E1F02: What privileges are authorized in the US to persons holding an amateu…

E1F02§ 97.107E1F →

What privileges are authorized in the US to persons holding an amateur service license granted by the government of Canada?

ANone, they must obtain a US license
BFull privileges of the General class license on the 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter bands
CThe operating terms and conditions of the Canadian amateur service license, not to exceed US Amateur Extra class license privileges
DFull privileges, up to and including those of the Amateur Extra class license, on the 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter bands

Why Under 97.107, a person holding a valid amateur license issued by Canada may operate in the US without a separate FCC license, thanks to the long-standing reciprocal arrangement between the two countries. The visitor operates under the terms and conditions of the Canadian license, but can never exceed what a US Amateur Extra could do, so US band edges, power limits and emission rules cap the privileges. In other words, the home license sets the ceiling and US Extra privileges set the absolute maximum.

Watch out The choices that grant blanket General or Extra privileges on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters are wrong because the visitor's own Canadian license class still governs what they may use; the US only sets an upper limit. The choice requiring a US license ignores the reciprocal agreement entirely.

Canadian visitors bring their own privileges, capped at US Extra: home license rules, Extra ceiling.

HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.

47 CFR 97.107 Reciprocal operating authority.

A non-citizen of the United States (“alien”) holding an amateur service authorization granted by the alien's government is authorized to be the control operator of an amateur station located at places where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, provided there is in effect a multilateral or bilateral reciprocal operating arrangement, to which the United States and the alien's government are parties, for amateur service operation on a reciprocal basis. The FCC will issue public announcements listing the countries with which the United States has such an arrangement. No citizen of the United States or person holding an FCC amateur operator/primary station license grant is eligible for the reciprocal operating authority granted by this section. The privileges granted to a control operator under this authorization are:

(a) For an amateur service license granted by the Government of Canada:

(1) The terms of the Convention Between the United States and Canada (TIAS No. 2508) Relating to the Operation by Citizens of Either Country of Certain Radio Equipment or Stations in the Other Country;

(2) The operating terms and conditions of the amateur service license issued by the Government of Canada; and

(3) The applicable rules of this part, but not to exceed the control operator privileges of an FCC-granted Amateur Extra Class operator license.

(b) For an amateur service license granted by any country, other than Canada, with which the United States has a multilateral or bilateral agreement:

(1) The terms of the agreement between the alien's government and the United States;

(2) The operating terms and conditions of the amateur service license granted by the alien's government;

(3) The applicable rules of this part, but not to exceed the control operator privileges of an FCC-granted Amateur Extra Class operator license; and

(c) At any time the FCC may, in its discretion, modify, suspend or cancel the reciprocal operating authority granted to any person by this section.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov

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