If you are serious about getting into the world of amateur radio operation, also known as HAM radio operation, you’re going to want to make sure that you are operating your radio 100% legally and “by the book” so that you don’t have to worry about incurring serious penalties and fines.
In the early days of radio, the overwhelming majority of amateurs were able to do so without any licenses, without any legal requirements needing to be met, and in true “Wild West” fashion.
So long as you had the necessary technology to jump on the amateur network, you were going to be able to do exactly that.
However, after the passage of the Communications Act of 1934, it became necessary for HAM radio operators and other amateur radio operators to not only register their equipment and their handle on the network, but also to pass necessary certifications to be designated as HAM radio operators licensed in the first-place .
Things have changed since the Communications Act of 1934, and amendments have been made to the different rules and requirements in place for HAM operators. If you’d like to know a little bit more about the legality of operating a HAM radio, we’ve got some inside information for you.
The basics of HAM radio operation
The amazing thing about HAM radio operation is that it can be used even when there is no electricity, when there are no satellites, and even when there are no cellular networks to communicate to.
This technology is the “go to” solution for emergency response teams in almost every major metropolitan area as well as around the world, and is the number one communication solution for those who want to be prepared for any and every disaster that might strike.
HAM radio operation started on a mass scale in nearly 1900s when amateurs started to play around with radio technology, but upon the creation of the FCC and the passage of the Communications Act of 1934, their ability to use all of the different radio frequencies available has been somewhat restricted.
In 1996, the Congress amended significant chunks of the Communications Act of 1934 as well as repealed entire sections, changing most of the way that American telecommunications policy was handled. It also added new penalties that those using the HAM radio network without a license could face – including significant fines and potential jail time.
This has been done to cut down on the amount of “noise” on all of the different radio frequencies out there, and has also been done to better secure a network that is, by its very nature, almost impossible to secure.
Legal requirements you’ll need to meet to get set up as a HAM radio operator
In the United States (as well as most other parts of the developed world), HAM radio operators need to pass a number of different tests to show that they understand key concepts of the radio technology as well as how to best use it to gain access to the network.
Now, obviously, not all HAM radio operators out there have taken advantage of these licensing procedures – it’s just as easy to jump on the network without a license as it is with one – but these people may face significant penalties for operating HAM radio technology without an operator’s license.
Penalties of operating a HAM radio without a license
One of the stiffest penalties that those trying to operate a HAM radio without a license are going to face is the difficulty that they’ll have in purchasing the technology necessary to get onto the HAM radio network in the first place.
The United States is rather stringent as far as its licensing procedures are concerned, and without one you aren’t going to be able to purchase the kind of technology in the United States that you need to access the radio network.
After passing your licensing boards, you’ll not only be granted access to the network and the ability to purchase technology, but you’ll also have the opportunity to register a “callsign” or “station license” that will be attached to that license number.
Other penalties include fines and a disbarring of your future access to the amateur radio network, as discussed by Ukiah Personal Injury Lawyers, significant penalties that further entice people to get their hands on a HAM radio license just as soon as possible.
How to get started
If you are interested in moving forward with getting your hands on a HAM radio operator license, you’ll want to get in touch with a local Amateur Radio Licensing group. Visit www.arrl.org to find your local HAM radio organization, and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction as far as licensing is concerned while also providing you with inside information to pass your licensing examination.
If you are serious about getting into the world of amateur radio operation, also known as HAM radio operation, you’re going to want to make sure that you are operating your radio 100% legally and “by the book” so that you don’t have to worry about incurring serious penalties and fines. In the early days…