In studying for my Extra, using the ARRL Extra Class License Manual
(2001), I came across an interesting note...

"There is a general rule that you may not be paid to operate your Amateur
Radio station. In most cases this also means that you cannot operate an
Amateur Radio station during the time that you are being paid by your
employer."

Does this mean that if I'm sitting at my desk at work, doing a job that
doesn't have anything to do with radio, and during break time I pick up my
HT and call someone on the local repeater, that I'm violating FCC rules?

That would be a bizarre interpretation, and not anything I've ever seen
before in 42 years as a ham...

"Rick" wrote...
In studying for my Extra, using the ARRL Extra Class License Manual
(2001), I came across an interesting note...

"There is a general rule that you may not be paid to operate your
Amateur
Radio station. In most cases this also means that you cannot operate
an
Amateur Radio station during the time that you are being paid by your
employer."

Does this mean that if I'm sitting at my desk at work, doing a job
that
doesn't have anything to do with radio, and during break time I pick
up my
HT and call someone on the local repeater, that I'm violating FCC
rules?

That would be a bizarre interpretation, and not anything I've ever
seen
before in 42 years as a ham...

And I participate during lunch-hour in a weekly net of our
employer-sanctioned (and supported) emergency amateur
radio services organization. Virtually all of us are sallaried
(not hourly) employees, and technically "on the clock".

I always assumed it was a prohibition on using amateur radio
for transport of commercial traffic.

"Richard Crowley" wrote in news:12vr4sjscil3u40
@corp.supernews.com:

And I participate during lunch-hour in a weekly net of our
employer-sanctioned (and supported) emergency amateur
radio services organization. Virtually all of us are sallaried
(not hourly) employees, and technically "on the clock".

I always assumed it was a prohibition on using amateur radio
for transport of commercial traffic.



Hospital workers and emergency service personnel are all being "paid" to
operate ham radio after they get their licenses, as are NOAA Weather Bureau
bureaucrats at WX4CHS, at the Charleston Weather Bureau Office.

None that I know of have been busted.

Larry W4CSC
--
Message for Comcrap Internet Customers:
http://tinyurl.com/3ayl9c
Unlimited Service my ass.....(d^
..

"Larry" wrote in message
...

Hospital workers and emergency service personnel are all being "paid" to
operate ham radio after they get their licenses, as are NOAA Weather
Bureau
bureaucrats at WX4CHS, at the Charleston Weather Bureau Office.

None that I know of have been busted.

Larry W4CSC
--

This was explicitely addressed in the October Omnibus Report & Order:

52. Mr. DiGennaro also requests that we amend Section 97.113 our Rules,
which
prohibits "[c]ommunications for hire or for material compensation, direct or
indirect, paid or
promised," by amateur stations,227 to clarify that amateur licensees who, by
virtue of their
employment, are directly involved in facilitating relief and recovery in
times of disaster are not
prohibited from effecting emergency communications using amateur radio.228
We conclude that
the proposed rule change is not necessary, however, because Section 97.113
does not prohibit
amateur radio operators who are emergency personnel engaged in disaster
relief from using the
amateur service bands while in a paid duty status.229 These individuals are
not receiving
compensation for transmitting amateur service communications; rather, they
are receiving
compensation for services related to their disaster relief duties and in
their capacities as
emergency personnel.230

- Dennis Brothers, N1DB

On Mar 18, 4:17?pm, Rick wrote:

Does this mean that if I'm sitting at my desk at work, doing a job that
doesn't have anything to do with radio, and during break time I pick up my
HT and call someone on the local repeater, that I'm violating FCC rules?

IMHO, no.

The key elements a

1) The job doesn't have anything to do with radio

2) You're on break time, not work time

The fact that you are being paid during break time
isn't the determining factor. If you get a paid
vacation, you can still operate while on vacation
even though your employer is paying you then.

73 de Jim, N2EY

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:17:10 CST, Rick wrote:

Does this mean that if I'm sitting at my desk at work, doing a job that
doesn't have anything to do with radio, and during break time I pick up my
HT and call someone on the local repeater, that I'm violating FCC rules?

That would be a bizarre interpretation, and not anything I've ever seen
before in 42 years as a ham...

If you are doing this "on your own time" (which includes break time)
and does not have anything to do with the business of the employer or
the job that you are hired for or work that you are assigned to do,
then there's no violation involved. This is no different from reading
a book or balancing your checkbook on break time.

Of course if your employer objects, you may find yourself with lots of
time to work ham radio!!
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
ARRL Volunteer Counsel

email: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net

Phil Kane wrote in
:

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
ARRL Volunteer Counsel


What about ARRL employees who are paid for amateur related work?

Case in point - An ARRL tech is being paid to test, in the ARRL Lab, a new
2 meter radio for publication in the magazine companies August issue. He's
being paid to write the article and operate the radio, right?

Of course, how does a magazine company with paid subscribers get a ham
license in the first place (W1AW)??

Larry
--
Message for Comcrap Internet Customers:
http://tinyurl.com/3ayl9c
Unlimited Service my ass.....(d^
..

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:37:25 CST, Larry wrote:

What about ARRL employees who are paid for amateur related work?

There is a specific exemption in the Rules for operators at W1AW.

Case in point - An ARRL tech is being paid to test, in the ARRL Lab, a new
2 meter radio for publication in the magazine companies August issue. He's
being paid to write the article and operate the radio, right?

How do you know that s/he is not operating into a dummy load? g

The answer is in the content of the communication. If the content is
on the business of the employer, it is improper. If it's just general
hamming, especially if it's under the W1AW "umbrella" then it's not
improper.

It's no different from me borrowing a specific piece of equipment to
evaluate and then writing a magazine article on it for which I am
being paid

Of course, how does a magazine company with paid subscribers get a ham
license in the first place (W1AW)??

The ARRL is a membership organization. The licensee of W1AW is the
ARRL Headquarters Operators Club, a bona fide amateur radio club. They
do not operate the station to further the publishing arm of the ARRL.
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net

From the AE Question pool:

E1B05 (C) [97.113(c)]
When may an amateur operator accept compensation for serving as the
control
operator of an amateur station used in a classroom?
A. Only when the amateur operator does not accept pay during periods
of time
when the amateur station is used
B. Only when the classroom is in a correctional institution
C. Only when the amateur operator is paid as an incident of a
teaching position
during periods of time when the station is used by that teacher as a
part of
classroom instruction at an educational institution
D. Only when the station is restricted to making contacts with
similar stations
at other educational institutions

Answer is "C"


0n Mar 18, 10:19 pm, Phil Kane wrote:
On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:37:25 CST, Larry wrote:
What about ARRL employees who are paid for amateur related work?

There is a specific exemption in the Rules for operators at W1AW.

Case in point - An ARRL tech is being paid to test, in the ARRL Lab, a new
2 meter radio for publication in the magazine companies August issue. He's
being paid to write the article and operate the radio, right?

How do you know that s/he is not operating into a dummy load? g

The answer is in the content of the communication. If the content is
on the business of the employer, it is improper. If it's just general
hamming, especially if it's under the W1AW "umbrella" then it's not
improper.

It's no different from me borrowing a specific piece of equipment to
evaluate and then writing a magazine article on it for which I am
being paid



Of course, how does a magazine company with paid subscribers get a ham
license in the first place (W1AW)??

The ARRL is a membership organization. The licensee of W1AW is the
ARRL Headquarters Operators Club, a bona fide amateur radio club. They
do not operate the station to further the publishing arm of the ARRL.
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest

Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net

On Mar 19, 12:21�pm, wrote:
From the AE Question pool:

E1B05 (C) [97.113(c)]
When may an amateur operator accept compensation for serving as the
control
operator of an amateur station used in a classroom?
A. *Only when the amateur operator does not accept pay during periods
of time
when the amateur station is used
B. *Only when the classroom is in a correctional institution
C. *Only when the amateur operator is paid as an incident of a
teaching position
during periods of time when the station is used by that teacher as a
part of
classroom instruction at an educational institution
D. *Only when the station is restricted to making contacts with
similar stations
at other educational institutions

Answer is "C"

The key part of that is in the question.

It asks about accepting "compensation for serving as the control
operator of an amateur station"

In other words, acting as the control operator has to be
part of the job itself, not an incidental activity.

If a ham gets a paid lunch or break period and operates
an amateur station during that time, s/he isn't being paid to
do so. It's not part of the job.

Being paid *while* operating is not the same as
being paid *for* operating.

73 de Jim, N2EY