International Operators Permit Update
US to participate in CEPT guest license arrangement




               ARLB013 US to join CEPT

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013
Newington CT  February 12, 1998


       US amateurs soon will not need to apply for reciprocal licenses in
       order to operate during short visits to most European countries.
       While an official announcement still may be a few weeks away, it's
       been learned the US request to participate in the European guest
       license arrangement has been approved. Similarly, most European hams
       visiting the US no longer will have to submit FCC Form 610A.

       Approval of the US request came in late January at a meeting of the
       CEPT Radio Regulatory Working Group (WGRR), in Groningen, The
       Netherlands. The European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) has been
       instructed to officially notify the FCC of the decision approving US
       participation.

       Last September, the US State Department applied for US participation
       in the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications
       Administrations (CEPT) Amateur Radio licensing system. A holders of
       a CEPT license can operate in CEPT-participating countries without
       having to apply for a reciprocal license.

       The State Department's action came at the urging of the ARRL that
       the US take advantage of the CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01
       arrangements and issue a license that would be recognized by
       CEPT-participating administrations and would be valid for brief
       visits.

       Also last fall, the FCC proposed amending the Amateur Radio rules to
       make it easier for hams holding a CEPT license or an International
       Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) to operate during short visits to the
       US.

       Under the soon-to-be-implemented arrangement, a US Technician
       license would be recognized as a CEPT Class 2 (VHF-only) license,
       with full privileges above 30 MHz. Holders of Tech Plus through
       Extra tickets would be given a CEPT Class 1 license, with full
       privileges on HF and VHF. Novice licensees would not be eligible for
       a CEPT equivalent license since most CEPT countries don't offer a
       license of this type.

       Once the ERO formally advises the FCC of the decision, the FCC must
       complete the steps to implement the participation before CEPT
       licensing can become effective.

       ''We've been urging the Commission to do this since 1991,'' said
       ARRL Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ. ''Now that CEPT
       has given the green light, we hope the FCC will step on the gas.''

       NNNN
       /EX


           State Department applies for US CEPT participation




ZCZC AG60
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 60  ARLB060
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  October 10, 1997
To all radio amateurs

The State Department has applied for US participation in the European
Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT)
Amateur Radio licensing system. The move, September 22, could
eventually make it easier for US hams to operate temporarily in
European countries that participate in CEPT. Holders of a CEPT
license could operate in CEPT-participating countries without having
to apply for a reciprocal license.

''No doubt there will be some give and take between the European
Radiocommunications Office (ERO) and the Department of State over the
details before the US is accepted as a participant, but an important
milestone has been reached,'' said ARRL Executive Vice President David
Sumner, K1ZZ. The application consists of a four-page letter with
voluminous attachments. Last year, the FCC had asked the State
Department to apply for participation in the CEPT Agreement as a
non-CEPT country.

The action follows in the wake of an earlier suggestion by the ARRL
to the FCC that the US take advantage of the CEPT Recommendation T/R
61-01 arrangements and issue a CEPT license that would be recognized
by other participating administrations and valid for visits.

Last fall, the FCC proposed amending the Amateur Radio rules to make
it easier for hams holding a CEPT license or an International Amateur
Radio Permit (IARP) to operate during short visits to the US.

============================================================================

                              ARLB066  
                     International Operators Permit

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 66  ARLB066
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  September 26, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB066
ARLB066 International ops news

The FCC has proposed amending the Amateur Radio rules to make it
easier for hams holding a European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) radio-amateur license or
an International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) from certain countries
in Europe and the Americas to operate during short visits to the US.
If finally approved, hams would be able to operate for short periods
in participating countries without first obtaining another license
or permit from the host country.

The FCC says the arrangement is intended to make it easier for US
hams to operate stations temporarily in several countries in Europe
and Central and South America. Likewise, hams from those countries
would be allowed to operate in stations in places where the FCC
regulates ham radio. ''We believe that US participation in both the
CEPT agreement and the CITEL/Amateur Convention would benefit US
amateur operators who travel to Europe and to the Americas,'' the
FCC said in its discussion of WT Docket 96-188.

Operating authority by CEPT or IARP holders in the US would be for
''up to 180 days within the preceding five years.'' The two classes
of CEPT licenses would correspond either to Amateur Extra or
Technician class. Resident aliens or US citizens could not operate
in the US under a CEPT license or IARP.

Last year, ARRL petitioned the FCC to implement the CITEL/Amateur
Convention. The League also asked the Commission to acknowledge
arrangements to be made between the ARRL and the Department of State
to issue IARP documents to US citizens for use in other CITEL
countries. The FCC has asked the State Department to apply for
participation in the CEPT Agreement as a non-CEPT country and
expects the agreement to be concluded this year.

Comments on the proposal are due December 13, 1996 and reply
comments by January 13, 1997. E-mail comments should mention ''WT
Docket No 96-188'' on the subject line and should be addressed to
mdepont at fcc.gov. Include your full name and Postal Service
mailing address in the message text. Mail written comments to:
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,
Washington, DC 20554.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

                               ARLB096
                       ARRL Support of FCC Actions

QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 96  ARLB096
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  December 16, 1996
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB096
ARLB096 League ''heartily supports'' FCC proposal to ease
international operating

In comments filed in response to an FCC proposal that would make it
easier for visiting foreign hams to temporarily operate in the US,
the ARRL ''heartily supports'' the plan, but suggests some changes.
Earlier this year, the FCC proposed amending the Amateur Radio rules
to make it easier for hams holding a European Conference of Postal
and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) radio-amateur license
or an International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) from certain
countries in the Americas to operate during short visits to the US.

If finally approved, hams would be able to operate for short periods
in participating countries without first obtaining another license or
permit from the host country. The arrangement would make it easier
for US hams to operate stations temporarily in several countries in
Europe, Central and South America. Likewise, hams from those
countries would be allowed to operate in stations in places where the
FCC regulates ham radio.

The principal change recommended by the ARRL involved the length of
time CEPT or IARP holders would be allowed to operate in the US. The
FCC had proposed extending operating authority for ''up to 180 days
within the preceding five years.'' In its comments, the League called
the limitation ''unnecessarily restrictive,'' and suggested a CEPT
license or an IARP ''be valid for use by the holder for a period up to
one year'' from the date of arrival in the US but not beyond the
expiration date of the ham license issued by the visitor's home
country.

The two classes of CEPT licenses would correspond either to Amateur
Extra or Technician class. Resident aliens or US citizens could not
operate in the US under a CEPT license or IARP.

In 1995, the ARRL petitioned the FCC to implement the CITEL/Amateur
Convention. The League also asked the Commission to acknowledge
arrangements to be made between the ARRL and the Department of State
to issue IARP documents to US citizens for use in other CITEL
countries. The FCC also has asked the State Department to apply for
participation in the CEPT Agreement as a non-CEPT country.
NNNN
/EX





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