hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 15, 2006 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES,
ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND
ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a
Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that modifies the rules for the Amateur
Radio Service by revising the examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or
Amateur Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating privileges for
Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order resolves a petition filed by the American
Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur
service rules released on October 10, 2006.
The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur
radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General
Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30
MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands
above 30 MHz. Prior to today’s action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio
regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to
pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today’s Order eliminates that
requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to
international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union’s 2003
World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to
require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur
radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates
an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from
advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio.
Today’s Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees by
eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges for the Technician Class and Technician Plus
Class licensees. Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all amateur
frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, which is an operator license
class that existed prior the FCC’s simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was
grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above
30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful
completion of a Morse code examination. With today’s elimination of the Morse code exam
requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the operating privileges of
Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus Class licensees should not be retained.
2
Therefore, the FCC, in today’s action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees
identical operating privileges.
Finally, today’s Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for partial reconsideration of
an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized
amateur stations to transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain amateur
service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is authorized only for certain wideband
voice and image communications. The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been
expanded below 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital stations operating
in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The FCC concluded that these stations can be
protected by providing alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment.
Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and Order on
Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or William.Cross@fcc.gov.
WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235.
– FCC –
News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
is available at www.fcc.gov.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 15, 2006 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991
FCC MODIFIES AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE RULES,
ELIMINATING MORSE CODE EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND
ADDRESSING ARRL PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a
Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Order) that modifies the rules for the Amateur
Radio Service by revising the examination requirements for obtaining a General Class or
Amateur Extra Class amateur radio operator license and revising the operating privileges for
Technician Class licensees. In addition, the Order resolves a petition filed by the American
Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) for partial reconsideration of an FCC Order on amateur
service rules released on October 10, 2006.
The current amateur service operator license structure contains three classes of amateur
radio operator licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. General
Class and Amateur Extra Class licensees are permitted to operate in Amateur bands below 30
MHz, while the introductory Technician Class licensees are only permitted to operate in bands
above 30 MHz. Prior to today’s action, the FCC, in accordance with international radio
regulations, required applicants for General Class and Amateur Extra Class operator licenses to
pass a five words-per-minute Morse code examination. Today’s Order eliminates that
requirement for General and Amateur Extra licensees. This change reflects revisions to
international radio regulations made at the International Telecommunication Union’s 2003
World Radio Conference (WRC-03), which authorized each country to determine whether to
require that individuals demonstrate Morse code proficiency in order to qualify for an amateur
radio license with transmitting privileges on frequencies below 30 MHz. This change eliminates
an unnecessary regulatory burden that may discourage current amateur radio operators from
advancing their skills and participating more fully in the benefits of amateur radio.
Today’s Order also revises the operating privileges for Technician Class licensees by
eliminating a disparity in the operating privileges for the Technician Class and Technician Plus
Class licensees. Technician Class licensees are authorized operating privileges on all amateur
frequencies above 30 MHz. The Technician Plus Class license, which is an operator license
class that existed prior the FCC’s simplification of the amateur license structure in 1999 and was
grandfathered after that time, authorized operating privileges on all amateur frequencies above
30 MHz, as well as frequency segments in four HF bands (below 30 MHz) after the successful
completion of a Morse code examination. With today’s elimination of the Morse code exam
requirements, the FCC concluded that the disparity between the operating privileges of
Technician Class licensees and Technician Plus Class licensees should not be retained.
2
Therefore, the FCC, in today’s action, afforded Technician and Technician Plus licensees
identical operating privileges.
Finally, today’s Order resolved a petition filed by the ARRL for partial reconsideration of
an FCC Order released on October 10, 2006 (FCC 06-149). In this Order, the FCC authorized
amateur stations to transmit voice communications on additional frequencies in certain amateur
service bands, including the 75 meter (m) band, which is authorized only for certain wideband
voice and image communications. The ARRL argued that the 75 m band should not have been
expanded below 3635 kHz, in order to protect automatically controlled digital stations operating
in the 3620-3635 kHz portion of the 80 m band. The FCC concluded that these stations can be
protected by providing alternate spectrum in the 3585-3600 kHz frequency segment.
Action by the Commission on December 15, 2006, by Report and Order and Order on
Reconsideration. Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
For additional information, contact William Cross at (202) 418-0691 or William.Cross@fcc.gov.
WT Docket Nos. 04-140 and 05-235.
– FCC –
News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
is available at www.fcc.gov.
