{"id":43084,"date":"2020-04-30T14:44:02","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T18:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=43084"},"modified":"2020-04-30T14:44:02","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T18:44:02","slug":"fcc-is-crystal-clear-remote-ham-radio-licensing-exams-are-absolutely-permitted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/fcc-is-crystal-clear-remote-ham-radio-licensing-exams-are-absolutely-permitted\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC is crystal clear: Remote ham radio licensing exams are absolutely permitted"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, amateur radio VECs in the US have been experimenting with remote testing sessions–meaning, administering ham radio license exams via real-time teleconference apps like Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet.<\/p>\n

Amateur radio operators in support of remote testing have been contacting the FCC asking for formal approval of remote exams and the ARRL has also been exploring and experimenting with the process<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today, the FCC posted a public notice<\/a>, making it clear that FCC approval is not required to conduct remote tests:<\/p>\n

“We make clear here that nothing in the FCC\u2019s rules prohibits remote testing, and prior FCC approval is not required to conduct remote tests.\u00a0 The Commission provides flexibility to volunteer examiners and coordinators who wish to develop remote testing methods or to increase remote testing programs already in place.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>I’ve pasted the text from the body of the public notice below (click here to download the full PDF doc<\/a>):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

DA 20-467<\/strong>
\nReleased: April 30, 2020 <\/strong><\/p>\n

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU CONFIRMS THAT<\/strong>
\nAMATEUR RADIO SERVICE OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATIONS<\/strong>
\nMAY BE HELD REMOTELY<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Amateur Radio Service provides opportunities for self-training, intercommunication, and technical investigations for qualified persons of any age who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest. To operate an Amateur Radio Service station, an operator must have an FCC license. The Commission issues three classes of operator licenses, each authorizing a different level of privilege. 1 The class for which each licensee is qualified is determined during an examination by the level of skill and knowledge in operating a station that the licensee demonstrates to volunteer examiners, who conduct this testing on behalf of FCC-certified volunteer examiner coordinators.<\/p>\n

Many potential amateur radio test takers and volunteer examiners have contacted the Chairman and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to request that the Commission allow remote testing in light of current public health guidelines regarding social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We make clear here that nothing in the FCC\u2019s rules prohibits remote testing, and prior FCC approval is not required to conduct remote tests. 2 The Commission provides flexibility to volunteer examiners and coordinators who wish to develop remote testing methods or to increase remote testing programs already in place.3<\/p>\n

We recognize that some volunteer examiner coordinators may not have the immediate capacity for widespread remote testing. We expect those volunteer examiner coordinators with limited remote testing capacity to work closely with those requesting such testing to prioritize any available remote testing slots.<\/p>\n

– FCC –<\/p>\n

\n

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Please consider supporting us via\u00a0Patreon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Coffee<\/span>\u00a0Fund<\/span><\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, amateur radio VECs in the US have been experimenting with remote testing sessions–meaning, administering ham radio license exams via real-time teleconference apps like Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet. Amateur radio operators in support of remote testing have been contacting the FCC asking for formal approval of remote exams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3],"tags":[389,8480,1241,8481,4102],"class_list":["post-43084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","tag-amateur-radio","tag-are-remote-ham-radio-exams-legal","tag-fcc","tag-fcc-da-20-467","tag-ham-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-bcU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42574,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/first-online-ham-radio-exam-in-the-usa\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":0},"title":"First online ham radio exam in the USA","author":"Thomas","date":"March 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate ARC) The first remote all-online amateur radio Technician license exam was carried out in the United States on March 26, 2020 Marcel Stieber @AI6MS Tweeted: Yesterday [March 26], our working group ran an \"all-virtual\" amateur radio technician license exam for the first time in history! Thanks to @W5YI\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Mission-RGO-One-Paddle-Mic-Transceiver-5-993x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Mission-RGO-One-Paddle-Mic-Transceiver-5-993x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Mission-RGO-One-Paddle-Mic-Transceiver-5-993x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42884,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/arrl-remotely-administered-amateur-exam-systems-showing-promise\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":1},"title":"ARRL: “Remotely Administered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ARRL News) Facing a growing demand for amateur radio exam sessions in a time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, sponsors of some Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams have risen to the challenge and are developing systems to remotely proctor test sessions. \u201cMany of our VEs and VE Teams have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Icom-IC-7300-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Icom-IC-7300-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Icom-IC-7300-Front.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Icom-IC-7300-Front.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45061,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/fcc-proposes-50-fee-for-new-ham-radio-licenses-upgrades-and-vanity-applications\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":2},"title":"FCC proposes $50 fee for new ham radio licenses, upgrades and vanity applications","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF) who notes that FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking--MD Docket no. 20-270--outlines a new fee structure for several radio services including the amateur radio service. If I understand correctly, a fee would be collected when an FCC employee would need hands-on time to process an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42924,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/radio-waves-burning-5g-wauk-simulcasts-c-19-radio-remote-us-ham-exams-and-guardians-top-10-radio-stations\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":3},"title":"Radio Waves: Burning 5G, WAUK Simulcasts C-19 Radio, Remote US Ham Exams, and Guardian’s Top 10 Radio Stations","author":"Thomas","date":"April 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/CEll-Phone-Tower-5g-4g-1024x696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/CEll-Phone-Tower-5g-4g-1024x696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/CEll-Phone-Tower-5g-4g-1024x696.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34691,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/fcc-fines-ham-25000-for-operating-an-fm-pirate-radio-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":4},"title":"FCC fines ham $25,000 for operating FM pirate radio station","author":"Thomas","date":"November 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate ARC) FCC fines Amateur Radio licensee $25,000 for operating unlicensed FM station ARRL reports in an FCC Enforcement Bureau case going back to early 2015, a Paterson, New Jersey, Amateur Radio licensee has been penalized in the amount of $25,000 for allegedly continuing to operate an unlicensed FM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34375,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/arrl-takes-minor-exception-to-wording-of-fcc-enforcement-advisory-regarding-uncertified-two-way-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":43084,"position":5},"title":"ARRL takes minor exception to wording of FCC Enforcement Advisory regarding uncertified two-way radios","author":"Thomas","date":"October 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Eric McFadden, who shares the following ARRL response to the FCC Enforcement Advisory we posted last week. The following was published\u00a0in the ARRL News: ARRL has taken a minor exception to the wording of a September 24 FCC Enforcement Advisory pertaining to the importation,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/BaoFeng-UV-5R.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43084\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}