrictions on staiton locations.
(a) Before placing an amateur staiton on land of
environmental importance or that is significant in American
history, architecture or culture, the licensee may be required to
take certain acitons prescribed by SS 1.1305-1.1319 of the FCC
Rules.
(b) A station within 1600 m (1 mile) 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 an EIC pursuant to S
97.121 of this Part. Geographical coordinates of the facilities
that require proteciton are listed in S 0.121© of the FCC
Rules.
S 97.15 Station antenna structures.
(a) Unless the amateur station licensee has received prior
approval from the FCC, no antenna structure, including the
radiating elements, tower, supports and all appurtenances, may be
higher than 61 m (200 feet) above ground level at its site.
(b) Unless the amateur staiton licensee has received prior
approval from the FCC, no 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 Alsaka 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 military 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,
may be higher than:
(1) 1 m above the airport elevaiton for each 100 m from the
nearest runway longer than 1 km within 6.1 km of the antenna
structure.
(2) 2 m above the airport elevation for each 100 m from the
nearest runway longer than 1 km within 3.1 km of the antenna
structure.
(3) 4 m above the airport elevation for each 100 m from the
nearest landing pad within 1.5 km of the antenna structure.
© An amateur station antenna structure no higher than 6.1
m (20 feet) above ground level at its site or no higher than 6.1
m above any natural object or existing manmade structure, other
than an antenna structure, is exempt from the requirements of
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
(d) 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
contained in Part 17 of the FCC Rules, Construction, Marking, and
Lighting of Antenna Structures. To request approval to place an
antenna structure higher than the limits specified in paragraphs
(a), (b) and © of this Section, the licensee must notify the
FAA on FAA Form 7460-1 and the FCC on FCC Form 854.
(e) Except as otherwise provided herein, a station antenna
structure may be erected at heights and dimensions sufficient to
accommodate amateur service communications. [State and local
regulation of a station antenna structure must not preclude
amateur service communications. Rather, it must reasonably
accommodate such communications and must constitute the minimum
practicable regulation to accomplish the state or local
authority's legitimate purpose. See PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d, 952 (1985)
for details.]
S 97.17 Application for new license.
(a) Any qualified person is eligible to apply for an amateur
service license.
(b) Each application for a new operator/primary station
license must be made on fCC Form 610. Each aplication for a
reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee must be made on FCC
Form 610-A. No new license for a club, military recreation, or
RACES station will be issued.
© Each applicaiton for a new operator/primary station
license and each application involving a change in operator class
must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying
examination.
(d) Any qualified person is eligible to apply for a
recirpocal permit for alien amateur licensee. The application
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 operator
license or reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee by
fraudulent means.
(f) A call sign will be assigned systematically to each
station. 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.
S 97.19 Application for a renewed or modified license.
(a) Each application for a renewed or modified
operator/primary station license must be made on FCC Form 610.
Each application for a renewed or modified club, military
recreation or RACES station license must be made on FCC Form 610-
B. A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee is not
renewable. A new reciprocal permit may be issued upon proper
application.
(b) Each application for a renewed or modified amateur
service license must be accompanied by a photocopy of the license
document or the original document. Each application for a
modified operator license involving a change in operator class
must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying
examination. All other applications must be submitted to: FCC,
P.O. Box 1020, Gettysburg, PA 17326.
© When the licensee has submitted a timely application for
renewal of an unexpired license (between 60 and 90 days prior to
the end of the license term is recommended), the licensee may
continue to operate until the disposition of the application has
been determined. If a license expires, application for renewal
may be made during a grace period of 2 years after the expiration
date. During this grace period, the expired license ise not
valid. A license renewed during the grace period must be dated as
of the date of the renewal.
S 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
regulated by the FCC. The mailing address must be one where the
licensee can receive mail delivery by the United States Postal
Service. The station location must be a place where a station can
be physically located. (A Postal Service box, RFD number, or
general delivery is unsuitable as a station location.)
S 97.23 License term.
(a) An amateur srvice license is normally issued for a 10-
year term.
(b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee is
normally issued for a 1-year term.
S 97.25 FCC modification of station license.
(a) The FCC may modify a station license, either for a
limited time or for the duration of the term thereof, if it
determines:
(1) That such action will promote the public interest,
convenience and necessity; or
(2) That such action will promote fuller compliance with the
provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or of
any treaty ratified by the United States.
(b) When the FCC makes such a determination, it will issue
an order of modificaiton. The order will not become final until
the licensee is notified in writing of the proposed aciton and
the grounds and reasons therefor. The licensee will be given
reasonable opportunity of no less than 30 days to protest the
modification; except that, where safety of life or property is
involved, a shorter period of notice may be provided. Any protest
by a licensee of an FCC orderof modificaiton will be handled in
accordlance with the provisions of 47 U.S.C. S 316.
S 97.27 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 that it replaces.
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