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Path: news.unomaha.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!psinntp!wlnntp.psi.com!usenet From: "Art Morrison" <p01138@psilink.com> Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.policy Subject: FCC Part 97 Full Text (3/3) Date: Mon, 20 Dec 93 09:18:56 -0500 Organization: PSI Public Usenet Link Lines: 880 Message-ID: <2965482904.2.p01138@psilink.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: worldlink.com X-Mailer: PSILink-DOS (3.5.2) Attached is the third part of the Commission's Rules for Amateur Radio. It is ascii text, updated through November 8, 1993. 97.309 RTTY and data emission codes. - (a) Where authorized by 97.305(c) and 97.307(f) of this part, an amateur station may transmit a RTTY or data emission using the following specified digital codes: (1) The 5-unit, start-stop, International Telegraph Alphabet No. 2 code, defined in International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee Recommendation F.1, Division C (commonly known as Baudot). (2) The 7-unit code specified in International Radio Consultative Committee Recommendation CCIR 476-2 (1978), 476-3 (1982), 476-4 (1986) or 625 (1986) (commonly known as AMTOR). (3) The 7-unit code defined in American National Standards Institute X3.4-1977 or International Alphabet No. 5 defined in International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee Recommendation T.50 or in International Organization for Standardization, International Standard ISO 646 (1983), and extensions as provided for in CCITT Recommendation T.61 (Malaga-Torremolinos, 1984) (commonly known as ASCII). (b) Where authorized by 97.305(c) and 97.307(f) of this part, a station may transmit a RTTY or data emission using an unspecified digital code, except to a station in a country with which the United States does not have an agreement permitting the code to be used. RTTY and data emissions using unspecified digital codes must not be transmitted for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any communication. When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with the FCC Rules, a station must: (1) Cease the transmission using the unspecified digital code; (2) Restrict transmissions of any digital code to the extent instructed; (3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original information, of all digital communications transmitted. 97.311 SS emission types. - (a) SS emission transmissions by an amateur station are authorized only for communications between points within areas where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC. SS emission transmissions must not be used for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any communication. (b) Stations transmitting SS emission must not cause harmful interference to stations employing other authorized emissions, and must accept all interference caused by stations employing other authorized emissions. For the purposes of this paragraph, unintended triggering of carrier operated repeaters is not considered to be harmful interference. (c) Only the following types of SS emission transmissions are authorized (hybrid SS emissions transmissions involving both spreading techniques are prohibited): (1) Frequency hopping where the carrier of the transmitted signal is modulated with unciphered information and changes frequency at fixed intervals under the direction of a high speed code sequence. (2) Direct sequence where the information is modulo-2 added to a high speed code sequence. The combined information and code are then used to modulate the RF carrier. The high speed code sequence dominates the modulation function, and is the direct cause of the wide spreading of the transmitted signal. (d) The only spreading sequences that are authorized are from the output of one binary linear feedback shift register (which may be implemented in hardware or software). (1) Only the following sets of connections may be used: Number of stages Taps used in in shift register feedback 7 7, 1 13 13, 4, 3 and 1 19 19, 5, 2 and 1 (2) The shift register must not be reset other than by its feedback during an individual transmission. The shift register output sequence must be used without alteration. (3) The output of the last stage of the binary linear feedback shift register must be used as follows: (i) For frequency hopping transmissions using x frequencies, n consecutive bits from the shift register must be used to select the next frequency from a list of frequencies sorted in ascending order. Each consecutive frequency must be selected by a consecutive block of n bits. (Where n is the smallest integer greater than log(2) x.) (ii) For direct sequence transmissions using m-ary modulation, consecutive blocks of log,, m bits from the shift register must be used to select the transmitted signal during each interval. (e) The station records must document all SS emission transmissions and must be retained for a period of 1 year following the last entry. The station records must include sufficient information to enable the FCC, using the information contained therein, to demodulate all transmissions. The station records must contain at least the following: (1) A technical description of the transmitted signal; (2) Pertinent parameters describing the transmitted signal including the frequency or frequencies of operation and, where applicable, the chip rate, the code rate, the spreading function, the transmission protocol(s) including the method of achieving synchronization, and the modulation type; (3) A general description of the type of information being conveyed, (voice, text, memory dump, facsimile, television, etc.); (4) The method and, if applicable, the frequency or frequencies used for station identification; and (5) The date of beginning and the date of ending use of each type of transmitted signal. (f) When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with this part, a station licensee must: (1) Cease SS emission transmissions; (2) Restrict SS emission transmissions to the extent instructed; and (3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original information (voice, text, image, etc.) of all spread spectrum communications transmitted. (g) The transmitter power must not exceed 100 W. 97.313 Transmitter power standards. - (a) An amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications. (b) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 1.5 kW PEP. (c) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 200, W PEP on: (1) The 3.675-3.725 MHz, 7.10-7.15 MHz, 10.10-10.15 MHz and 21.1-21.2 MHz segment; (2) The 28.1-28.5 MHz segment when the control operator is a Novice or Technician operator; or (3) The 7.050-7.075 MHz segment when the station is within ITU Regions 1 or 3. (d) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 25 W PEP on the VHF 1.25 m band when the control operator is a Novice operator. (e) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 5 W PEP on the UHF 23 cm band when the control operator is a Novice operator. (f) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the UHF 70 cm band from an area specified in footnote US 7 to 2.106 of the FCC Rules, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the EIC of the applicable field facility and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base. An Earth station or telecommand station, however, may transmit on the 435-438 MHz segment with a maximum of 611 W effective radiated power (1 kW equivalent isotropically radiated power) without the authorization otherwise required. The transmitting antenna elevation angle between the lower half-power (-3 dB relative to the peak or antenna bore sight) point and the horizon must always be greater than 100. (g) No station may transmit with a transmitter power exceeding 50 W PEP on the 33 cm band from within 241 Km of the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range. Its boundaries are those portions of Texas and New Mexico bounded on the south by latitude 310 411 North, on the east by longitude 1040 111 West, on the north by latitude 340 301 North, and on the west by longitude 1070 301 West. 97.315 Type acceptance of external RF power amplifiers. - (a) No more than 1 unit of 1 model of an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed or modified during any calendar year by an amateur operator for use at a station without a grant of type acceptance. No amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed or modified by a non-amateur operator without a grant of type acceptance from the FCC. (b) Any external RF power amplifier or external RF power amplifier kit (see 2.815 of the FCC Rules), manufactured, imported or modified for use in a station or attached at any station must be type accepted for use in the amateur service in accordance with Subpart J of Part 2 of the FCC Rules. This requirement does not apply if one or more of the following conditions are met: (1) The amplifier is not capable of operation on frequencies below 144 MHz. For the purpose of this part, an amplifier will be deemed to be incapable of operation below 144 MHz if it is not capable of being easily modified to increase its amplification characteristics below 120 MHz and either: (i) The mean output power of the amplifier decreases, as frequency decreases from 144 MHz, to a point where 0 dB or less gain is exhibited at 120 MHz; or (ii) The amplifier is not capable of amplifying signals below 120 MHz even for brief periods without sustaining permanent damage to its amplification circuitry. (2) The amplifier was manufactured before April 28, 1978, and has been issued a marketing waiver by the FCC, or the amplifier was purchased before April 28, 1979, by an amateur operator for use at that amateur operator's station. (3) The amplifier was: (i) Constructed by the licensee, not from an external RF power amplifier kit, for use at the licensee's station; or (ii) Modified by the licensee for use at the licensee's station. (4) The amplifier is sold by an amateur operator to another amateur operator or to a dealer. (5) The amplifier is purchased in used condition by an equipment dealer from an amateur operator and the amplifier is further sold to another amateur operator for use at that operator's station. (c) A list of type accepted equipment may be inspected at FCC headquarters in Washington, DC, or at any FCC field location. Any external RF power amplifier appearing on this list as type accepted for use in the amateur service may be marketed for use in the amateur service. 97.317 Standards for type acceptance of external RF power amplifiers. - (a) To receive a grant of type acceptance, the amplifier must satisfy the spurious emission standards of 97.307(d) or (e) of this part, as applicable, when the amplifier is: (1) Operated at its full output power; (2) Placed in the "standby" or "off" positions, but still connected to the transmitter; and (3) Driven with at least 50 W mean RF input power (unless higher drive level is specified). (b) To receive a grant of type acceptance, the amplifier must not be capable of operation on any frequency or frequencies between 24 MHz and 35 MHz. The amplifier will be deemed incapable of such operation if it: (1) Exhibits no more than 6 dB gain between 24 MHz and 26 MHz and between 28 MHz and 35 MHz. (This gain will be determined by the ratio of the input RF driving signal (mean power measurement) to the mean RF output power of the amplifier); and (2) Exhibits no amplification (O dB gain) between 26 MHz and 28 MHz. (c) Type acceptance may be denied when denial would prevent the use of these amplifiers in services other than the amateur service. The following features will result in dismissal or denial of an application for type acceptance: (1) Any accessible wiring which, when altered, would permit operation of the amplifier in a manner contrary to the FCC Rules; (2) Circuit boards or similar circuitry to facilitate the addition of components to change the amplifier's operating characteristics in a manner contrary to the FCC Rules; (3) Instructions for operation or modification of the amplifier in a manner contrary to FCC Rules; (4) Any internal or external controls or adjustments to facilitate operation of the amplifier in a manner contrary to the FCC Rules; (5) Any internal RF sensing circuitry or any external switch, the purpose of which is to place the amplifier in the transmit mode; (6) The incorporation of more gain in the amplifier than is necessary to operate in the amateur service; for purposes of this paragraph, the amplifier must: (i) Not be capable of achieving designed output power when driven with less than 40 W mean RF input power; (ii) Not be capable of amplifying the input RF driving signal by more than 15 dB, unless the amplifier has a designed transmitter power of less than 1.5 kW (in such a case, gain must be reduced by the same number of dB as the transmitter power relationship to 1.5 kW. This gain limitation is determined by the ratio of the input RF driving signal to the RF output power of the amplifier where both signals are expressed in peak envelope power or mean power); (iii) Not exhibit more gain than permitted by paragraph (c) (6) (ii) of this section when driven by an RF input signal of less than 50 W mean power; and (iv) Be capable of sustained operation at its designed power level; (7) Any attenuation in the input of the amplifier which when removed or modified, would permit the amplifier to function at its designed transmitter power when driven by an RF frequency input signal of less than 50 W mean power; or (8) Any other features designed to facilitate operation in a telecommunication service other than the Amateur Radio Services, such as the Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service. Subpart E - Providing Emergency Communications 97.401 Operation during a disaster. - (a) When normal communi- cation systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions. (b) When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a natural disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is not regulated by the FCC, a station assisting in meeting essential communication needs and facilitating relief actions may do so only in accord with ITU Resolution No. 640 (Geneva, 1979). The 80 m, 75 m, 40 m, 30 M, 20 m, 17 M, 15 m, 12 m, and 2 m bands may be used for these purposes. (c) When a disaster disrupts normal communication systems in a particular area, the FCC may declare a temporary state of communication emergency. The declaration will set forth any special conditions and special rules to be observed by stations during the communication emergency. A request for a declaration of a temporary state of emergency should be directed to the EIC in the area concerned. (d) A station in, or within 92.6 km of, Alaska may transmit emissions J3E and R3E on the channel at 5.1675 MHz for emergency communications. The channel must be shared with stations licensed in the Alaska-private fixed service. The transmitter power must not exceed 150 W. 97.403 Safety of life and protection of property. - No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available. 97.405 Station in distress. - (a) No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station in distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its condition and location, and obtain assistance. (b) No provision of these rules prevents the use by a station, in the exceptional circumstances described in paragraph (a) of this section, of any means of radiocommunications at its disposal to assist a station in distress. 97.407 Radio amateur civil emergency service. - (a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club, or military recreation station and it is certified by a civil defense organization as registered with that organization, or it is an FCC-licensed RACES station. No person may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds a FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that organization. (b) The frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control operator are available to stations transmitting communications in RACES on a shared basis with the amateur service. In the event of an emergency which necessitates the invoking of the President's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of Section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 USC 606, RACES stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the following frequencies: (1) The 1800-1825 kHz, 1975-2000 kHz, 3.50-3.55 MHz, 3.93-3.98 MHz, 3.984-4.000 MHz, 7.079-7.125 MHz, 7.245-7.255 MHz, 10.10-10.15 MHz, 14.047-14.053 MHz, 14.22-14.23 MHz, 14.331-14.350 MHz, 21.047-21.053 MHz, 21.228-21.267 MHz, 28.55-28.75 MHz, 29.237-29.273 MHz, 29.45-29.65 MHz, 50.35-50.75 MHz, 52-54 MHz, 144.50-145.71 MHz, 146-148 MHz, 2390-2450 MHz segments; (2) The 1.25 m, 70 cm and 23 cm bands; and (3) The channels at 3.997 MHz and 53.30 MHz may be used in emergency areas when required to make initial contact with a military unit and for communications with military stations on matters requiring coordination. (c) A RACES station may only communicate with: (1) Another RACES station; (2) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization; (3) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to communicate with RACES stations; (4) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC. (d) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only communicate with: (1) A RACES station licensed to the civil defense organization with which the amateur station is registered; (2) The following stations upon authorization of the responsible civil defense official for the organization with which the amateur station is registered: (i) A RACES station licensed to another civil defense organization; (ii) An amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense organization; (iii) A United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to communicate with RACES stations; and (iv) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC. (e) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil defense organization for the area served. Only civil defense communications of the following types may be transmitted: (1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public safety, or affecting the national defense or security during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies; (2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and the combating of armed attack or sabotage; (3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public information or instructions to the civilian population essential to the activities of the civil defense organization or other authorized governmental or relief agencies; and (4) Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as ordered by the responsible civil defense organization served. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week. With the approval of the chief officer for emergency planning in the applicable State, Commonwealth, District or territory, however, such tests and drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours no more than twice in any calendar year. Subpart F - Qualifying Examination Systems 97.501 Qualifying for an amateur operator license. - An applicant must pass an examination for the issuance of a new amateur operator license and for each change in operator class. Each applicant for the class of operator license specified below must pass, or otherwise receive examination credit for, the following examination elements: (a) Amateur Extra Class operator: Elements 1(C), 2, 3(A), 3(B), 4(A) and 4(B); (b) Advanced Class operator: Elements 1(B) or 1(C), 2, 3(A), 3(B) and 4(A); (c) General Class operator: Elements 1(B) or 1(C), 2, 3(A) and 3(B); (d) Technician Class operator: Elements 2 and 3(A); (e) Novice Class operator: Elements 1(A) or 1(B) or 1(C) and 2. 97.503 Element standards. - (a) A telegraphy examination must be sufficient to prove that the examinee has the ability to send correctly by hand and to receive correctly by ear texts in the international Morse code at not less than the prescribed speed, using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark and prosigns ar, bt, and sk. (1) Element 1(A) : 5 words per minute; (2) Element 1(B): 13 words per minute; (3) Element 1(C): 20 words per minute. (b) A written examination must be such as to prove that the examinee possesses the operational and technical qualifications required to perform properly the duties of an amateur service licensee. Each written examination must be comprised of a question set as follows: (1) Element 2: 30 questions concerning the privileges of a Novice Class operator license. The minimum passing score is 22 questions answered correctly. (2) Element 3(A): 25 questions concerning the additional privileges of a Technician Class operator license. The minimum passing score is 19 questions answered correctly. (3) Element 3(B): 25 questions concerning the additional privileges of a General Class operator license. The minimum passing score is 19 questions answered correctly. (4) Element 4(A): 50 questions concerning the additional privileges of an Advanced Class operator license. The minimum passing score is 37 questions answered correctly. (5) Element 4(B): 40 questions concerning the additional privileges of an Amateur Extra Class operator license. The minimum passing score is 30 questions answered correctly. (c) The topics and number of questions required in each question set are listed below for the appropriate examination element: Topics Element: 2 3(A) 3(B) 4(A) 4(B) (1) FCC Rules for the amateur radio services 10 5 4 6 8 (2) Amateur station operating procedures 2 3 3 1 4 (3) Radio wave propagation characteristics of amateur service frequency bands 1 3 3 2 2 (4) Amateur radio practices 4 4 5 4 4 (5) Electrical principles as applied to amateur station equipment 4 2 2 10 6 (6) Amateur station equipment circuit components 2 2 1 6 4 (7) Practical circuits employed in amateur station equipment 2 1 1 10 4 (8) Signals and emissions transmitted by amateur stations 2 2 2 6 4 (9) Amateur station antennas and feed lines 3 3 4 5 4 97.505 Element credit. - (a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an examinee holding any of the following documents: (1) An unexpired (or within the grace period) FCC-issued amateur operator license: The least elements required for the license held. For a Technician Class operator license issued before March 21, 1987, credit must also be given for Element 3 (B) . (2) A CSCE: Each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the previous 365 days. (3) A photocopy of a FCC Form 610 which was submitted to the FCC indicating the examinee qualified for a Novice Class operator license within the previous 365 days: Elements 1(A) and 2. (4) An unexpired (or expired less than 5 years) FCC-issued commercial radiotelegraph operator license or permit: Element 1(C) . (5) A current, or expired but within the grace period for renewal, Novice, Technician plus a CSCE indicating that the person passed element 1(A) or 1(B) , Technician issued before February 14, 1991, General, or Advanced Class operator license, and a Form 610 containing: (i) A physician's certification stating that because the person is an individual with a severe handicap, the duration of which will extend for more than 365 days beyond the date of certification, the person is unable to pass a 13 or 20 words per minute telegraphy examination; and (ii) A release signed by the person permitting disclosure to the FCC of medical information pertaining to the person's handicap: Element 1(C) . (b) No examination credit, except as herein provided, shall be allowed on the basis of holding or having held any other license. 97.507 Preparing an examination. - (a) Each telegraphy message and each written question set administered to an examinee must be prepared by a VE holding an FCC-issued Amateur Extra Class operator license. A telegraphy message or written question set, however, may also be prepared for the following elements by a VE holding an FCC-issued operator license of the Class indicated: (1) Element 3 (B) : Advanced Class operator. (2) Elements 1(A) and 3(A): Advanced or General Class operator. (3) Element 2: Advanced, General or Technician Class operator. (b) Each question set administered to an examinee must utilize questions taken from the applicable question pool. (c) Each telegraphy message and each written question set administered to an examinee for an amateur operator license must be prepared, or obtained from a supplier, by the administering VEs according to instructions from the coordinating VEC. (d) A telegraphy examination must consist of a message sent in the international Morse code at no less than the prescribed speed for a minimum of 5 minutes. The message must contain each required telegraphy character at least once. No message known to the examinee may be administered in a telegraphy examination. Each 5 letters of the alphabet must be counted as 1 word. Each numeral, punctuation mark, and prosign must be counted as 2 letters of the alphabet. 97.509 Administering an examination. - (a) Each examination for an amateur operator license must be administered at a location and a time specified by the administering VEs. Each administering VE must be present and observe the examinee throughout the entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions. (b) Each examinee must comply with the instructions given by the administering VEs. (c) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered to any examinee. Neither the same telegraphy message nor the same question set may be readministered to the same examinee. (d) Passing a telegraphy receiving examination is adequate proof of an examinee's ability to both send and receive telegraphy. The administering VEs, however, may also include a sending segment in a telegraphy examination. (e) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering VEs must immediately grade the examineers answers. The administering VEs are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's answers. (f) When the examinee is credited for all examination elements required for the operator license sought, the administering VEs must certify on the examineers application form that the applicant is qualified for the license and report the basis for the qualification. (g) When the examinee does not score a passing grade on an examination element, the administering VEs must return the application form to the examinee and inform the examinee of the grade. (h) The administering VEs must accommodate an examinee whose physical disabilities require a special examination procedure. The administering VEs may require a physician's certification indicating the nature of the disability before determining which, if any, special procedures must be used. (i) The FCC may: (1) Administer any examination element itself; (2) Readminister any examination element previously administered by VEs, either itself or under the supervision of VEs designated by the FCC; or (3) Cancel the operator and station licenses of any licensee who fails to appear for readministration of an examination when directed by the FCC, or who does not successfully complete any required element which is readministered. In an instance of such cancellation, the person will be issued operator and station licenses consistent with completed examination elements that have not been invalidated by not appearing for, or by failing, the examination upon readministration. 97.511 Amateur operator license examination. - (a) Each session where an examination for an amateur operator license is administered must be coordinated by a VEC. Each administering VE must be accredited by the coordinating VEC. (b) Each examination must be administered by 3 VEs, each of whom must hold an FCC-issued amateur operator license of the class specified below: (1) For a Novice or Technician Class operator license examination, the administering VEs must hold Amateur Extra, Advanced, or General Class operator licenses; and (2) For a General, Advanced, or Amateur Extra Class operator license examination, the administering VEs must hold Amateur Extra Class operator licenses. (c) The administering VEs must make a public announcement before administering an examination for an amateur operator license. The number of candidates at any examination may be limited. (d) The administering VEs must issue a CSCE to an examinee who scores a passing grade on an examination element. (e) Within 10 days of the administration of a successful examination for an amateur operator license, the administering VEs must submit the application to the coordinating VEC. If telegraphy element credit is claimed under 97.505(a)(5), the physician's certification and the patient's release on the license application, Form 610, must be completed. 97.515 Volunteer examiner requirements. - (a) Each administering VE must be at least 18 years of age. (b) Any person who owns a significant interest in, or is an employee of, any company or other entity that is engaged in the manufacture or distribution of equipment used in connection with amateur station transmissions, or in the preparation or distribution of any publication used in preparation for obtaining amateur licenses, is ineligible to be an administering VE. An employee who does not normally communicate with that part of an entity engaged in the manufacture or distribution of such equipment, or in the preparation or distribution of any publication used in preparation for obtaining amateur operator licenses, is eligible to be an administering VE. (c) No person may be a VE if that person's amateur station license or amateur operator license has ever been revoked or suspended. (d) No VE may administer an examination to that VE's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. 97.517 Volunteer examiner conduct. - No VE may administer or certify any examination by fraudulent means or for monetary or other consideration including reimbursement in any amount in excess of that permitted. Violation of this provision may result in the revocation of the VE's amateur station license and the suspension of the VE's amateur operator license. 97.519 Coordinating examination sessions. - (a) A VEC must coordinate the efforts of VEs in preparing and administering examinations. (b) At the completion of each examination session coordinated, the coordinating VEC must collect the applications and test results from the administering VEs. The coordinating VEC must screen and forward all applications for qualified examinees within 10 days of their receipt from the administering VEs to: FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245. (c) Each VEC must make any examination records available to the FCC, upon request. 97.521 VEC qualifications. - No organization may serve as a VEC unless it has entered into a written agreement with the FCC. The VEC must abide by the terms of the agreement. In order to be eligible to be a VEC, the entity must: (a) Be an organization that exists for the purpose of furthering the amateur service; (b) Be capable of serving as a VEC in at least the VEC region (see Appendix 2) proposed; (c) Agree to coordinate examinations for any class of amateur operator license; (d) Agree to assure that, for any examination, every examinee qualified under these rules is registered without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin or membership (or lack thereof) in any amateur service organization; (e) Not be engaged in the manufacture or distribution of equipment used in connection with amateur station transmissions, or in the preparation or distribution of any publication used in preparation for obtaining amateur licenses, unless a persuasive showing is made to the FCC that preventive measures have been taken to preclude any possible conflict of interest. 97.523 Question pools. - All VECs must cooperate in maintaining one question pool for each written examination element. Each question pool must contain at least 10 times the number of questions required for a single examination. Each question pool must be published and made available to the public prior to its use for making a question set. Each question on each VEC question pool must be prepared by a VE holding the required FCC-issued operator license. See 97.507(a) of this part. 97.525 Accrediting VEs. - (a) No VEC may accredit a person as a VE if: (1) The person does not meet minimum VE statutory qualifications or minimum qualifications as prescribed by this part; (2) The FCC does not accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of the person; (3) The VEC determines that the person is not competent to perform the VE functions; or (4) The VEC determines that questions of the person's integrity or honesty could compromise the examinations. (b) Each VEC must seek a broad representation of amateur operators to be VEs. No VEC may discriminate in accrediting VEs on the basis of race, sex, religion or national origin; nor on the basis of membership (or lack thereof) in an amateur service organization; nor on the basis of the person accepting or declining to accept reimbursement. 97.527 Reimbursement for expenses. - (a) VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by examinees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in preparing, processing, administering, or coordinating an examination for an amateur operator license. (b) The maximum amount of reimbursement from any one examinee for any one examination at a particular session regardless of the number of examination elements taken must not exceed that announced by the FCC in a Public Notice. (The basis for the maximum fee is $4.00 for 1984, adjusted annually each January 1 thereafter for changes in the Department of Labor Consumer Price Index.) [The FCC announced that effective January 1, 1994, the maximum allowable reimbursement fee for an amateur operator license examination will be $5.75.] (c) Each VE and each VEC accepting reimbursement must maintain records of out-of-pocket expenses and reimbursements for each examination session. Written certifications must be filed with the FCC each year that all expenses for the period from January 1 to December 31 of the preceding year for which reimbursement was obtained were necessarily and prudently incurred. (d) The expense and reimbursement records must be retained by each VE and each VEC for 3 years and be made available to the FCC upon request. (e) Each VE must forward the certification by January 15 of each year to the coordinating VEC for the examinations for which reimbursement was received. Each VEC must forward all such certifications and its own certification to the FCC on or before January 31 of each year. (f) Each VEC must disaccredit any VE failing to provide the certification. The VEC must advise the FCC on January 31 of each year of any VE that it has disaccredited for this reason. Appendix 1 - Places Where the Amateur Service is Regulated by the FCC In ITU Region 2, the amateur service is regulated by the FCC within the territorial limits of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Caribbean Insular areas [Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands (50 islets and cays) and Navassa Island], and Johnston Island (Islets East, Johnston, North and Sand) and Midway Island (Islets Eastern and Sand) in the Pacific Insular areas. In ITU Region 3, the amateur service is regulated by the FCC within the Pacific Insular territorial limits of American Samoa (seven islands), Baker Island, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Island (more than 50 islets) and Wake Island (Islets Peale, Wake and Wilkes). Appendix 2 - VEC Regions 1. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. 2. New Jersey and New York. 3. Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. 4. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. 5. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. 6. California. 7. Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 8. Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. 9. Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. 10. Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. 11. Alaska. 12. Caribbean Insular areas. 13. Hawaii and Pacific Insular areas.