[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35290-35292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14414]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 97
[WT Docket No. 12-283; FCC 14-74]
Amateur Service Rules
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This document amends the rules for the Amateur Radio Service
by modifying the qualifying examination system to grant partial
examination credit for certain expired amateur operator licenses,
permits examinations to be administered remotely, and allows amateur
stations to transmit certain additional emission types. The rule
amendments are necessary to implement these changes. Additionally, this
document amends certain rules to conform them to prior Commission
decisions. The effect of this action is to enhance the usefulness of
the amateur service rules by making the amateur service more accessible
to former licensees and to allow amateur stations to transmit certain
additional emission types.
DATES: Effective July 21, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Cross, Mobility Division,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0680, or TTY (202)
418-7233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report
and Order (R&O), adopted June 5, 2014, and released June 9, 2014. The
full text of this document is available for inspection and copying
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th
Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased
from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc.,
445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text
may also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are
available to persons with disabilities by sending an email to
[email protected] or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
1. By this action, the Commission amends the rules for the Amateur
Radio Service by modifying the qualifying examination system to grant
partial examination credit for certain expired amateur operator
licenses.
2. Also, by this action, the Commission permits examinations to be
administered remotely.
3. In addition, the Commission allows amateur stations to transmit
certain additional emission types and makes certain minor, non-
substantive amendments to the amateur service rules to reflect that the
Commission previously eliminated the requirement that certain amateur
radio service licensees pass a Morse code examination.
4. The rules that the Commission adopted in this R&O apply to
amateur radio clubs, some of which may be small entities. The
Commission certifies that no regulatory flexibility analysis is
necessary here because, even if a substantial number of amateur radio
clubs were affected by the rules, there would not be a significant
economic impact on those entities. The rules we are adopting do not
impose economic requirements. Instead, they relate to the
administration of the amateur radio service. Therefore, we certify that
the rule changes adopted in this R&O will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
5. This R&O and the rule amendments are issued under the authority
contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r), and 403.
6. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis. This Report and Order does not
contain new or modified information collection(s), subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In addition,
because businesses are not eligible for licensing in the amateur radio
service, the Report and Order it does not contain any proposed new or
modified ``information collection burden for small business concerns
with fewer than 25 employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4).
7. Congressional Review Act. The Commission will send a copy of
this Report and Order to Congress and the Government Accountability
Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(4).
8. The Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau,
Reference Information Center, SHALL SEND a copy of this Report and
Order, including the Initial and Final Regulatory Flexibility
Certifications, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration.
List of Subject in 47 CFR Part 97
Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
Rule Changes
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 97 as follows:
PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
0
1. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303.
Interpret or
[[Page 35291]]
apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155,
301-609, unless otherwise noted.
0
2. Section 97.3 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(5) to read as
follows:
Sec. 97.3 Definitions.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(5) Phone. Speech and other sound emissions having designators with
A, C, D, F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2, 3 or X as the
second symbol; E as the third symbol. Also speech emissions having B or
F as the first symbol; 7, 8 or 9 as the second symbol; E as the third
symbol. MCW for the purpose of performing the station identification
procedure, or for providing telegraphy practice interspersed with
speech. Incidental tones for the purpose of selective calling or
alerting or to control the level of a demodulated signal may also be
considered phone.
* * * * *
0
3. Section 97.7 is amended by revising the section heading to read as
follows:
Sec. 97.7 Control operator required.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 97.21 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as
follows:
Sec. 97.21 Application for a modified or renewed license grant.
* * * * *
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, a call
sign obtained under the sequential or vanity call sign system will be
reassigned to the station upon renewal or modification of a station
license.
0
5. Section 97.113 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(3)(i) to read as
follows:
Sec. 97.113 Prohibited transmissions.
(a) * * *
(3) * * *
(i) A station licensee or station control operator may participate
on behalf of an employer in an emergency preparedness or disaster
readiness test or drill, limited to the duration and scope of such test
or drill, and operational testing immediately prior to such test or
drill. Tests or drills that are not government-sponsored are limited to
a total time of one hour per week; except that no more than twice in
any calendar year, they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72
hours.
* * * * *
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6. Section 97.307 is amended by revising paragraphs (f)(8) and (f)(10)
to read as follows:
Sec. 97.307 Emission standards.
* * * * *
(f) * * *
(8) A RTTY or data emission having designators with A, B, C, D, E,
F, G, H, J or R as the first symbol; 1, 2, 7, 9 or X as the second
symbol; and D or W as the third symbol is also authorized.
* * * * *
(10) A station having a control operator holding a Novice Class
operator license or a Technician Class operator license may only
transmit a CW emission using the international Morse code or phone
emissions J3E and R3E.
* * * * *
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7. Section 97.505 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 97.505 Element credit.
(a) The administering VEs must give credit as specified below to an
examinee holding any of the following license grants:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unexpired (or Expired and beyond
Operator class within the renewal the renewal grace
grace period) period
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(1) Amateur Extra.............. Not applicable..... Elements 3 and 4.
(2) Advanced; General; or Elements 2 and 3... Element 3.
Technician granted before
March 21, 1987.
(3) Technician Plus; or Element 2.......... No credit.
Technician granted on or after
March 21, 1987.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) The administering VEs must give credit to an examinee holding a
CSCE for each element the CSCE indicates the examinee passed within the
previous 365 days.
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8. Section 97.507 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (c) and
removing paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 97.507 Preparing an examination.
(a) Each written question set administered to an examinee must be
prepared by a VE holding an Amateur Extra Class operator license. A
written question set may also be prepared for the following elements by
a VE holding an operator license of the class indicated:
* * * * *
(c) Each written question set administered to an examinee for an
amateur operator license must be prepared, or obtained from a supplier,
by the administering VEs according to instructions from the
coordinating VEC.
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9. Section 97.509 is amended by revising paragraphs (c), (f) and (h)
and removing and reserving paragraph (g), to read as follows:
Sec. 97.509 Administering VE requirements.
* * * * *
(c) Each administering VE must observe the examinee throughout the
entire examination. The administering VEs are responsible for the
proper conduct and necessary supervision of each examination. The
administering VEs must immediately terminate the examination upon
failure of the examinee to comply with their instructions.
* * * * *
(f) No examination that has been compromised shall be administered
to any examinee. The same question set may not be re-administered to
the same examinee.
(g) [Reserved]
(h) Upon completion of each examination element, the administering
VEs must immediately grade the examinee's answers. For examinations
administered remotely, the administering VEs must grade the examinee's
answers at the earliest practical opportunity. The administering VEs
are responsible for determining the correctness of the examinee's
answers.
* * * * *
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10. Section 97.513 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
Sec. 97.513 VE session manager requirements.
* * * * *
(b) The VE session manager may carry on liaison functions between
the VE team and the coordinating VEC.
* * * * *
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11. Section 97.519 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as
follows:
[[Page 35292]]
Sec. 97.519 Coordinating examination sessions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) Resolve all discrepancies and verify that the VEs'
certifications are properly completed; and
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-14414 Filed 6-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P