Contents

Contents for Subpart A

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 or reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee.
97.19 Application for a vanity call sign.
97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license.
97.23 Mailing address.
97.25 License term.
97.27 FCC modification of station license.
97.29 Replacement license document.

Subpart A--General Provisions

97.1 Basis and purpose.

(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.

(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications 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.

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97.3 Definitions.

(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 service. 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, other than in a message forwarding system, that is 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 transmitted signal is attenuated at least 26 dB below the mean power of the transmitted signal within the band.

(9) Beacon. An amateur station transmitting communications for the purposes of observation of propagation and reception or other related experimental activities.

(10) Broadcasting. Transmissions intended for reception by the general public, either direct or relayed.

(11) Call sign system. The method used to select a call sign for amateur station over-the-air identification purposes. The call sign systems are:

(i) Sequential call sign system. The call sign is selected by the FCC from an alphabetized list corresponding to the geographic region of the licensee's mailing address and operator class. The call sign is shown on the license. The FCC will issue public announcements detailing the procedures of the sequential call sign system.

(ii) Vanity call sign system. The call sign is selected by the FCC from a list of call signs requested by the licensee. The call sign is shown on the license. The FCC will issue public announcements detailing the procedures of the vanity call sign system.

(12) 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.

(13) Control point. The location at which the control operator function is performed.

(14) CSCE. Certificate of successful completion of an examination.

(15) 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.

(16) EIC. Engineer in Charge of an FCC Field Facility.

(17) External RF Power Amplifier. A device capable of increasing power output when used in conjunction with, but not an integral part of, a transmitter.

(18) 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.

(19) FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.

(20) FCC. Federal Communications Commission.

(21) 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.

(22) 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.

(23) Indicator. Words, letters or numerals appended to and separated from the call sign during the station identification.

(24) Information bulletin. A message directed only to amateur operators consisting solely of subject matter of direct interest to the amateur service.

(25) 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.

(26) ITU. International Telecommunication Union.

(27) Line A. Begins at Aberdeen, WA, running by great circle arc to the intersection of 48 N, 120 W, thence along parallel 48 N, to the intersection of 95 W, thence by great circle arc through the southernmost point of Duluth, MN, thence by great circle arc to 45 N, 85 W, thence southward along meridian 85 W, to its intersection with parallel 41 N, thence along parallel 41 N, to its intersection with meridian 82 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.

(28) Message forwarding system. A group of amateur stations participating in a voluntary, cooperative, interactive arrangement where communications are sent from the control operator of an originating station to the control operator of one or more destination stations by one or more forwarding stations.

(29) Local control. The use of a control operator who directly manipulates the operating adjustments in the station to achieve compliance with the FCC Rules.

(30) Message forwarding system. A group of amateur stations participating in a voluntary, cooperative, interactive arrangement where communications are sent from the control operator of an originating station to the control operator of one or more destination stations by one or more forwarding stations.

(31) National Radio Quiet Zone. The area in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia bounded by 39 15' N on the north, 78 30' W on the east, 37 30' N on the south and 80 30' W on the west.

(32) Physician. For the purposes of this Part, a person who is licensed to practice in a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, as either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO).

(33) Question pool. All current examination questions for a designated written examination element.

(34) Question set. A series of examination questions on a given examination selected from the question pool.

(35) Radio Regulations. The latest ITU Radio Regulations to which the United States is a party.

(36) 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.

(37) 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.

(38) Repeater. An amateur station that simultaneously retransmits the transmission of another amateur station on a different channel or channels.

(39) Space station. An amateur station located more than 50 km above the Earth's surface.

(40) Space telemetry. A one-way transmission from a space station of measurements made from the measuring instruments in a spacecraft, including those relating to the functioning of the spacecraft.

(41) 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.

(42) Telecommand. A one-way transmission to initiate, modify, or terminate functions of a device at a distance.

(43) Telecommand station. An amateur station that transmits communications to initiate, modify, or terminate functions of a space station.

(44) Telemetry. A one-way transmission of measurements at a distance from the measuring instrument.

(45) 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).

(46) VE. Volunteer examiner.

(47) 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.

(c) 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.

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97.5 Station license required.

(1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and at a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC;

(2) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in the United States; or

(3) More than 50 km above the Earth's surface aboard any craft that is documented or registered in the United States.

(b) The types of station licenses are:

(1) An operator/primary station license. One, but only one, operator/primary station license is granted to each person who is qualified to be an amateur operator. The primary station license is granted together with the amateur operator license. Except for a representative of a foreign government, any person who qualifies by examination is eligible to apply for an operator/primary station license. The operator/primary station license document is printed on FCC Form 660.

(2) A club station license. A club station license is granted only to the person who is the license trustee designated by an officer of the club. The trustee must be a person who has been granted an Amateur Extra, Advanced, General, Technician Plus, 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. The club station license document is printed on FCC Form 660.

(3) A military recreation station license. A military recreation station license is granted 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 person must not be a representative of a foreign government. The person need not have been granted an amateur operator license. The military recreation station license document is printed on FCC Form 660.

(4) A RACES station license. A RACES station license is granted 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 be the civil defense official responsible for coordination of all civil defense activities in the area concerned. The custodian must not be a representative of a foreign government. The custodian need not have been granted an amateur operator license. The RACES station license document is printed on FCC Form 660.

(c) The types of documents are:

(1) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (FCC Form 610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC.

(2) An amateur service license issued to the person by the Government of Canada. The person must be a Canadian citizen.

(d) A person who has been granted a station license of the type listed in paragraph (b), or who holds an unexpired document of the type listed in paragraph (c), is authorized to use in accordance with the FCC Rules all transmitting apparatus under the physical control of the station licensee at points where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC.

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97.7 Control operator required.

(a) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee (FCC Form 610-AL) issued to the person by the FCC, or

(b) An amateur service license issued to the person by the Government of Canada. The person must be a Canadian citizen.

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97.9 Operator license.

(b) A person who has been granted an operator license of Novice, Technician, Technician Plus, General, or Advanced class and who has properly submitted to the administering VEs an application document, FCC Form 610, for an operator license of a higher class, and who holds a CSCE indicating that the person has completed the necessary examinations within the previous 365 days, is authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of the higher operator class until final disposition of the application or until 365 days following the passing of the examination, whichever comes first.

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97.11 Stations aboard ships or 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 aircraft.

(c) 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.

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97.13 Restrictions on station locations.

(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 97.121 of this Part. Geographical coordinates of the facilities that require protection are listed in Section 0.121(c) of the FCC Rules.

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97.15 Station antenna structures.

(b) Unless the amateur station 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 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 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 elevation 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 shorter 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.

(c) 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 is required or if the structure must be registered, painted, or lighted 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 (c) of this section, the licensee must notify the FAA using FAA Form 7460-1 and the structure owner must register the structure using 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.]

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97.17 Application for new license or reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee.

(b) Each application for a new amateur service license must be made on the proper document:

(1) FCC Form 610 for a new operator/primary station license;

(2) FCC Form 610-A for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee; and

(3) FCC Form 610-B for a new amateur service club or military recreation station license.

(c) Each application for a new operator/primary station license must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying examination.

(d) Any eligible person may apply for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee. The application document, FCC Form 610-A, must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.

(1) The person must be a citizen of a country with which the United States has arrangements to grant reciprocal operating permits to visiting alien amateur operators is eligible to apply for reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee.

(2) The person must be a citizen of the same country that issued the amateur service license.

(3) 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.

(4) No person who has been granted an amateur operator license is eligible for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee.

(e) No person shall obtain or attempt to obtain, or assist another person to obtain or attempt to obtain, an amateur service license or reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee by fraudulent means.

(f) One unique call sign will be shown on the license of each new primary, club, and military recreation station. The call sign will be selected by the sequential call sign system.

(g) Each application for a new club or military recreation station license must be submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. No new license for a RACES station will be issued.

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97.19 Application for a vanity call sign.

(a) A person who has been granted an operator/primary station license or a license trustee who has been granted a club station license is eligible to make application for modification of the license, or the renewal thereof, to show a call sign selected by the vanity call sign system. RACES and military recreation stations are not eligible for a vanity call sign.

(b) Each application for a modification of an operator/primary or club station license, or the renewal thereof, to show a call sign selected by the vanity call sign system must be made on FCC Form 610-V. The form must be submitted with the proper fee to the address specified in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide.

(c) Only unassigned call signs that are available to the sequential call sign system are available to the vanity call sign system with the following exceptions:

(1) A call sign shown on an expired license is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2 years following the expiration of the license.

(2) A call sign shown on a surrendered, revoked, set aside, cancelled, or voided license is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2 years following the date such action is taken.

(3) Except for an applicant who is the spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law, and except for an applicant who is a club station license trustee acting with the written consent of at least one relative, as listed above, of a person now deceased, the call sign shown on the license of a person now deceased is not available to the vanity call sign system for 2 years following the person's death, or for 2 years following the expiration of the license, whichever is sooner.

(d)The vanity call sign requested by an applicant must be selected from the group of call signs corresponding to the same or lower class of operator license held by the applicant as designed in the sequential call sign system.

(1) The applicant must request that the call sign shown on the current license be vacated and provide a list of up to 25 call signs in order of preference.

(2) The first assignable call sign from the applicant's list will be shown on the license grant. When none of those call signs are assignable, the call sign vacated by the applicant will be shown on the license grant.

(3) Vanity call signs will be selected from those call signs assignable at the time the application is processed by the FCC.

(4) A call sign designated under the sequential call sign system for Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean Insular Areas, and Pacific Insular areas will be assigned only to a primary or club station whose licensee's mailing address is in the corresponding state, commonwealth, or island. This limitation does not apply to an applicant for the call sign as the spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or in-law, of the former holder now deceased.

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97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license.

(1) Must apply for a modification of the license as necessary to show the correct mailing address, licensee name, club name, license trustee name, or license custodian name. The application document must be submitted to: FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. For an operator/primary station license, the application must be made on FCC Form 610. For a club, military recreation, or RACES station license, the application must be made on FCC Form 610-B.

(2) May apply for a modification of the license to show a higher operator class. The application must be made on FCC Form 610 and must be submitted to the VEs administering the qualifying examination.

(3) May apply for renewal of the license for another term. (The FCC may mail to the licensee an FCC Form 610-R that may be used for this purpose.)

(i) When the license does not show a call sign selected by the vanity call sign system, the application may be made on FCC Form 610-R if it is received from the FCC. If the Form 610-R is not received from the FCC within 30 days of the expiration date of the license for an operator/primary station license, the application may be made on FCC Form 610. For a club, military recreation, or RACES station license, the application may be made on FCC Form 610-B. The application may be submitted no more than 90 days before its expiration to: FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. When the application for renewal of the license has been received by the FCC at 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 prior to the license expiration date, the license operating authority is continued until the final disposition of the application.

(ii) When the license shows a call sign selected by the vanity call sign system, the application must be filed as specified in Section 97.19(b). When the application has been received at the proper address specified in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Fee Filing Guide prior to the license expiration date, the license operating authority is continued until final disposition of the application.

(4) May apply for a modification of the license to show a different call sign selected by the sequential call sign system. The application document must be submitted to: FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. The application must be made on FCC Form 610. This modification is not available to club, military recreation, or RACES stations.

(b) A person who had been granted an amateur station license, but the license has expired, may apply for renewal of the license for another term during a 2 year filing grace period. The application document must be received by the FCC at 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 prior to the end of the grace period. For an operator/primary station license, the application must be made on FCC Form 610. For a club, military recreation, or RACES station license, the application must be made on FCC Form 610-B. Unless and until the license is renewed, no privileges in the Part are conferred.

(c) Each application for a modified or renewed amateur service license must be accompanied by a photocopy (or the original) of the license document unless an application for renewal using FCC Form 610-R is being made, or unless the original document has been lost, mutilated or destroyed.

(d) Unless the holder of a station license requests a change in call sign, the same call sign will be assigned to the station upon renewal or modification of a station license.

(e) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee cannot be renewed. A new reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee may be issued upon proper application.

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97.23 Mailing address.

(b) When there is a change in the mailing address for a person who has been granted an amateur operator/primary station license, the person must file a timely application for a modification of the license. Revocation of the station license or suspension of the operator license may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the person failed to provide the correct mailing address.

(c) When a person who has been granted a reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee changes the mailing address where he or she can receive mail delivery by the United States Postal Service, the person must file an application for a new permit. Cancellation of the reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee may result when correspondence from the FCC is returned as undeliverable because the permittee failed to provide the correct mailing address.

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97.25 License term.

(b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee is normally granted for a 1-year term.

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97.27 FCC modification of station license.

(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 modification. The order will not become final until the licensee is notified in writing of the proposed action 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 order of modification will be handled in accordance with the provisions of 47 U.S.C. S 316.

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97.29 Replacement license document.

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