International communications by FCC‑licensed amateur stations are generally permitted unless a foreign administration has formally objected. Such objections must be notified to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency that coordinates international spectrum and regulatory matters. If a country's administration notifies the ITU that it objects to amateur communications with its citizens, FCC‑licensed stations must not exchange communications with that country.

In practice, the FCC has stated that there are currently no countries banned from amateur communications; as of June 7, 2022, the FCC listed "no banned countries," meaning it is permissible for FCC‑licensed amateurs to communicate with stations in all countries unless and until a country files an objection with the ITU.

Reference: FCC International Arrangements information.

Last edited by canvasvapor. Register to edit

Tags: none

Broadcasting is a prohibited one-way transmission.

Section 97.111(b) of the FCC rules provides for certain one-way communications by amateur stations. In summary, auxiliary, beacon, space, and stations in distress are specifically authorized to make certain one-way transmissions, but broadcasting is not included in those allowances.

An amateur station may transmit the following types of one-way communications:

• Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station
• Brief transmissions necessary for establishing two-way communications with other stations
• Telecommand
• Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications
• Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code
• Transmissions necessary to disseminate an information bulletin
• Telemetry

Because broadcasting (transmissions intended for the general public) is not listed among permitted one-way communications, broadcasting is prohibited for amateur stations.

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

Tags: none

Only when transmitting control commands to space stations or model craft. Control signals for things like spacecraft or radio-controlled models may be encoded so that unauthorized persons cannot take control; this is allowed because of safety and security concerns. For all other types of amateur transmissions, hiding the meaning of a message is not permitted — transmissions must be readable by other operators and by regulatory authorities so they can monitor and enforce the rules.

Last edited by bud 357. Register to edit

Tags: none

The Amateur Radio service generally prohibits transmitting music as part of a phone emission. An explicit exception exists for retransmitting the audio from manned spacecraft (for example, the International Space Station). Because music sometimes appears in the live audio from the spacecraft, amateurs are allowed to retransmit that audio even though it contains music, since the music is incidental to the authorized retransmission.

Outside of that specific exception there is no authorization to intentionally transmit music. Incidental background music that is unavoidable (for example during public-event communications) is unlikely to cause enforcement action, but deliberately transmitting music snippets is not permitted.

Memory aids:

• Exception: retransmitting manned spacecraft (think "ISS music allowed").

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

Tags: none

Amateur stations may not be used for commercial advertising or to conduct a business, but a limited exception allows operators to notify other amateurs about equipment for sale if certain conditions are met. The sale must be occasional — you may advertise a few pieces of radio gear you no longer need, but you cannot use the airwaves as a regular marketplace or to run a business. Also, the items offered should be equipment related to a normal amateur station, not unrelated consumer goods.

Because of these restrictions, using your station to tell other hams about equipment availability is permitted only when selling amateur radio equipment on an occasional (not regular) basis.

Memory aids (if helpful):

• "Occasional sales only" — no regular business over the air
• "Keep it radio-related" — only amateur station equipment, not unrelated items

Last edited by vraj b.. Register to edit

Tags: none

Though neither the FCC nor the ITU maintains a list of specific words that are prohibited, FCC rules (Part 97) do prohibit transmission of language that is indecent or obscene on amateur radio. Because those terms are not precisely defined in the rules, it is left to operators and the amateur community to determine what language is unacceptable. Be mindful that amateur transmissions can be heard by children and the general public, so exercise good judgment and courtesy in your choice of words.

Last edited by gr3yh47. Register to edit

Tags: none

An auxiliary station is an amateur station that supports another amateur station’s operations by relay or control links, usually over the air. A classic example is the radio link that carries audio or control signals from a remote receiver to the main repeater transmitter—that link station is an auxiliary station. That matches the correct choice here.

The other options are not auxiliary stations under the FCC definitions: a simple backup radio is just another station or piece of equipment, not a dedicated link station; the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) is a separate service, not an amateur auxiliary station; and a second station in a multi-operator contest setup is still just another amateur station, not specifically a control or relay link between stations.

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

Tags: none

Amateur radio operators generally may not accept payment for operating an amateur station. An exception exists for use of an amateur station as part of classroom instruction at an educational institution: a teacher may operate the station while being paid as an instructor. The key point is that the instructor is being compensated for teaching duties, not for providing radio-communication services as a paid commercial service. The radio operation should be incidental to the instructor’s educational responsibilities rather than being performed as a primary paid service.

Compensation for operating an amateur station is not permitted when the operation serves a commercial purpose (for example, benefiting an employer’s business) or when the operator is being paid to relay information for a broadcast outlet; those activities would constitute paid communication services rather than educational use.

Memory aids:

• Teacher paid for teaching, not for running the radio

Last edited by readysetrios. Register to edit

Tags: none

Amateur stations may only transmit information in support of broadcasting, program production, or news gathering when those communications are directly related to the immediate safety of human life or protection of property and no other means are available. The general principle is that anything necessary in an emergency is allowed if there is no better way to handle the situation. Normally amateur bands should be reserved for actual emergency communications, but if there is no other way to get news or program-related information out during an emergency, Amateur Radio may be used for that purpose.

Outside of such emergency situations, transmissions intended to support broadcasting, program production, or news gathering are not permitted on amateur frequencies. Note that retransmission of space station signals is a different situation and does not justify using amateur frequencies for broadcasting or news-gathering purposes.

Last edited by martenzenter. Register to edit

Tags: none

Broadcasting in the Amateur Radio Service means transmissions that are intended for reception by the general public. Commercial FM radio stations provide a clear example: they broadcast programs and music to anyone who can receive the signal, with no expected response and no specific amateur audience.

Amateur transmissions are normally directed to specific stations or to other amateur operators rather than to the general public. Occasionally parts of a program might be transmitted on amateur frequencies, but such transmissions are not regular shows intended for the general public. Also note that station identification rules (identifying at least every 10 minutes when transmitting) still apply.

The key distinction is whether the transmission is aimed at a specific audience (for example, all hams in an area) versus being intended for the general public.

Last edited by tjboukamp. Register to edit

Tags: none

Under normal circumstances an amateur station must identify on the air whenever it transmits — at least once every 10 minutes during a communication and at the end of a communication. There is a specific exception for transmissions used to remotely control model craft, because inserting voice or Morse identification could interfere with the control signals and create a safety hazard.

When using radio control for a model craft, the station is not required to send the callsign over the air; instead, the station's callsign and the licensee's name and address must be permanently affixed to the transmitter (for example, the radio control unit). This requirement is in the FCC amateur service rules (see 47 CFR §97.215).

Memory aids:

• (none)

Last edited by gallagher.paul. Register to edit

Tags: none

Any time a signal leaves your station, even if you're just testing equipment, you must identify the transmitting station by giving your call sign. Identifying makes clear who is transmitting and lets others know the purpose of the transmission; you may also get helpful feedback from another operator who is listening.

Memory aids:

• A common on-air test identification is: " testing, testing, testing."
• Remember: if it leaves your station, give your call sign.

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

Tags: none