Ham Radio General Class Test FCC Rules and Regulations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the FCC's rule regarding amateur radio communications with stations in countries that the US does not have third-party traffic agreements with?
- Third-party traffic is permitted as long as the foreign station agrees
- Third-party traffic is prohibited with those countries (Correct answer)
- Third-party traffic is permitted only for emergency communications
- The FCC has no authority over communications with foreign countries
Correct answer: Third-party traffic is prohibited with those countries
Third-party traffic may only be exchanged with countries that have a third-party agreement with the United States; it is prohibited with all other countries.
Question 2: An amateur station is used to retransmit signals from a commercial broadcast station. Is this permitted under FCC rules?
- Yes, if the broadcast station gives permission
- Yes, if the content is informational and non-commercial
- No, retransmitting broadcast station signals is prohibited (Correct answer)
- Yes, during public emergencies only
Correct answer: No, retransmitting broadcast station signals is prohibited
FCC Part 97 prohibits amateur stations from retransmitting programs or signals from any commercial broadcast station.
Question 3: What does FCC Part 97 require of a club station licensee (trustee) when club members operate the station?
- Each member must be individually licensed and operate only within their own license class privileges (Correct answer)
- Only the trustee may operate the club station
- Members may operate without a license under the trustee's supervision
- Members must submit FCC Form 605 each time they operate
Correct answer: Each member must be individually licensed and operate only within their own license class privileges
Each person who operates a club station must hold a valid amateur license, and their privileges are limited to those of their own license class.
Question 4: Under what conditions may a General class licensee allow an unlicensed person to speak into the microphone of an amateur station?
- Never; only licensed amateurs may transmit
- When the licensee is present and is the control operator supervising the transmission (Correct answer)
- When the unlicensed person passes a verbal quiz given by the licensee
- When the transmission is in a language other than English
Correct answer: When the licensee is present and is the control operator supervising the transmission
A licensed control operator may allow a third party (unlicensed person) to participate in a contact as long as the licensee is present and maintaining control operator responsibility.
Question 5: What is the FCC's policy on the use of amateur radio frequencies for remote sensing or earth observation satellite downlinks?
- Permitted only if the satellite is a US government asset
- Permitted only if the satellite operator is an amateur licensee and the transmissions meet Part 97 rules (Correct answer)
- Prohibited because satellite downlinks are commercial in nature
- Permitted without restriction under secondary satellite allocations
Correct answer: Permitted only if the satellite operator is an amateur licensee and the transmissions meet Part 97 rules
Amateur satellites must be operated by licensed amateurs and must comply with all Part 97 rules, including prohibitions on commercial use.
Question 6: What is the significance of the term 'frequency coordinator' in FCC Part 97?
- An FCC employee who assigns frequencies to amateur repeaters
- A volunteer or organization that recommends frequency assignments for repeaters and other auxiliary stations (Correct answer)
- A licensed amateur responsible for maintaining a net control frequency
- A commercial entity that manages amateur band plans
Correct answer: A volunteer or organization that recommends frequency assignments for repeaters and other auxiliary stations
A frequency coordinator is a volunteer or organization recognized by local amateurs that recommends repeater and auxiliary station frequency assignments to reduce interference.
Question 7: Under FCC rules, what is the maximum authorized bandwidth for a General class SSB voice signal on HF?
- 3 kHz
- 6 kHz
- 9 kHz
- No specific limit; must use good engineering practice (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No specific limit; must use good engineering practice
Part 97 does not specify a fixed kHz bandwidth for SSB on HF; instead it requires that the bandwidth be no wider than necessary for the information being transmitted.
Ham Radio General Class Test FCC Rules and Regulations 5
What is the FCC's rule regarding amateur radio communications with stations in countries that the US does not have third-party traffic agreements with?