Your Ham Radio License

1. By Joe Seibert AL1F Your Ham Radio License

2. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Basis and purpose of the Amateur Radio Service • An Amateur Radio Station is a station in an Amateur Radio Service consisting of the apparatus necessary for carrying on radio communications. • An amateur operator as defined in Part 97 is a person named in an amateur operator/primary license grant in the FCC ULS database. • One of the basic purposes of the Amateur Radio Service as defined in Part 97 is to provide a voluntary noncommercial communications service to the public, particularly in times of emergency. • Two of the five fundamental purposes for the Amateur Radio Service are to increase the number of trained radio operators and electronics experts, and improve international goodwill.

3. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Penalties for unlicensed operation, other penalties • The Federal Communications Commission makes and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States. • Harmful interference is a transmission that disturbs other communications.

4. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Examinations • The classes of US amateur radio licenses that may currently be earned by examination are Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. • A Volunteer Examiner (VE) is an amateur accredited by one or more Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) who volunteers to administer amateur license exams. • Three Volunteer Examiners holding a General Class license or higher are required to administer an Element 2 Technician written exam • A Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) is valid for license upgrade purposes for 365 days.

5. Volunteer Examiner • Each administering VE must: • Be accredited by the coordinating VEC • Be at least 18 years of age • Be a person who holds an amateur operator license of the class specified below: • Amateur Extra, Advanced or General Class in order to administer a Technician Class operator license examination • Amateur Extra or Advanced Class in order to administer a General Class operator license examination • Amateur Extra Class in order to administer an Amateur Extra Class operator license examination • Must be present and observing the examinee throughout the entire examination

6. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • ITU regions • The purpose of ITU Regions is to assist in the management of frequency allocations. • International Telecommunication Union (ITU) • U.S. is in Region 2

7. International Telegraph Union (ITU) Regions

8. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities T1B • International regulations • You are allowed to operate your amateur station in a foreign country when there is a reciprocal operating agreement between the countries.

9. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • US call sign structure • The FCC uses a system, called the Sequential Call Sign System, where call signs are assigned in sequential order to select new amateur radio call signs. • An amateur radio club would obtain a club station call sign by applying through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator. • Minimum of four members are required for a club

10. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • US call sign structure(cont) • The letters, A, K, N and W, must be used for the first letter in US amateur call signs. • Calls are issued in a sequential manner, not random • A single digit, 0 through 9 number is used in US amateur call signs. • Numbers are assigned by district of applicant • KB3TMJ is a valid US amateur callsign.

12. Call Signs (cont.) • FCC Region number • 1 - ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI • 2 - NY, NJ • 3 - PA, MD, DE • 4 - VA, KY, NC, TN, SC, GA, Al, FL • 5 - AR, LA, OK, TX, NM • 6 - CA • 7 - WA, MT, ID, OR, UT, NV, AZ • 8 - MI, OH, WV • 9 - WI, IL, IN

13. Call Signs (cont.) • FCC Region number (cont.) • 0 - ND, SD, MN, IA, NE, MO, KS, CO • 11- AK (*L7) • 12 - Caribbean (*P4) • 13 - Hawaii and Pacific Islands (*H6) • Suffix • Alphabetically sequential • Based on where living at time of issuance • Not Automatically changed but can be requested

14. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Special event calls • Any FCC-licensed amateur is eligible to apply for temporary use of a 1-by-1 format Special Event call sign. • Special Event call sign has the same ID requirements as your own call sign. You must also ID with your call sign once an hour.

15. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities T1B • Vanity call signs • You would use the vanity call sign program to obtain a call sign containing your initials. • Renewal of vanity call signs can be done on the Internet. There is a fee for the vanity call.

16. Technician Frequencies • 6 meters - 50 to 54 MHz • 2 meters - 144 to 148 MHz • 1.25 meters - 222 to 225 MHz • 219 to 220 MHz secondary use only for point to point digital message forwarding. • 70 centimeters* - 420 to 450 MHz • no 430 to 430 MHz north of line A (south of Canada.) • 33 centimeters* - 902 to 928 MHz • 23 centimeters* - 1240 to 1300 MHz • Other higher frequencies* • Can not interfere when we are a secondary user. • Hams may be a secondary user or have geographic/power limits.

17. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Reciprocal licensing • You must be named in the FCC amateur license database, or be an alien with reciprocal operating authorization before you can control an amateur station in the US. • A US amateur license allows you to transmit from wherever the Amateur Radio Service is regulated by the FCC or where reciprocal agreements are in place. • A US amateur operator may communicate with an amateur in a foreign country at any time unless prohibited by either government.

18. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • Spectrum sharing • When authorized by the FCC, amateur stations are allowed to communicate with stations operating in other radio services. • Communications on a regular basis that could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services are not permitted in the Amateur Radio Service. • When an amateur frequency band is said to be available on a secondary basis, amateurs may not cause harmful interference to primary users according to the FCC rules.

19. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • The station license • The government agency that grants your amateur radio license is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). • The FCC issues operator/station licenses in the Amateur Radio Service. • Anyone except a representative of a foreign government can become an amateur licensee in the US.

20. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • The station license(cont) • You may transmit after passing the required examination elements for your first amateur radio license and as soon as your license grant appears in the FCC's ULS database. • Your responsibility as a station licensee is to ensure your station is operated in accordance with the FCC rules. • There is no minimum age requirement to hold an amateur license.

21. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities T1D • Correct name and address on file • The FCC requires the station licensee mailing address to be kept up to date on the Universal Licensing System (ULS) database. • An Amateur radio operator must have a correct name and mailing address on file with the FCC to receive mail delivery from the FCC by the United States Postal Service. • The FCC may revoke or suspend a license if the mailing address of the holder is not current with the FCC. If mail is returned to the FCC as undeliverable this could be a cause.

22. FCC Rules and Station Licensee Responsibilities • License term, renewals, grace period • The normal term for an amateur station license grant is 10 years. • You are not permitted to continue to transmit if you forget to renew your amateur license and it expires. Transmitting is not allowed until the license is renewed and appears on the FCC ULS database. • The grace period during which the FCC will renew an expired 10-year license without re-examination is 2 years.

23. Remember… • Amateur Radio Station…carries on radio communications with necessary apparatus. • Amateur Operator … person named in FCC ULS database • Basic purposes … voluntary noncommercial service, particularly during emergencies • Two of Five … increase numbers of trained operators and improve international goodwill

24. Remember… • FCC makes and enforces rules (Part 97 CFR) • Harmful interference disturbs other communications • Ten years … two year grace period. Renew on line /no cost. (unless a vanity call) • ITU Regions assist management of frequency allocations … U.S. in Region 2

25. Remember… • Control an amateur station … name in FCC database or be an alien with reciprocal agreement to operate in U.S. • U.S. license allows transmissions … FCC regulated or reciprocal agreements • U.S. amateurs communicate with foreign countries unless prohibited by either governments • With authorization by FCC … communications with other radio services may be permitted

26. Remember… • Station licensee mailing address must be current, correct name and address, revocation of license possible if returned as undeliverable • Letters: A K N W … Numbers: 0 thru 9; assigned by district of applicant • Any amateur can apply for temporary 1 by 1 Special Event call sign, use normal ID requirements plus your call sign once an hour • Vanity call signs thru vanity call sign program … renewal on Internet, fee required • Technician, General, Extra

27. Remember…. • 52.525 MHz … 6-meter band • 146.52 MHz … 2-meter band • 223.50 MHz … 1.25-meter band • 443.350 MHz … 70-centimeter • 1296 MHz … 23-centimeter • Notice that as the frequency goes up, the wavelength goes down • (Sorry, you need to memorize these frequencies)

28. Question and Answer Period

29. Who can become an amateur licensee in the US? • A. Anyone except the representative of a foreign government • B. Only citizens of the United States • C. Anyone except the employee of the US government • D. Anyone

30. Answer: A. Anyone except a representative of a foreign government • What is the minimum age required to hold an amateur radio license? • A. 14 years or older • B. 18 years or older • C.70 years or younger • D. There is no minimum age requirement

31. Answer: D. here is no minimum requirement • What government agency grants your amateur radio license? • A. The department of defense • B. The department of sanitation • C. The Central Intelligence Agency • D. The Federal Communications Commission

32. Answer: D. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Uncle Charlie) • Which of the following services are issued an operator station license by the FCC? • A. Family Radio Service • B. Amateur Radio Service • C. The Citizens Band Radio Service • D. The General Mobile Radio Service

33. Answer: B. The Amateur Radio Service • What classes of amateur radio license may currently be earned? • A. Novice, Technician, General and Advanced • B. Technician, General and Advanced • C. Technician, General and Extra Class • D. Beginner, Operator and Super Nerd

34. Answer: C. Technician, General and Extra Class • Who is a volunteer examiner? • A. A certified instructor who volunteers to examine amateur teaching manuals • B. An FCC employee who accredits volunteers to administer amateur license exams • C. An amateur accredited by one or more VEC’s who volunteers to administer amateur exams • D. Any person who volunteers to examine amateur station equipment

35. Answer: C. An amateur accredited by one or more VEC’s who volunteers to administer amateur license exams • How many and what class of Volunteer examiners are required to administer an Element 2 technician written exam? • A. Three examiners holding any class of license • B. Two examiners holding any class of license • C. Three examiners holding a technician license • D. Three examiners holding a General class license or higher

36. Answer: D. Three examiners holding General Class or higher licenses • What is the normal term for an amateur radio station license grant? • A. 5 years • B. 7 years • C. 10 years • D. For the lifetime of the licensee

37. Answer: C. 10 years • What is the grace period which the FCC will renew an expired 10 year license without re-examination? • A> 2 years • B. 5 years • C. 10 years • D. There is no grace period

38. Answer: A. 2 years • When are you permitted to continue to transmit if you forget to renew your license and it expires? • A. Transmitting is not allowed until the license is renewed and appears on the FCC ULS database • B. When you identify using the suffix EXP • C. When you notify the FCC you intend to renew within 90 days • D. Transmitting is allowed any time during the 2 year grace period

39. Answer: A. Transmitting is not allowed until the license is renewed and appears on the FCC ULS database • Why must an amateur radio operator have a correct name and mailing address on file with the FCC? • A. To receive mail delivery from the FCC by the USPO service • B. So the FCC Field Office can contact the licensee • C. It isn’t required when you haven’t operated you station within a year • D. So the FCC can locate your transmitting location

40. Answer: A. To receive mail delivery from the FCC via the USPO Service • How many amateur radio oprator/ primary station licenses may be held by one person? • A. As many as desired • B. One for each portable transmitter • C. Only one • D. One for each station location

41. Answer: C. Only one • How soon may you transmit after passing the required examination elements for your first license? • A. Immediately • B. 30 days after the test date • C. As soon as your license grant appears in the FCC’s ULS database • D. As soon as you receive your license in the mail from the FCC

42. Answer: C. As soon as your license grant appears in the FCC’s ULS database • What is required before you can control an amateur station in the US? • A. You must hold an FCC restricted operators permit for a licensed radio station • B. You must submit an FCC Form 605 with a license examination fee • C. You must be named in the FCC amateur license database, or be an alien with reciprocal operating authorization • D. The FCC must issue you a Certificate of Successful Completion of Amateur Training

43. Answer: C. You must be named in the FCC’s license database, or be an alien with a reciprocal operating authorization. • Where does a US amateur radio license allow you to transmit? • A. From anywhere in the world • B. From wherever amateur radio service is regulated by the FCC or where reciprocal agreements are in place. • C. From a country that shares a third party agreement with the US • D. Only from the mailing address printed on your license

44. Answer: B. From anywhere the amateur radio service is regulated by the FCC or where reciprocal agreements are in place • How long is a CSCE valid for license upgrade purposes? • A. 365 days • B. Until the current license expires • C. Indefinitely • D. Until two years following the expiration of the current license

45. Answer: A. 365 days • That concludes this session. Please remember to study at home. We strongly encourage you take the practice tests on line at eHam.net and qrz.com!