QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/files/arrl/rib/part97.pt1

Text File | 1994-11-20 | 31KB | 645 lines

PART 97 -
AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
(current as of December 1, 1992)

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 communications.
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  Space Telecommand station.
97.213  Telecommand of an amateur station.
97.215  Telecommand of model craft.
97.216  Telemetry.


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 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 protection 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


97.1  Basis and purpose.

     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.
     (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.



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 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 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) 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 intersection of 48 degrees N, 120 degrees W,
thence along parallel 48 degrees N, to the intersection of 95
degrees W, thence by great circle arc through the southernmost
point of Duluth, MN, thence by great circle arc to 45 degrees N,
85 degrees W, thence southward along meridian 85 degrees W, to its
intersection with parallel 41 degrees N, thence along parallel 41
degrees N, to its intersection with meridian 82 degrees 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 degrees 15 minutes N on
the north, 78 degrees 30 minutes W on the east, 37 degrees 30
minutes N on the south and 80 degrees 30 minutes W on the west.
          (29) 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).
          (30) Question pool.  All current examination questions
for a designated written examination element.
          (31) Question set. A series of examination questions on
a given examination selected from the question pool.
          (32) Radio Regulations.  The latest ITU Radio
Regulations to which the United States is a party.
          (33) 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.
          (34) 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.
          (35) Repeater.  An amateur station that automatically
retransmits the signals of other stations.
          (36) Space station.  An amateur station located more
than 50 km above the Earth's surface.
          (37) 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.
          (38) 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.
          (39) Telecommand. A one-way transmission to initiate,
modify, or terminate functions of a device at a distance.
          (40) Telecommand station. An amateur station that
transmits communications to initiate, modify, or terminate
functions of a space station.
          (41) Telemetry. A one-way transmission of measurements
at a distance from the measuring instrument.
          (42) 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).
          (43) VE.  Volunteer examiner.
          (44) 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 Section 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, J
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.



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 authorization for an amateur
station.
     (c) When a station is transmitting on any amateur 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 amateur 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 for 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
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 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 reciprocal 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 is eligible
for a reciprocal permit for alien amateur license.*
(* "license" should likely read "licensee," as elsewhere in the
paragraph.)
          (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 FCC Rules of all transmitting
apparatus under the physical control of the station licensee at
points where the amateur radio service is 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.  Only a person holding one of the following documents may
be the control operator of a station:
     (a) An amateur 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.
     (c) An amateur service license issued to a Canadian citizen
by the Government of Canada.



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 station.
     (b) A person holding a Novice, Technician, General, or
Advanced 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.



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
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.



97.13  Restrictions on station location.

     (a) Before placing an amateur station on land of environmental
importance or that is significant in American history, architecture
or culture, the licensee may be required to take certain actions
prescribed by Sections 1.1305 - 1.1319 of the FCC Rules.
     (b) An amateur 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 the EIC pursuant
to Section 97.221 of this Part.  Geographical coordinates of the
facilities that require protection are listed in Section 0.121(c)
of the FCC Rules.



97.15  Station antenna structures.

     (a) Unless the amateur station licensee has received prior
approval from the FCC, no antenna structure, including and (*)
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 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 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 (c) 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.]



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 application 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.
     (c) Each application 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 reciprocal
permit for alien amateur licensee.  The application must be
submitted to the FCC, 1270 Fairfield Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.
     (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.



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, unless it has been lost, mutilated or
destroyed.  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 1270 Fairfield Rd.
Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.
     (c) 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 is not valid.
A license renewed during the grace period must 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 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 post office box, whether provided by the United
States Postal Service or by any other party, a rural or highway
contract route designation and box number, and general delivery
are unsuitable as a station location.)



97.23  License term.

     (a) An amateur service license is normally issued for a
10-year term.
     (b) A reciprocal permit for alien amateur license is normally
issued 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 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 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 thirty 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. 316.



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, 1270 Fairfield Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17235-7245.  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.

*eof