LESSON 4

The station license, correct name and address on file,
license term, renewals, grace period

The VE exam questions and correct answers are word for word the question and answer found in the quiz section of these lessons. Originally the questions, answers, and distracters were all exactly the same even the order in which they were given was the same. That allowed an applicant to memorize questions and answers without even knowing what they were really saying.

For example of a question from the pool that I think is kind of…, well I don’t think I am going to finish that thought. The question is T1D01 “Which of the following services are issued an operator station license by the FCC?” The distracters are: “ A. Family Radio Service B. Amateur Radio Service C. General Radiotelephone Service D. The Citizens Radio Service.” The answer is B. Originally if you just learned T1D01 is B you could get it right if that question appeared on your test.

The VE teams are now allowed to change the distracters as well as the letter which is the correct answer.

Another thought about taking the exam using the above question. You might look at the answers and think Family Radio Service might be correct because there are Family Radio Stations in the Broadcast Radio service but those are Family Radio Stations not Family Radio Service. There is a Family Radio Service available under FCC rules but no license is issued. The FCC no longer issues licenses Citizen Band 27 MHz. The only correct answer is Amateur Radio Service, that probably does not shock you because remember what the test is for, and even if you might think other answers might be correct there is only one correct answer to this question.

There are questions that have more then one correct answer but they will give a group option like “all of the above are correct” or “Answers A and B are correct”. Don’t just mark the first correct answer you see; read them all because if A and B are both correct marking A or B will be incorrect.

Another big change that has come into existence in the past few years is the authorization of who can obtain a license in the United States. Remember your opinion or my opinion has no bearing on the proper answer. It is only the FCC’s opinion that counts when taking the exam because it is the Federal Communications Commission who issues amateur radio license. Anyone except a representative of a foreign government may obtain an amateur radio license in the United States. There is no age limit. If you are old enough to answer the questions and you pass the test then you qualify.

The amateur radio licenses issued now have a normal term of 10 years. Thus if you do not upgrade, change mailing address, or make some other change that would require modifying your license you will not have to do anything but renew in the time period not more then 90 days before expiration 10 years after it was issued. So if your license would expire on January 1, 2008 you can not renew it before October 3, 2007.

The FCC requires the station licensee keep the correct mailing address in the Universal Licensing System database so they can use that address in the event they need to contact you by mail which is almost the only way they will attempt to contact you. Not changing your address could result in suspension or revocation of your amateur license.

If you forget to renew your license and it expires you must discontinue transmitting until you have been able to renew and that renewal can be seen in the FCC data base. You do have two years to renew after expiration without retesting but if the expiration date is more then two years old it is necessary to start all over just as if you had never had an amateur radio license.

A great advantage of the VE program is when you take the test you know at that time whether or not you passed. Passing the test does not and again let me emphasize does not allow you to transmit on the ham bands. It is not until your name with the information about your call sign appears in the FCC data base that you are allowed to transmit on the ham bands.

It makes sense if you think about it. If you don’t have a valid amateur radio call sign then you have no way to identify your station and you will not have a valid call sign until the FCC issues it. Neither the VE team giving the test nor the VEC they represent can issue an amateur radio license. Only the FCC can issue a valid license in the United States of America.

1. T1D01
Which of the following services are issued an operator station license by the FCC?
A. Family Radio Service
B. Amateur Radio Service
C. General Radiotelephone Service
D. The Citizens Radio Service
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2. T1D02
Who can become an amateur licensee in the US?
A. Anyone except a representative of a foreign government
B. Only a citizen of the United States
C. Anyone except an employee of the US government
D. Anyone
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3. T1D03
What is the minimum age required to hold an amateur license?
A. 14 years or older
B. 18 years or older
C. 70 years or younger
D. There is no minimum age requirement
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4. T1D04
What government agency grants your amateur radio license?
A. The Department of Defense
B. The Bureau of Public Communications
C. The Department of Commerce
D. The Federal Communications Commission
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5. T1D05
How soon may you transmit after passing the required examination elements for your first amateur radio license?
A. Immediately
B. 30 days after the test date
C. As soon as your license grant appears in the FCC's ULS database
D. As soon as you receive your license in the mail from the FCC
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6. T1D06
What is the normal term for an amateur station license grant?
A. 5 years
B. 7 years
C. 10 years
D. For the lifetime of the licensee
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7. T1D07
What is the grace period during which the FCC will renew an
expired 10-year license without re-examination?
A. 2 years
B. 5 years
C. 10 years
D. There is no grace period
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8. T1D08
What is your responsibility as a station licensee?
A. You must allow another amateur to operate your station upon request
B. You must be present whenever the station is operated
C. You must notify the FCC if another amateur acts as the control operator
D. Your station must be operated in accordance with the FCC rules
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9. T1D09
When may the FCC revoke or suspend a license if the mailing
address of the holder is not current with the FCC?
A. If mail is returned to the FCC as undeliverable
B. When the licensee transmits without having updated the address
C. When the licensee operates portable at a different address
D. If the address is not updated within the 2 year grace period
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10. T1D10
The FCC requires which address to be kept up to date on the
Universal Licensing System database?
A. The station location address
B. The station licensee mailing address
C. The station location address and mailing address
D. The station transmitting location address
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11. T1D11
When are you permitted to continue to transmit if you forget to renew your amateur license and it expires?
A. Transmitting is not allowed until the license is renewed and appears on the FCC ULS database
B. When you identify using the suffix EXP
C. When you notify the FCC you intend to renew within 90 days
D. Transmitting is allowed any time during the 2-year grace period
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12. T1D12
Why must an Amateur radio operator have a correct name and mailing address on file with the FCC?
A. To receive mail delivery from the FCC by the United States Postal Service
B. So the FCC Field office can contact the licensee
C. It isn't required when you haven't operated your station in a year
D. So the FCC can locate your transmitting location

Answers: B A D D C C A D A B A A