From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 12, 1998
To all radio amateurs

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.''