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Amateur Radio FAQs

1. What is amateur radio?

More than 63,000 people currently hold amateur radio licences in the UK, many of whom communicate with fellow amateurs at home and abroad using a broad range of technologies. Radio amateurs have a long and significant history of contributing to developments in radio communications; they were amongst the first radio operators to exploit the ionosphere for long range communications.

Despite the growth in mobile telecommunications over the last decade, it is radio amateurs who can often provide the first links between stricken communities and the rest of the world after natural disasters such as the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami in South-East Asia.

2. Why does amateur radio need to be licensed?

Ofcom is responsible for authorising amateur radio use in the UK. Amateur radio transmissions may travel worldwide so these arrangements also need to comply with international regulations; therefore licences are required to regulate amateur radio use. The purpose of the licence is:

to ensure consistency with international regulations;
to ensure that only persons meeting the required competency levels are permitted to operate amateur radio transmitters;
to provide documentary evidence of the status and competence of the licensee - this is particularly important for licensees who wish to operate outside the UK; and
to ensure that details of the licensee and call-sign are recorded for administrative purposes.

Operating amateur radio equipment without a licence or outside the conditions of the licence is an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act (WT Act).

3. Who issues amateur radio licences?

Ofcom is the licensing authority for ships' and amateur radio in the UK.

4. Why is Ofcom reforming the way amateur radio is licensed?

Ofcom regards the amateur radio community as a key radio spectrum user group and wishes to see it prosper. The new free online system will ease administration and reduce costs for amateur users. This new approach will make it easier for users to comply with legal obligations and use radio equipment that is appropriately licensed.

5. How did Ofcom come to this decision?

Ofcom conducted a 12 week consultation on changes to amateur radio licensing which closed on 18 August 2005. Ofcom received 1,466 responses during the consultation period.

In addition to the formal consultation process, Ofcom commissioned MORI to conduct a survey of amateur radio licence holders’ views of the Ofcom proposals. MORI received 1,572 completed questionnaires by 20 June 2005. Further information can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/statement/

6. Will the internet licence be acceptable to foreign regulatory authorities?

The licences have the same status relating to jurisdiction as the previous licences. Ofcom has already taken steps to notify other regulators in Europe through arrangements such as CEPT. Ofcom is aware of other countries adopting or proposing to move to electronic licensing.

7. Will those aged under 21 or 75 years or over continue to receive free licences?

All licensees, whose licences are fully paid up and remain valid on 1 December 2006, will receive a free replacement lifetime licence. Under current proposals, after this date, all new licensees will receive free lifetime licences if they apply online, otherwise an administrative fee of £20 will be charged. Paper based applications will continue to be free of charge for applicants that are 75 years of age or older.

8. Does Ofcom encourage Amateur radio organisations to provide internet access to enable members to apply for their licences online?

Yes, Ofcom does encourage this initiative. Applicants could also use any other appropriate method to gain access via the internet to the online system (e.g. their local library, an internet café or a friend's internet connection etc.)

9. How has the licensing process changed?

On 1 December 2006, Ofcom replaced the annual licence system with a new ‘lifetime’ licensing regime whereby Ofcom:

issues amateur radio licences which will remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until the licence is revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee;
provide a free web-based licensing service as an alternative to the postal service;
replace all valid licences with new free lifetime licences from December 2006; and
require licensees to confirm their licence details at least once every 5 years.

Ofcom will continue to make paper licences available for applicants who do not have access to, or prefer not to use the internet. However, those applying via a paper-based application will be subject to an administration £20 charge unless they are 75 years of age or older.

10. Why do licences need to be renewed every five years if they are lifetime licences? Why has the UK taken a different approach to other National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) which may have granted lifetime licences without the need to update details?

Ofcom carefully considered each of the responses received to the consultation and balanced these with the results of the MORI survey before determining that the amateur radio should be validated every five years.

Although the licence will be valid for life, Ofcom considers that for spectrum management and administrative purposes, it is necessary to carry out a licence validation process. It will be the licensee’s responsibility to ensure that their details are kept up to date but every five years Ofcom will prompt licensees to ensure that their details are correct and this will form the validation process. This is to enable us to ensure that licences are still in use and personal details are correct. Once registered, the licensee will be able to validate their details online.

11. Who should I contact at Ofcom about licensing?

Contact the Ofcom Licensing Centre (OLC) at:
Email: licensingcentre@ofcom.org.uk
Tel. 020 7981 3131
Website: www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing
Postal address: Ofcom Licensing Centre, PO BOX 56373, London SE1 9SZ

12. What documents do I need when applying online?

Applicants wishing to apply for an amateur radio licence online will need to have their RAE candidate number to hand. Please note that amateurs with an RSGB RAE certificate dated before June 2003 or a City and Guilds qualification will have to apply using a paper based application form (a photocopy of the qualification certificate and payment of £20 will need to be enclosed with the application).

13. How will reminders to validate licences every 5 years be sent out?

Those that have applied online or registered their details with Ofcom will receive electronic notices. All paper based applicants will be reminded by post or by general notices issued by Ofcom. It is therefore very important that licensees ensure that their licence details are kept up to date.

14. How will Ofcom keep licensees informed about licensing changes?

Ofcom may update licensees of any changes to the licence terms and conditions either by email or post. Any general notices will be posted on the Ofcom website.

15. What would stop someone else accessing the personal account details of an amateur radio licensee?

Each amateur radio licensee will select their own password during the registration process before being issued with a unique user name which will be delivered by post. These details will protect their personal information in the same way as any online account. Details will only be accessible via a secure internet site.

16. What is Ofcom going to do about spectrum abuse?

In the first instance, please contact the RSGB’s amateur radio observation service.

Tel. 0870 904 7373

Website: www.rsgb.org
Email: aros@rsgb.org.uk
If you want to report repeater abuse, please contact:
Email: rmc.chairman@rsgb.org.uk
If you are unable to resolve the issue, please contact the Ofcom’s Contact Centre:

Tel. 020 7981 3040

Website: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/

17. Is the amateur radio terms, provisions and limitations booklet (BR 68) being updated?

No. The terms and conditions are now an integral part of the lifetime radio licence.

18. Will special (“personalised”) call signs be available?

Applicants can only choose one call sign from the available call sign block for the licence class. Ofcom can not reserve call signs for amateur radio licence applicants because we allocate licences on a 'first-come first serve' basis. Consequently, amateur radio licence applicants may find that call sign they have requested has already been allocated to another applicant.

19. Why is Ofcom going to charge for the postal service and not for the web-based service?

The purpose of the administrative charge is to cover the direct costs associated with providing the postal service. There is no charge for the use of the radio spectrum. Whilst there would be some residual cost associated with the delivery of the on-line service, Ofcom believes that these costs would be sufficiently low that it would not be necessary to seek to recover these from licensees.

20. Is there anything that still requires paper based correspondence?

Licensees cannot change their name on their licence. This can be done by submitting an amendment form to Ofcom ensuring a photocopy of the name change documentation (e.g. marriage certificate or deed poll) is enclosed.

If the applicant does not possess an RSGB qualification or has a RAE certificate dated before June 2003 they cannot apply for a new licence online and should use a paper based application form (a photocopy of their qualification certificate and payment of £20 will need to be enclosed with the application). Also, paper-based applications are necessary if the applicant:

is applying for an Amateur Club licence;
wishes to reinstate a lapsed licence;
wishes to apply for an historical call sign; or
wishes to apply for a Full (Reciprocal) or Full (Temporary reciprocal) radio licence.

21. What are the different classes of amateur radio licence?

There are three classes of amateur radio licence: Foundation, Intermediate and Full. These classes are progressive and are only issued to applicants who have demonstrated the appropriate level of practical ability and have also passed the necessary examinations in radio theory, radio operating techniques, electromagnetic compatibility and in the legal aspects of licence regulations. These examinations and assessments are carried out by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).Further details can found at: www.rsgb.org

22. Do these classes still apply?

Yes, these classes do still apply. For further information please contact the Radio Society of Great Britain. Further details can found at: www.rsgb.org

23. What happens if I don’t have a licence and I get caught?

Failure to hold a valid licence is a criminal office. The maximum penalty on conviction is a £5,000 fine and/or a six month prison sentence. Those convicted may also be ordered to forfeit any radio apparatus used illegally.