The ARRL is always answering questions about FCC rules as they apply to the use of a club call sign. Of course, every station must have a control operator (97.103). For special events, you often operate using someone else’s callsign, or a club callsign. The station licensee or club call trustee is ultimately responsible for all transmissions from their station. During those special events, many amateurs often use a single call sign, so the station licensee must designate a control operator(s) who is responsible for the operation of that station when the licensee is not in direct control. Both the station licensee and the control operator are equally responsible for all transmissions (97.103(a) and (b)). When the station licensee designates others as control operators, they should make a note in the log. You are no longer required to carry a photocopy of your license whenever you are the control operator of a station, but it’s still a good idea. A third-party is defined as anyone who does not have operating privileges on the frequency and mode being used.

Q. The trustee of our club callsign is an Extra. Does this mean our station can operate on any frequency?

A. No. Many people mistakenly believe that a club callsign automatically carries the operating privileges of the callsign trustee. That is not true. A club callsign comes from a station license and carries no operating privileges. A station may only operate according to the privileges of the Control Operator at the control point for that station. Example, if a control operator is a General, that transmitter may only operate using General class privileges.

Q. What is the identification procedure for a club station license?

A. A club station license carries no operator privileges. The person designated as control operator for the station must use his or her own privileges. If operation takes place in the Extra class part of the band, there must be an Extra class control operator present at the control point monitoring and supervising the operation. This does not necessitate the use of the supplementary station ID as mentioned in Section 97.119(e).

Q. During some special events, members of the public wander through as we operate. Many times, these unlicensed individuals want to operate. Can they legally operate our radio station?

A. Only a licensed amateur is eligible to be the control operator, and obviously an unlicensed person can’t be the control operator of an amateur station. So, an unlicensed person cannot legally operate the radio station. However, they may participate under the immediate supervision and direction of a control operator present at the control point. Third parties may only communicate directly with other US stations or with countries with which the US has signed third-party agreements (97.115(a) and (b)). Part 97 rules are always in effect. There are no “special exceptions”.