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Yesterday β€” 16 August 2024Ham Radio Blogs
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Get up to Speed on Amateur Radio RF Exposure Rules

βœ‡OnAllBands
By: Elizabeth Klinc， KE8FMJ
26 July 2024 at 14:10

Did you know that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now requires all amateur radio stations in the U.S. and possessions to be evaluated for RF exposure? It’s been a little more than a year since this went into effect, so OnAllBands thought it would be a good time to remind our readers.

As of May 3, 2023 (the end of a two-year transition period), all transmitters operating in the U.S. were expected to comply with the exposure rules. The new rules did not change exposure limits, but those who were previously exempt from running exposure calculations now must comply.

Under the old rules, many amateurs were exempt from the need to do an evaluationβ€”based on transmitter power used with each band, for example. Under the new rules, there are no longer any service-specific exemptions. These have been replaced with formulas that can be used to determine whether an installation needs to be evaluated.

The ARRL noted that these formulas can be used for exposure that is beyond the near-field/far-field boundary of your antenna, defined as wavelength/2Ο€ or 0.16 wavelength. Most stations that were exempt under the old rules will still be exempt from needing to perform a more complete evaluation under the new rules.

As OnAllBands reported last year:

β€œUnder the updated FCC rules, every radio amateur is responsible for determining that their station does not cause exposure that exceeds the FCC MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) limits to any person, either within their homes or outside of them. This is also required for portable and mobile operations.”

Gregory Lapin, N9GL, QST Magazine, May 2023

Lapin noted that the FCC does not require that the results of a station’s exposure analysis be submitted, but β€œit is advisable to keep a record of the analysis so that if there’s ever an exposure complaint about that station, the calculations can be shown to the FCC.”

You can read N9GL’s entire QST article here.

There are many resources on the internet for calculating this RF exposure. The ARRL’s website includes an RF Exposure Calculator (below) to assist amateurs in performing station assessments.

screenshot of computer software program
(Image/ARRL)

The ARRL points out three ways to evaluate your station: calculations (using the above calculator, for example); antenna modeling; and measurements using calibrated equipment. You’ll find many more details about these methods and additional information in the ARRL document, Frequently Asked Questions about the FCC RF Exposure Rule Changes

We also highly suggest reading these resources recommended by the ARRL:

Also check out these FCC resources on RF exposure

Questions? Share them in the comments below or email me at KE8FMJ@gmail.com.

The post Get up to Speed on Amateur Radio RF Exposure Rules appeared first on OnAllBands.

FCC Enforcement Actions

βœ‡AmateurRadio.com
By: Bob KØNR
5 July 2024 at 17:10

When teaching ham radio license classes, I often get asked whether the FCC enforces the Part 97 rules and regulations. That is, how likely is it that the FCC would come after me if I violate the rules? This same question surfaces concerning the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). This morning, I looked at the FCC Enforcement Actions page, to Continue reading FCC Enforcement Actions→

The post FCC Enforcement Actions appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

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FCC Enforcement Actions

βœ‡AmateurRadio.com
By: Bob KØNR
5 July 2024 at 17:10

When teaching ham radio license classes, I often get asked whether the FCC enforces the Part 97 rules and regulations. That is, how likely is it that the FCC would come after me if I violate the rules? This same question surfaces concerning the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). This morning, I looked at the FCC Enforcement Actions page, to Continue reading FCC Enforcement Actions→

The post FCC Enforcement Actions appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

πŸ’Ύ

FCC Enforcement Actions

βœ‡The KØNR Radio Site
By: Bob K0NR
5 July 2024 at 17:10

When teaching ham radio license classes, I often get asked whether the FCC enforces the Part 97 rules and regulations. That is, how likely is it that the FCC would come after me if I violate the rules? This same question surfaces concerning the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

This morning, I looked at the FCC Enforcement Actions page, to see what’s there. First off, there are a ton of actions against unlicensed FM broadcast stations, in response to the PIRATE Act pass by Congress in 2020. There are also many actions against people operating RoboCall systems via telephone. If you find yourself bored, go ahead and read through these enforcement actions.

Here are some actions taken by the FCC concerning Amateur Radio and GMRS in the past few years:

In June 2022, the FCC sent a Notice of Violation to David Dean, K0PWO, concerning a continuous carrier signal on 7.033 MHz from a remote station near Fairplay, Colorado. I recall there being a ruckus about this incident in the ham radio community but I did not know it resulted in a Notice of Violation.

In June 2022, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (FCC talk for β€œwe are fining you”) of $34k to Jason Frawley, WA7CQ. The FCC says that Frawley used his ham radio to transmit on frequencies allocated and authorized for government use during the Johnson wildfire near Elk River, Idaho.

In November 2022, the FCC sent a Notice of Violation to David Dean, K0PWO. (This is the same person with the stuck transmitter in June 2022.) The FCC received a complaint from the State of Colorado that someone (later found to be Dean) had an illegally cloned radio transmitting on the State’s digital trunked radio system (DTRS) without authorization.

In June 2023, the FCC issued a Notice of Violation to Martin Anderson, GMRS WQQP653 in Vancouver, WA. This relates to a stuck transmitter, apparently due to a faulty transceiver at a repeater site. It transmitted continuous, unmodulated signals on the frequency of 462.725 MHz.

In August 2023, the FCC issued a Notice of Violation to Jonathan Gutierrez, GMRS license WRTD259 in response to a complaint of intentional interference to a 462.625 MHz repeater in Mt. Holly, Pennsylvania.

In August 2023, the FCC issued a Notice of Violation to Alarm Detection Systems, licensee of radio station WQSK406 in Louisville, Colorado. This is not ham or GMRS-related but involves a business band radio on 460 MHz. Apparently, the company continued to operate legacy β€œwideband” FM radios after the FCC required business band radio users to switch to β€œnarrowband” radios (12.5 kHz channels). I found this interesting because it is an action related to the use of improper radio gear and emission type.

In May 2024, the FCC issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Skydive Elsinore, LLC, a skydiving company in Lake Elsinore, CA. This company was transmitting in the 70 cm amateur band on 442.725 MHz without a proper license.

From these notices, we can see that the FCC does enforce amateur and GMRS rules, but not as often as we’d like to see. Usually, the situation has to be a big nuisance before it escalates enough for the FCC to take action. If you make a simple mistake once or twice, you are highly unlikely to be cited. If you are a more consistent or flagrant rule breaker, then you might get a visit from the FCC.

Remember that the ARRL has the Volunteer Monitor program, operating under a formal agreement with the FCC,Β  that can assist with on-the-air violations.

73 Bob K0NR

The post FCC Enforcement Actions appeared first on The KØNR Radio Site.

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