Amateur Communications & Operations FAQ

Section 97.113 provides four general standards for you to observe. In summary, any amateur-operator-to-amateur-operator communication is permitted, unless it is:

1. Specifically prohibited, or
2. Transmitted for compensation, or
3. Done for the pecuniary benefit of the station control operator, or
4. Done for the pecuniary benefit of the station control operator's employer.

A request to develop and maintain a list of anecdotal examples has been considered. See Report and Order in PR Docket No. 92-136 adopted July 15, 1993, 58 Fed. Reg. 43071, August 13, 1993; 8 FCC Rcd 5072 (1993). The FCC, however, declined to devote staff resources to such a project. In summary, there are two reasons:

1. There would have to be thousands of examples
2. To maintain a list would necessitate that the FCC intrude upon the day-to-day functioning of the amateur service to a far greater degree than is desirable.

Section 97.113 contains the specific prohibitions. In summary, your amateur station may not transmit:

1. Communications specifically prohibited by the Rules;
2. Communications for hire or for material compensation, direct or indirect, paid or promised, except as otherwise provided in the Rules;
3. Communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer. You may, however, notify other amateur operators of the availability for sale or trade of apparatus normally used in an amateur station, provided that such activity is not conducted on a regular basis;
4. Music using a phone emission except as specifically provided elsewhere in Section 97.113; communications intended to facilitate a criminal act; messages in codes or ciphers intended to obscure the meaning thereof, except as provided for space telecommand (see Section 97.211(b)), telecommand of model craft (see Section 97.215(b)), and RTTY and data emission codes (see Section 97.309(b)); obscene or indecent words or language; or false or deceptive messages, signals or identification;
5. Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished alternatively through other radio services.

Section 97.111(a) provides for two-way communications. In summary, amateur stations are authorized to exchange messages with:

1. Other stations in the amateur service, except those in any country whose administration has given notice that it objects to such communications. Moreover, transmissions to a different country, where permitted, must be made in plain language and must be limited to messages of a technical nature relating to tests and to remarks of a personal character for which, by reason of their unimportance, recourse to the public telecommunications service is not justified. Section 97.117 provides for international communications. The FCC also issues a public notice listing arrangements for international communications.
2. A station in another FCC-regulated service while providing emergency communications;
3. A United States Government station necessary to providing communications in RACES; and
4. A station in a service not regulated by the FCC, but authorized by the FCC to communicate with amateur stations.
5. A participating United States military station during the annual Armed Forces Day Communications Test.

Section 97.111(b) provides for one-way communications. In summary, auxiliary, beacon, space and stations in distress are specifically authorized to make certain one-way transmissions. Additionally, an amateur station may transmit the following types of one-way communications:

1. Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;
2. Brief transmissions necessary for establishing two-way communications with other stations;
3. Telecommand;
4. Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;
5. Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code;
6. Transmissions necessary to disseminate an information bulletin; and
7. Telemetry.

Section 97.113 provides two exceptions for retransmissions that are for the exclusive use of amateur operators. Your amateur station may retransmit occasionally as an incident of normal amateur radio communications, but not on a regular basis:

1. Propagation and weather forecast information intended for use by the general public and originated from United States Government stations; and
2. Communications, including incidental music, originating on United States Government frequencies between a space shuttle and its associated Earth stations. You must, however, obtain prior approval for shuttle retransmissions from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Yes. Section 97.113 provides for four situations where a person may accept compensation for being the control operator of an amateur station:

1. As an incident of a teaching position during periods of time when an amateur station is used by that teacher as a part of classroom instruction at an educational institution.
2. As the control operator of a club station transmitting telegraphy practice or information bulletins. Compensation may be accepted, however, only:
   • For those periods of time when the station is transmitting telegraphy practice or bulletins; and
   • Where the station transmits telegraphy practice and bulletins for at least 40 hours per week; and
   • Where operations are scheduled on at least six amateur service MF and HF bands using reasonable measures to maximize coverage; and
   • Where the schedule of normal operating times and frequencies is published at least 30 days in advance of the actual transmissions; and
   • Where the control operator does not accept any direct or indirect compensation for any other service as a control operator.
3. A station licensee or control operator may participate on behalf of an employer in an emergency preparedness or disaster readiness test or drill, limited to the duration and scope of such test or drill, and operational testing immediately prior to such test or drill.
4. An amateur operator may notify other amateur operators of the availability for sale or trade of apparatus normally used in an amateur station, provided that such activity is not conducted on a regular basis.

Note that control operators of other types of stations (refer to Section 97.5) transmitting telegraphy practice or information bulletins may not accept compensation.

Yes. There are two exceptions. In summary:

1. Section 97.403 states that no provision of the Rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communications in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.
2. Section 97.405 states that no provision of the 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. A sinking ship is a good example. It further states that no provision of the Rules prevents the use by a station, in that exceptional circumstance, of any means of radiocommunications at its disposal to assist a station in distress.

That depends upon your operation. Here are some suggestions for you to consider:

1. Simulate over-the-air operation with hard-wire interconnection or use a non-radiating dummy antenna system.
2. Use an uncongested frequency band.
3. Select a frequency band having only short-range propagation characteristics.
4. Transmit only during periods when the channel is unlikely to be in use by other amateur stations.
5. Confirm that the channel is clear before transmitting.
6. Do not use any channels designated by the amateur service community for repeaters, space stations, networks, etc.
7. Use the lowest possible transmitter power.
8. Operate under the STA for the shortest time period possible