[CQ-Contest] Fw: Control Operators and Contesting

[Rich K2WR]

I thought this would be a good time to underscore a point about reciprocal arrangements and CEPT that was touched on just now by K1DG, but is not well understood.

When a foreign amateur who would otherwise be entitled to operate in the U.S. under CEPT or any other reciprocal agreement also holds a U.S. license, the reciprocal privileges become totally irrelevant.  The U.S. license preempts the reciprocal arrangement and is the only authority under which such amateur can operate in the U.S. or territories.  So that is why the visiting WRTC participant would have needed to pass the Extra test (not in order to operate, but in order to operate under Extra Class privileges) before WRTC got underway.  Therefore, it behooves any non-U.S. amateur planning to operate in the U.S. by way of an actual FCC license to be fairly sure of being able to pass the Extra test beforehand, because he or she could actually lose privileges, if eligibile for operation under a reciprocal agreement, if they don’t pass all the elements.

It seems also to be a good time to point out that a U.S. Citizen who is first licensed in another country and does not possess an FCC license, cannot use CEPT or other reciprocal arrangements to operate in the U.S.  If you are a U.S. Citizen, you must have an FCC-issued license to operate in the U.S., all otherwise-applicable reciprocal arrangements notwithstanding.

Rich K2WR


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