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Part 97.13(c) sets the general maximum transmitter power at 1500 watts PEP, and the 2-meter band has no lower band-specific limit for most licensees. The 1500-watt figure applies unless a specific band or mode restriction reduces it.
The 80-meter CW subband available to Extra class operators extends from 3500 kHz to 3600 kHz. The narrower segments apply to lower license classes.
Part 97.119 requires station identification at least every 10 minutes during a communication and at the end. The identification must use the assigned call sign.
Part 97.303(h) limits 60-meter operation to 100 watts PEP effective radiated power. This is a band-specific restriction that overrides the general 1500-watt limit.
Part 97.307(a) requires that no amateur station use a wider bandwidth than necessary for the emission mode. RTTY must therefore use the minimum practical bandwidth.
Part 97.201(b) limits auxiliary stations to 50 watts PEP on the 2-meter band. The general 1500-watt limit does not apply to auxiliary stations.
Part 97.3(a)(9) defines a beacon as a station that transmits communications for the observation of propagation and reception, or for related experimental purposes. Beacons are not defined by band or club use.
Part 97.313(f) sets the 630-meter band power limit at 500 watts PEP. This band-specific limit overrides the general 1500-watt ceiling.
The 14150 to 14175 kHz segment of the 20-meter band is allocated to Extra class licensees for phone; General class phone privileges begin at 14225 kHz. This is a distinctive Extra-only phone segment.
Part 97.307(a) requires minimum necessary bandwidth for any emission, and PSK31 is a narrow-band mode that satisfies this. There is no requirement for A1A or encryption.
Technician class licensees have full power privileges on the 10-meter band segments they may use, subject to the general 1500-watt PEP limit in Part 97.13(c). There is no lower power limit specific to Technician on 10 meters.
Control links for repeaters are typically auxiliary stations, which are limited to 50 watts PEP under Part 97.201(b) on the 2-meter band and related provisions. Power limits apply to these links.
Part 97.119 applies to all amateur transmissions, including those through repeaters, requiring identification at least every 10 minutes and at the end. Repeater use does not exempt a station from identification.
Spread-spectrum emissions must comply with Part 97.311 and the general minimum-bandwidth requirement of 97.307(a). There is no daylight-only or FSK-only restriction.
Part 97.313(g) limits the 2200-meter band to 1 watt PEP. This is one of the most restrictive band-specific power limits in Part 97.
Part 97.111 permits transmissions necessary to exchange information between amateurs, including Morse code practice. Music, commercial advertising, and encrypted messages intended to obscure meaning are prohibited under 97.113.
Part 97.111(b) permits one-way transmissions, including bulletins of interest to amateurs, when not for commercial purposes. Such bulletins are not considered broadcasting under Part 97.
The 33-centimeter band (902-928 MHz) is subject to the general 1500-watt PEP limit under Part 97.13(c), with no lower band-specific limit for most licensees.
Part 97.119 applies to CW transmissions as well, requiring identification at least every 10 minutes and at the end. Contest operation does not waive this requirement.
Part 97.111(b) and 97.405 permit one-way emergency communications during disasters. Commercial advertisements, music, and encrypted messages are prohibited under 97.113.
Part 97.307(d) requires spurious emissions to be attenuated at least 43 dB below the fundamental for HF stations. This standard applies to digital emissions as well as other modes.
Part 97.307(d) applies the 43 dB attenuation requirement to HF stations, including the 160-meter band. The 60 dB standard applies to VHF and higher bands.
Part 97.307(e) requires spurious emissions below 60 dB for VHF and higher bands. The 2-meter band falls under this stricter standard.
Part 97.303(h) restricts 60-meter operation to specific frequencies and requires avoiding interference to government stations. Power is limited to 100 watts PEP.
The 10-meter phone segment includes 28.5 MHz, and the general 1500-watt PEP limit applies. No lower band-specific power limit or CW-only restriction applies at that frequency.
Part 97.1 sets out that the amateur service exists to advance the art of radio, provide a pool of trained operators, and enhance international goodwill, with a recognized role in emergency communications. It is explicitly a voluntary, noncommercial service. Commercial and entertainment broadcasting are outside its basis and purpose.
The FCC delegates examination administration to volunteer examiners who are accredited by volunteer examiner coordinators, which in turn are recognized by the FCC. VECs coordinate the VE teams and forward results. Individual licensees and equipment manufacturers have no examination authority.
Amateur licenses are granted for a term of ten years and may be renewed. Renewal may be filed beginning 90 days before expiration. The ten-year term applies to the operator/primary station license.
Under the amateur service rules, an expired license may be renewed within a two-year grace period without re-examination. During that period the operator may not transmit. After the grace period, the former licensee must qualify again as a new applicant.
Changing a station call sign requires an administrative modification of the license through the FCC's licensing system. The operator may request an available call sign, and the change takes effect when the modified license is granted. A licensee cannot unilaterally adopt a call sign.
The 80-meter band phone privileges differ by license class: General class phone begins at 3800 kHz, while Extra class licensees have phone privileges from 3700 to 3800 kHz (and above). The 3500-3600 kHz region is primarily CW/data territory with class-dependent sub-bands.
The 60-meter band (5 MHz) is limited to 100 watts PEP output, and operation must use only the specific channels authorized by the rules. The general 1500-watt limit does not apply to this band. Stations must also comply with the channel restrictions.
On the VHF and UHF bands such as 2 meters, the general maximum transmitter power output is 1500 watts PEP, subject to any specific restrictions for certain sub-bands or station types. Lower limits apply only where the rules specify them.
For transmitters operating below 30 MHz, spurious emissions must be attenuated at least 43 dB below the mean power of the fundamental emission. This is the general HF spurious emission standard. Higher or different attenuation applies in specific bands and to VHF/UHF operation.
The rules specify a frequency tolerance of 50 parts per million for stations operating in the 10-meter band. Frequency tolerance requirements vary by band and are listed in the rules. Stations must keep emissions within the authorized band edges.
Part 97 defines several amateur station types, including auxiliary, repeater, beacon, and space stations. Auxiliary stations transmit on frequencies above 220 MHz to support the operation of a primary station. The other listed station types belong to other radio services.
An auxiliary station is an amateur station, other than a repeater, that transmits on frequencies above 220 MHz for the purpose of supporting the operation of a primary amateur station. It is not a repeater and does not itself serve as the primary station.
The amateur service is noncommercial, and the rules prohibit transmitting communications on behalf of an employer, with narrow exceptions such as emergency communications. Routine business communications are not permitted. This restriction preserves the noncommercial character of the service.
Third-party traffic is allowed when the control operator is authorized and the foreign country involved permits amateur third-party communications with the United States. The rules govern which countries may participate. This makes international third-party messages lawful only under those conditions.
One-way transmissions are generally prohibited, but exceptions exist, including emergency communications and certain informational bulletins. Calling for assistance in an emergency is a recognized exception. Entertainment and advertising are not permitted.
An amateur station must identify at least every 10 minutes during a communication and at the end of the communication. Identification uses the station's assigned call sign. This ensures stations can be identified during ongoing transmissions.
When a repeater properly identifies itself, a station communicating through it is not required to identify separately for every transmission, though the control operator must still ensure identification requirements are met. The repeater's identification satisfies the requirement in that context.
On the 6-meter band, the symbol rate limit for data emissions is 19,600 baud. Symbol rate limits vary by band and are specified in the rules. Higher bands generally permit higher symbol rates.
Spread-spectrum emissions are permitted only when the spreading function uses an FCC-approved technique, such as direct sequence or frequency hopping, and the station complies with applicable power and bandwidth limits. Encryption is not permitted on amateur frequencies.
On the HF bands below 28 MHz, RTTY and data emissions are limited to a maximum bandwidth of 500 Hz. Wider bandwidths are permitted only in specified segments and on higher bands. This keeps narrow-band digital modes within their designated sub-bands.
The segment 14.000 to 14.070 MHz on 20 meters is restricted to CW emissions. Phone and other wideband emissions begin at higher frequencies within the band. This sub-band segregation protects narrow-band CW operation.
The 160-meter band is subject to the general HF maximum of 1500 watts PEP transmitter output power. No lower band-specific limit applies to 160 meters. Stations must also avoid interfering with other services.
A U.S.-licensed amateur station aboard a vessel on the high seas may operate under its amateur license, following Part 97 rules, with the vessel master's permission. It does not need a separate maritime license for amateur operation. Amateur operation is distinct from maritime service licensing.
Telecommand of model craft is limited to 1 watt. This low-power limit reflects the short-range nature of model control and reduces interference potential. The general power limits do not apply to this specific use.
Each amateur transmission must be under the supervision of a licensed control operator who is accountable for compliance with the rules. The control operator may be the licensee or another properly licensed person designated for that role. This ensures every transmission is authorized and lawful.