SB QST @ ARL $ARLB013
ARLB013 US to join CEPT

ZCZC AG13
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 13  ARLB013
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  February 12, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB013
ARLB013 US to join CEPT

US to participate in CEPT guest license arrangement

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.''
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