Confirmation Of Arrangements For The Introduction Of The Amateur Radio Foundation Licence And Allowing Class B Licence Holders Access To HF

1. The Amateur Radio Foundation Licence is currently undergoing pilot trials. Once trials have been evaluated it is hoped that the Amateur Radio Foundation Licence will be introduced on 1 January 2002.

2. The callsign for Foundation Licences was originally intended to be M2, but this series has proved to be unavailable. The prefix M3 will be used instead.

3. The persons who have taken and passed the full Foundation Course and examination will be granted a Foundation Licence, which will come into effect on 1 January 2002. For those Full and Intermediate Class B Licence holders who take and pass the Morse assessment part of the Foundation Course, and have held a Class B licence for not less than 12 months, the same will apply. However, if operating in the HF bands, they must only use their Foundation (M3) callsign and privileges appropriate to the Foundation Licence as set out in BR68/F.

4. However, there is no guarantee that, with postal delays due to the Christmas period, the licence schedules will be delivered on or before that date, although every effort will be made to issue them as quickly as possible.

5. To avoid any delays in allowing operation from1 January, please send your pass certificate to the address below and we will issue you with a letter that authorises you to use the callsign and frequencies allocated to the Foundation Licence with effect from 1 January 2002. This authorisation will only remain in force for a limited period, until your full validation documentation can be processed and sent to you. We must receive your application no later than 12 December to have time for the authorisation letter to reach you.

6. You may apply for a particular callsign (e.g. M3 ABC), but you should note that they are allocated on a strictly first come first served basis and cannot be reserved. You may request up to three call signs in order of preference. If the first is not available, then your second choice may be, and so on.

7. Please note that the RLC cannot accept cheques, postal orders or cash, as they do not have facilities to store them. Payment can only be made by credit or debit card for the initial issue of the licence. Renewals may be made by debit/credit cards, direct debit or standing order.

The address to send your application form is:

Radiocommunications Agency
Amateur and Citizens' Band Licensing Section
10G/11A
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX