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T1A10

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

T1A10§ 97.407(a)T1A →

Besides an FCC-issued amateur operator license, what is required to be the control operator of a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Station?

  1. AA written recommendation by the local ARRL Emergency Coordinator
  2. BMembership in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
  3. CCertification of current enrollment by a civil defense organization
  4. DNothing
Why RACES is a civil defense service run under Part 97 Subpart E. Section 97.407(a) says a RACES station may only have a control operator who holds an FCC amateur license and is certified as enrolled in the civil defense organization that the station serves. So the license alone is not enough; the local civil defense or emergency management agency must have you on its rolls.
Watch out ARES and its ARRL Emergency Coordinators are a volunteer program of a private organization, not part of the FCC rules, so ARES membership or an EC's recommendation has no legal bearing on RACES eligibility.
RACES = Radio Amateur CIVIL EMERGENCY Service: you must be enrolled with the civil defense group, not just licensed.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.407(a) Radio amateur civil emergency service.

(a) No station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club, or military recreation station and it is certified by a civil defense organization as registered with that organization. No person may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds a FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense organization as enrolled in that organization.

(b) The frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control operator are available to stations transmitting communications in RACES on a shared basis with the amateur service. In the event of an emergency which necessitates invoking the President's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of section 706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 606, amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the frequency segments authorized pursuant to part 214 of this chapter.

(c) An amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only communicate with the following stations upon authorization of the responsible civil defense official for the organization with which the amateur station is registered:

(1) An amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense organization; and

(2) A station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC.

(d) All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil defense organization for the area served. Only civil defense communications of the following types may be transmitted:

(1) Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public safety, or affecting the national defense or security during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies;

(2) Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviation of human suffering and need, and the combating of armed attack or sabotage;

(3) Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public information or instructions to the civilian population essential to the activities of the civil defense organization or other authorized governmental or relief agencies; and

(4) Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as ordered by the responsible civil defense organization served. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week. With the approval of the chief officer for emergency planning in the applicable State, Commonwealth, District or territory, however, such tests and drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours no more than twice in any calendar year.

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