G1D05: When operating a US station by remote control from outside the countr…

G1D05§ 97.7G1D →

When operating a US station by remote control from outside the country, what license is required of the control operator?

AA US operator/primary station license
BOnly an appropriate US operator/primary license and a special remote station permit from the FCC
COnly a license from the foreign country, as long as the call sign includes identification of portable operation in the US
DA license from the foreign country and a special remote station permit from the FCC

Why Section 97.7 says an amateur station may transmit only when a control operator holding a valid FCC amateur operator/primary station license is at the control point. What matters is the location of the transmitter, not the person: if the station is a US station, whoever runs it remotely must hold the FCC license and operates within the privileges of that license class. Sitting in another country while logged into the remote station does not change that requirement.

Watch out The choices adding a 'special remote station permit' describe something the FCC does not issue; there is no separate authorization for remote control. A foreign license only authorizes operating stations under that country's jurisdiction, not a US station.

US transmitter, US license. There is no FCC 'remote permit' - any answer inventing one is wrong.

HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.

47 CFR 97.7 Control operator required.

When transmitting, each amateur station must have a control operator. The control operator must be a person:

(a) For whom an amateur operator/primary station license grant appears on the ULS consolidated licensee database, or

(b) Who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov

G1D05

The rest of G1D