What changed
FCC Part 97 — the rules, section by section — edited Aug 27, 2026 by Unknown editor
This is the first recorded version, so every line is shown as added. Note: Imported from content/wiki
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Everything an American amateur may and may not do on the air is written in **47 CFR Part 97**. The
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official, continuously updated text lives on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:
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- [Part 97 in full](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97) — eCFR,
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current as of today's date
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- [Title 47 (Telecommunication)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47) — the wider FCC rulebook
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Part 97 sits in
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- [Part 97 as an annual PDF](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/cfr) — govinfo, if you want a
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fixed, citable snapshot
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Our own [rules section](/wiki/rules) explains the day-to-day parts in plain English. The links
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below go to the FCC's actual words, which always govern.
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## Subpart A — General provisions (§§ 97.1–97.23)
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[Subpart A](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A) covers
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why the service exists, who may hold a licence, and the paperwork behind it.
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- [§ 97.1 Basis and purpose](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.1)
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- [§ 97.3 Definitions](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.3)
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— the meaning of terms like *control operator*, *repeater* and *space station*
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- [§ 97.5 Station licence required](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.5)
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- [§ 97.7 Control operator required](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.7)
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- [§ 97.13 Restrictions on station location](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.13)
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— including the RF exposure evaluation requirement
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- [§ 97.15 Station antenna structures](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.15)
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- [§ 97.23 Mailing address](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-A/section-97.23)
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— keeping your address current is a licence condition
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## Subpart B — Station operation standards (§§ 97.101–97.121)
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[Subpart B](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B) is the
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one you operate under every time you key up.
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- [§ 97.101 General standards](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.101)
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— good amateur practice, and no wilful interference
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- [§ 97.103 Station licensee responsibilities](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.103)
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- [§ 97.105 Control operator duties](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.105)
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- [§ 97.109 Station control](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.109)
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- [§ 97.111 Authorized transmissions](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.111)
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- [§ 97.113 Prohibited transmissions](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.113)
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— business traffic, broadcasting, music, obscenity, obscured codes
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- [§ 97.115 Third party communications](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.115)
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- [§ 97.119 Station identification](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.119)
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— the ten-minute rule and self-assigned indicators
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- [§ 97.121 Restricted operation](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-B/section-97.121)
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## Subpart C — Special operations (§§ 97.201–97.221)
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[Subpart C](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C) governs
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stations that transmit without an operator sitting in front of them.
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- [§ 97.203 Beacon station](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.203)
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- [§ 97.205 Repeater station](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.205)
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- [§ 97.207 Space station](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.207)
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and [§ 97.209 Earth station](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.209)
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- [§ 97.215 Telecommand of model craft](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.215)
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- [§ 97.219 Message forwarding system](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.219)
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- [§ 97.221 Automatically controlled digital station](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-C/section-97.221)
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## Subpart D — Technical standards (§§ 97.301–97.317)
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[Subpart D](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D) is
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where the band edges and power limits are actually written down — the source behind every band
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chart, including our [band plans](/wiki/operating/band-plans) page.
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- [§ 97.301 Authorized frequency bands](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.301)
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- [§ 97.303 Frequency sharing requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.303)
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- [§ 97.305 Authorized emission types](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.305)
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- [§ 97.307 Emission standards](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.307)
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- [§ 97.309 RTTY and data emission codes](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.309)
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- [§ 97.313 Transmitter power standards](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-D/section-97.313)
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— 1,500 W PEP maximum, and the minimum-necessary-power rule
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## Subpart E — Providing emergency communications (§§ 97.401–97.407)
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[Subpart E](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E) is
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short and worth reading before you serve on a net. See also our
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[emergency communications](/wiki/emergency) pages.
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- [§ 97.401 Operation during a disaster](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E/section-97.401)
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- [§ 97.403 Safety of life and protection of property](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E/section-97.403)
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- [§ 97.405 Station in distress](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E/section-97.405)
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- [§ 97.407 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-E/section-97.407)
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## Subpart F — Qualifying examination systems (§§ 97.501–97.527)
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[Subpart F](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F) sets
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out the exam elements, the volunteer examiner system and the question pools — the machinery behind
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[getting licensed](/wiki/getting-started).
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- [§ 97.501 Qualifying for an amateur operator licence](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F/section-97.501)
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- [§ 97.503 Element standards](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F/section-97.503)
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- [§ 97.509 Administering VE requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F/section-97.509)
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- [§ 97.523 Question pools](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-97/subpart-F/section-97.523)
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## Related FCC resources
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- [FCC Amateur Radio Service](https://www.fcc.gov/amateur-radio-service) — licensing overview and
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bulletins
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- [Universal Licensing System (ULS)](https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp) —
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look up or manage a licence
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- [CORES](https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do) — FRN registration and fee payment
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- [FCC Enforcement Bureau](https://www.fcc.gov/enforcement) — advisories and enforcement actions
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Nothing on this page is legal advice. Where our summary and the FCC's text disagree, the FCC's text
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is the rule.