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ARLB038 Easy Operation Overseas Now a Reality for US Hams
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ARRL Bulletin 38 ARLB038
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT June 8, 1999
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB038
ARLB038 Easy Operation Overseas Now a Reality for US Hams
The FCC has implemented the European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) Recommendation T/R 61-01
that eliminates the need to obtain a special license or permit for
US hams wishing to operate during brief visits to most European
countries. In addition, the ARRL has begun issuing International
Amateur Radio Permits to simplify operation by US hams in certain
South American countries.
The FCC put the final pieces of the CEPT arrangement into place June
7 by issuing a Public Notice in English, German, and French that
spells out the basic information about Amateur Radio operation in
CEPT countries. To operate in a CEPT country, US hams only need a
copy of the Notice, their original Amateur Radio document, and proof
of US citizenship (a US-issued passport or a birth certificate
should suffice).
US hams holding any license class but Novice are eligible to operate
in CEPT countries. A US citizen with a Technician ticket may be
authorized privileges equivalent to a CEPT Class 2 (ie, VHF-only)
license, while a US citizen holding a higher class license may be
authorized CEPT Class 1 (ie, all amateur and amateur-satellite)
privileges.
The authorization is for use of a portable or mobile station only,
including stations set up at hotels or a camping site. Authorization
is also granted for US hams to operate the stations of permanent
licensees in host countries. The use of Amateur Radio aboard an
aircraft is not allowed, however.
To identify while overseas, US stations will use their assigned call
signs preceded by the CEPT call sign prefix for the country or
territory visited. US licensees operating under this agreement
overseas cannot request protection against harmful interference.
Operators must abide by the provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations
as well as CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01 and the regulations in
force in the host country. US operators planning to operate in other
countries must become familiar with that country's regulations and
frequency allocations, paying special attention to regional
differences.
Participating CEPT countries as of June 7 include Austria, Belgium,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Corsica, Guadeloupe,
Guiana, Martinique, St Bartholomew, St Pierre et Miquelon, St
Martin, and Reunion/Dependencies), Germany, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom
(including Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
the Isle of Man).
The ARRL has begun issuing the International Amateur Radio Permit
(IARP) that allows US amateurs to operate from Argentina, Brazil,
Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela without having to obtain a special
license (the US and Canada also are CITEL signatories). The IARP is
valid in any country that is a signatory to the CITEL Amateur
Convention.
The Class 1 IARP--available to Tech Plus and higher class
licensees--requires knowledge of Morse code and carries all
operating privileges. The Class 2 IARP--equivalent to the US
Technician ticket--does not require knowledge of Morse code and
carries all privileges above 30 MHz. An IARP is not a license, but
it certifies the existence of a license.
Complete information on CEPT and IARP operation, including an IARP
application form and a copy of the FCC Public Notice on CEPT, is
available from the International Operating page on ARRLWeb,
http://www.arrl.org/field/regulations/io/.
The new procedures affect operation only in participating CEPT
(European) and CITEL (Central and South American) countries. They do
not change the procedures for US hams wishing to operate overseas in
countries that are not CEPT participants or CITEL Amateur Convention
signatories. Information on operation from these countries also is
available on the pages of ARRLWeb.
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