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Part 97 in plain words
The FCC rules every amateur operates under, organised by what you want to do.
The FCC rules every amateur operates under, organised by what you want to do.
Amateur radio in the US is governed by Part 97 of the FCC's rules (47 CFR Part 97). It is shorter than most people expect, and its logic is simple: you are given real spectrum and real power, and in return you stay noncommercial, identify yourself, keep your signal clean and take responsibility for what goes out. The purposes behind it are in What is amateur radio?.
| I want to… | The rule in short | Part 97 |
|---|---|---|
| Run a station | A designated control operator must be in charge; licensee and control operator are both responsible | 97.103, 97.105 |
| Pick a band and mode | Stay inside the privileges of the control operator's class | 97.301 |
| Choose a power level | Within the limit for your band and class, and no more than needed | 97.313 |
| Keep my signal clean | Keep spurious emissions (energy outside your signal's bandwidth) below the limits | 97.307 |
| Say who I am | Your call sign at least every 10 minutes and at the end | 97.119 |
| Talk about something | Amateur and personal matters; no pay, no business, no hidden meaning, no broadcasting | 97.113 |
| Let someone else speak | A control operator must be present; abroad, only where an agreement exists | 97.115 |
| Run a repeater or link | Repeaters may run under automatic control; auxiliary links carry signals between parts of a system | 97.205, 97.201 |
| Put up an antenna | Federal notice rules for very tall structures, then local rules that must reasonably accommodate amateurs | 97.15 |
| Stay safe near RF | Check your station's RF exposure | 97.13 |
Responsibility is personal. If you put something through a repeater that breaks a rule, the control operator of the originating station is responsible, not the repeater owner. A guest at your microphone is covered by a control operator, who answers with you. See Control operators and control points.
Sharing is the default. No operator owns a frequency. Where amateurs are secondary, you must not interfere with primary users and you must accept interference from them. Deliberate, malicious interference is prohibited everywhere. See On-air etiquette.
The FCC may ask to inspect your station and records at any time. Most problems start from unfamiliarity rather than bad intent, so know the limits for your class (License classes and privileges), identify properly (Call signs and what they mean), and keep your contact details current.