Technician exam: fcc rules and licensing
Who regulates amateur radio, license classes, call signs, frequency privileges and what you may and may not transmit. 68 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key fcc rules and licensing rulesShow the rules
- FCC amateur licenses are normally issued for a ten-year term and must be renewed after that (§97.25). (p. 10)
- The grace period only lets you renew without retesting; you may not transmit until the license has actually been renewed (§97.21(b)). (p. 11)
- US amateurs may not contact stations in a country whose administration has told the ITU that it objects to such communications (§97.111(a)(1)). (p. 11)
- Station identification is not required for signals that control model craft; adjustments, unmodulated or low-power transmissions still need ID (§97.215). (p. 13)
- Test transmissions are still amateur transmissions, so the station must identify; there are no hour limits and no FCC notice is needed (§97.119(a)). (p. 13)
- Anyone whose license allows transmitting on the satellite's uplink frequency may be the control operator; no special class or membership is required (§97.301, §97.207(c)). (p. 13)
- Outside emergencies, a Technician may never act as control operator in an Amateur Extra segment, because privileges follow the control operator's own license (§97.301). (p. 14)
- A station licensee must make the station and its records available for inspection whenever an FCC representative asks (§97.103(c)). (p. 15)
- You must give your assigned call sign at least every 10 minutes during a communication and at its end (§97.119(a)). (p. 16)
- When identifying by phone, you must give your call sign in English, even if the conversation is in another language (§97.119(b)(2)). (p. 16)
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample fcc rules and licensing questions
1.Who recommends transmit/receive channels for repeater and auxiliary stations?
- AThe International Telecommunication Union
- BA Frequency Spectrum Manager appointed by the FCC
- CAn FCC Regional Field Office
- DA Volunteer Frequency Coordinator recognized by local amateurs
Show the answer
✓ D. A Volunteer Frequency Coordinator recognized by local amateurs
Repeater and auxiliary channel pairs are recommended by a volunteer frequency coordinator that local amateurs recognize, not by the FCC or the ITU (§97.3(a)(22)).
2.Which amateur band includes 146.52 MHz?
- A6 meters
- B2 meters
- C20 meters
- D70 centimeters
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✓ B. 2 meters
The 2-meter band covers 144 to 148 MHz, and 146.52 MHz is its national FM simplex calling frequency (§97.301(a)).
3.Besides an FCC-issued amateur operator license, what is required to be the control operator of a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Station?
- ACertification of current enrollment by a civil defense organization
- BMembership in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
- CA written recommendation by the local ARRL Emergency Coordinator
- DNothing
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✓ A. Certification of current enrollment by a civil defense organization
A RACES station's control operator needs an FCC amateur license and current certification as enrolled in a civil defense organization (47 CFR 97.407).
4.Who may be the control operator of a station communicating through an amateur satellite or space station?
- AOnly an Amateur Extra Class operator
- BA General class or higher licensee with a satellite operator certification
- CAny amateur allowed to transmit on the satellite uplink frequency
- DOnly an Amateur Extra Class operator who is also an AMSAT member
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✓ C. Any amateur allowed to transmit on the satellite uplink frequency
Anyone whose license allows transmitting on the satellite's uplink frequency may be the control operator; no special class or membership is required (§97.301, §97.207(c)).