Question T1A02
From subelement T1 - T1A
Which agency regulates and enforces the rules for the Amateur Radio Service in the United States?
Why is this correct?
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is the sole federal agency that regulates and enforces Amateur Radio Service rules in the United States. FEMA handles emergency management, and Homeland Security focuses on national security, but neither regulates amateur radio operations. Only the FCC has statutory authority over radio spectrum allocation, licensing, and enforcement for amateur operators under Part 97 regulations.
Memory tip
Remember the pattern: telecommunications regulation = FCC. When any question asks about who regulates, licenses, or enforces radio rules in the US, the answer is virtually always the FCC. This applies across all radio services, not just amateur radio.
Learn more
The FCC's authority over amateur radio stems from the Communications Act, which grants them jurisdiction over all non-federal radio spectrum use. This includes issuing operator licenses, establishing frequency privileges, setting emission standards, and enforcing compliance. In emergencies, amateur operators may support FEMA or other agencies, but the FCC remains the regulatory authority governing how amateur stations operate, regardless of who they're assisting.
Think about it
Why do you think Congress assigned radio regulation to a communications-focused agency like the FCC rather than to emergency management or security agencies?