Overview of planned changes
To enable radio amateurs to undertake a wider range of activities we plan to update the overall licensing framework. This includes allowing anyone to operate amateur radio equipment under a licensee’s supervision and making the process of getting and using a licence simpler and clearer.
Streamline and modernise call sign assignment by updating our call sign allocation policies in a number of areas. For example, under our plans we will make it simpler for the amateur radio community to use Special Event call signs and allow licensees to change their call sign after a five-year period. Inclusion of a Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) will become optional for most licensees. However, licensees would be able to continue to use them if they wish. Adjust technical parameters. This includes increasing maximum power that radio amateurs are allowed to use in most frequency bands; and provide clearer updated rules, including simplifying conditions to make them easier to understand and removing provisions not needed for spectrum management purposes. This is all part of a broader effort to streamline standardise and, where possible, automate elements of our licensing work.
We are now taking steps to introduce the planned changes. These will not take immediate effect and will be phased in over a two-year period.
To implement many of our planned changes, we will have to vary all existing amateur radio licences. This means that many of our plans are subject to the outcome of the statutory processes for varying existing licences. Today, we have published a General Notice which sets out the proposed licence variations. Licensees can provide representations on these proposed changes by 5pm on 22nd January 2024. We will publish our final decision on the proposed variation in February 2024.
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