[Packet] Re[2]: OT: Ham rules

[packet@mailman.qth.net]

Hi Misko,

Indeed, things are a lot simpler here in the United States.  First of
all, anyone can legally purchase an amateur rig.  Some stores will
decline to sell an amateur radio transceiver or transmitter to someone
that can't demonstrate that they hold an amateur radio license, but that
is an individual store policy - not a legal requirement.  Some stores
will sell to those who state that they intend to get a license, or to
someone who states they are purchasing the radio as a gift for an
amateur or prospective amateur.  Some stores will sell to anyone without
question.  Some stores will post a sign or text in printed
advertisements that state that to use the transmitting device requires
the operator to hold an appropriate license.

After our amateur license examination, performed by volunteer examiners,
the examiners submit the successful applicant's paperwork goes to the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for processing and issuance of
the combined operators and station license, at whatever license grade
the applicant successfully examined for.  As mentioned by others, the
FCC could decline to issue a license, however the occurrence of this is
very rare.

So, once a license has been issued by the FCC (and it doesn't even have
to have arrived via the mails), the operator can operate any radio on
any frequency, power level, and mode that their license class allows.
It doesn't matter if the transmitter is home-brew or commercially
manufactured.  The operator is the one that's legally responsible for
the emissions, in all regards.  The station license primarily states
where the operator can be communicated with in the event that the FCC
desires to do so.  An operator isn't legally required to operate a
station at the location stated on the station license, and is also not
prevented from operating a station at any other location within the
United States, unless there is some other overriding legal requirement
to not operate an amateur station at that location.  Examples could
include operating stations on boats, ships,  and aircraft, without the
permission of the master of that vehicle.  Certain government
reservations would also apply.

Here's a link to online sources for the rules governing Amateur Radio
operation:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/rules-regs.html

There is testing required of radios that are manufactured in quantity,
for some of the following reasons:

- Ensure that a receiver does not emit signals at levels that might
interfere with other receiving equipment.  This would include emissions
due to inadequate shielding of local oscillators and microprocessors use
to control the receiver.  This requirement applies to all receivers.

- Ensure that the equipment (if it has a large number of memories, that
can be scanned) can not be used or easily modified to receive cellular
telephone frequencies.  Receivers with very few memories (less than 4?)
are exempt from this requirement.  Interestingly this requirement does
not include eliminating the ability to receive cordless phones which are
not used in cellular phone service.

Most of these rules are in Part 15 of the FCC rules.  There are other
restrictions on commercial manufacturers, as Jerry, K0CQ mentioned.

I hope that helps!

73, Bob, KD7NM