US amateur radio is governed by 47 CFR Part 97. It is short, readable and worth skimming in full once. The pages here summarise the parts that come up in daily operating — they are a guide, not legal advice, and the FCC's text always governs.
Rules and regulations
Part 97 in plain English.
In this section
- Part 97 basics The rules that matter every time you transmit.
- Station identification Who you are, how often, and the awkward cases.
- Prohibited transmissions The short list of things you may never do.
- Third-party traffic and emergencies Letting an unlicensed person speak, and what changes in a real emergency.
- Interference and enforcement What to do about a jammer, and what the FCC actually does.
Last updated Aug 27, 2026. Page history · Sign in to edit