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T1A03

COMMISSION'S RULES · Purpose and permissible use of the Amateur Radio Service; Operator/primary station license grant; Meanings of basic terms used in FCC rules; Interference; RACES rules; Phonetics; Frequency Coordinator; Beacon

T1A03§ 97.119(b)(2)T1A →

What do the FCC rules state regarding the use of a phonetic alphabet for station identification in the Amateur Radio Service?

  1. AIt is required when transmitting emergency messages
  2. BIt is encouraged when using phone emissions
  3. CIt is required when in contact with foreign stations
  4. DAll these choices are correct
Why Section 97.119(b)(2) says that when identifying by phone, the call sign may be spoken in English and the use of a standard phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct identification is encouraged. Note the word "encouraged": it is a recommendation, not a requirement, so nothing in Part 97 forces you to say your call phonetically. The ITU/NATO phonetics (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) are the standard set, and they help your call get through noise, weak signals and language barriers.
Watch out The choices about emergency traffic and foreign contacts describe situations where phonetics are especially useful in practice, but the FCC never makes them mandatory in any situation.
Phonetics are encouraged, never required. If a choice says "required," it is wrong.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.119(b)(2) Station identification.

(a) Each amateur station, except a space station or telecommand station, must transmit its assigned call sign on its transmitting channel at the end of each communication, and at least every 10 minutes during a communication, for the purpose of clearly making the source of the transmissions from the station known to those receiving the transmissions. No station may transmit unidentified communications or signals, or transmit as the station call sign, any call sign not authorized to the station.

(b) The call sign must be transmitted with an emission authorized for the transmitting channel in one of the following ways:

(1) By a CW emission. When keyed by an automatic device used only for identification, the speed must not exceed 20 words per minute;

(2) By a phone emission in the English language. Use of a phonetic alphabet as an aid for correct station identification is encouraged;

(3) By a RTTY emission using a specified digital code when all or part of the communications are transmitted by a RTTY or data emission;

(4) By an image emission conforming to the applicable transmission standards, either color or monochrome, of § 73.682(a) of the FCC Rules when all or part of the communications are transmitted in the same image emission

(c) One or more indicators may be included with the call sign. Each indicator must be separated from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator is self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and after, the call sign. No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned to another country.

(d) When transmitting in conjunction with an event of special significance, a station may substitute for its assigned call sign a special event call sign as shown for that station for that period of time on the common data base coordinated, maintained and disseminated by the special event call sign data base coordinators. Additionally, the station must transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour during such transmissions.

(e) When the operator license class held by the control operator exceeds that of the station licensee, an indicator consisting of the call sign assigned to the control operator's station must be included after the call sign.

(f) When the control operator is a person who is exercising the rights and privileges authorized by § 97.9(b) of this part, an indicator must be included after the call sign as follows:

(1) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice Class to Technical Class: KT;

(2) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice or Technician to General Class: AG;

(3) For a control operator who has requested a license modification from Novice, Technician, General, or Advanced Class to Amateur Extra Class: AE.

(g) When the station is transmitting under the authority of § 97.107 of this part, an indicator consisting of the appropriate letter-numeral designating the station location must be included before the call sign that was issued to the station by the country granting the license. For an amateur service license granted by the Government of Canada, however, the indicator must be included after the call sign. At least once during each intercommunication, the identification announcement must include the geographical location as nearly as possible by city and state, commonwealth or possession.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
← T1A02 All of T1A T1A04 →

The rest of T1A

  1. T1A01 Which of the following is part of the Basis and Purpose of the Amateur Radio Service?
  2. T1A02 Which agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States?
  3. T1A03 What do the FCC rules state regarding the use of a phonetic alphabet for station identification in the Amateu…
  4. T1A04 How do you receive official notification of your new license and call sign after passing the exam?
  5. T1A05 What proves that the FCC has issued an operator/primary license grant?
  6. T1A06 On which of the following HF frequencies can automatically controlled amateur propagation beacons be found?
  7. T1A07 What is the FCC Part 97 definition of a space station?
  8. T1A08 Who recommends transmit/receive channels for repeater and auxiliary stations?
  9. T1A09 Who selects a Frequency Coordinator?
  10. T1A10 Besides an FCC-issued amateur operator license, what is required to be the control operator of a Radio Amateu…
  11. T1A11 Which of the following is prohibited?
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