This (summary) from Ofcom today:
What we have decided - in brief
We have decided to change the amateur radio licensing framework to make the following changes as proposed in the 2023 Consultation document, with some amendments in light of the responses to the consultation. The changes will:
1. Change the licensing framework to:
• Streamline Notices of Variation (NoV) under the three-tier licensing structure;
• Update our mechanisms for re-validation while maintaining lifetime licences;
• Only permit licensees to only hold a single personal licence, requiring the surrender of lower level licences as a licensee progresses; and
• Allow anyone to operate amateur radio under a licensee’s supervision.
2. Streamline and modernise call sign assignment to update call sign allocation policy to:
• Introduce a new M8 and M9 Intermediate call sign format;
• Make the use of Regional Secondary Locators (RSL) optional and simplify the process for using a special RSL;
• Introduce the RSL ‘E’ for optional use by radio amateurs operating in England;
• Simplify the licence terms on the use of call sign suffixes;
• Allow old call signs to be reissued online, and permit licensees to periodically change their call sign;
• Simplify the rules around Special Event Stations; and
• Change the number of call signs that can be held.
3. Adjust technical parameters to reflect the evolving needs of the hobby and provide radio amateurs with greater operating freedom by:
• Increasing the maximum transmit power to allow (i) 25 Watts for Foundation and 100 Watts for Intermediate licensees in most bands; and (ii) 1000 Watts for Full licensees in bands where amateur radio has a primary allocation;
• Allowing Foundation and Intermediate licensees to use the internet for remote control operation;
• Permitting the deployment of repeaters, beacons and gateways without requiring an NoV in most cases;
• Allowing Foundation licensees to build their own equipment and access the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands; and
• Enabling low power airborne use in some frequency bands.
4. Provide clearer updated rules, with terms and conditions which are easy for everyone to understand by:
• Aligning various terms and conditions with other licences that Ofcom issues;
• Simplifying conditions to remove unnecessary complexity and make them clearer; and
• Removing provisions not necessary for spectrum management purposes.
In response to feedback from stakeholders we have decided to proceed with an amended version of our proposal in some areas. We will:
• Increase the period before a call sign can be reissued or changed to 5 years; instead of the proposed 2 years;
• Increase the permitted transmit power for Foundation licensees to 25 Watts;
• Increase the permitted transmit power for Foundation licensees in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to 2 Watts; and
• Allow the use of certain data stations without the need for an NoV.
To implement many of these decisions we need to make changes to all existing amateur radio licences. This means that many of these decisions are subject to the outcome of the statutory processes for varying existing licenses. We have therefore decided to start the statutory process to vary all amateur radio licences by publishing a General Notice which sets out the proposed licence variations. We will publish our final decisions in February 2024 following the conclusion of this process.
The full document can be downloaded here:
