General.

The Amateur Radio Service of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exists to support individuals interested in the non commercial technical and communication aspects of radio transmission and reception.  The required Amateur Radio License verifies privileges granted by the FCC for operations within the parts of the radio frequency spectrum that are allocated to the Service.

Note: If you are pursuing this license to support a commercial endeavor or as authority to service commercial radio transmission equipment, you need read no further.  You will need a Commercial Radio License (not covered here.)  Prohibited transmissions are fully described in Sec. 97.113 of the FCC Rules.

The purpose of the Amateur Radio Service is described in the FCC Rules¹ as follows:
   a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary non commercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
   b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
   c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.
   d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronic experts.
   e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

Privileges.

Although very enjoyable, the license is not just for talking to your friends or for communicating with amateurs around the world.

 In addition, amateurs can take advantage of many modes of operation: different methods of radio-telephony, amateur television, radio teletype, communications via satellite, moon-bounce (where your signal is bounced off the moon to the receiving station), spread spectrum, radio-telegraph and on and on.

One should not forget the technical aspects of amateur radio. The amateur radio service is the only service of the FCC wherein a person can design, build and operate transmitting equipment without having first to obtain expensive and time-consuming FCC Type Approval.  Many of the advances in communications we enjoy today were first conceived and placed in operation in the amateur radio service by amateurs working in their garage.  Many amateurs have combined their interest in two hobbies by providing Internet links between amateur repeater stations worldwide.

Over many decades the amateur service has provided a cadre of trained communications personnel capable of stepping into the breach during national emergencies and local disasters when commercial facilities have failed.  The cadre has been especially valuable to the Military in wartime.  To many young people, amateur radio has stimulated an interest in science and provided a stepping stone into lifelong careers.  Amateurs sharpen their skills with activities like hidden transmitter hunts and annual participation in Field Day, where amateurs move into the field with portable equipment and communicate with the world under simulated disaster conditions.

Morse Code.

An international treaty to which the U.S. was signatory, required amateurs worldwide to have code proficiency if they operated on frequencies below 30 MHz.  Effective July 25, 2003 that treaty was revised to permit Local Administrations (Congress & FCC) to determine whether code will be required in their jurisdictions. As of January 1, 2004 there has been no action, and the U.S. code requirement still stands.

The current code speed is 5 words-per-minute for U.S. licenses.  The Technician Class license can be obtained without the code but the spectrum privileges granted are restricted.  With the code, additional privileges are obtained below 30 MHz.  Code is currently mandatory for the General and Amateur Extra Class licenses.

License Classes.

There are three classes of license: Technician, General and Amateur Extra Class, each with increasing privileges and obtained with increasing difficulty.  The usual entry level into the service is the Technician license.  Applicants usually start there and progress to Extra Class as they become more knowledgeable.

¹ Title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 97 "Amateur Radio Service"