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E1F03

COMMISSION RULES · Miscellaneous rules: external RF power amplifiers; prohibited communications; spread spectrum; auxiliary stations; Canadian amateurs operating in the US; special temporary authority

E1F03§ 97.315E1F →

Under what circumstances may a dealer sell an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz if it has not been granted FCC certification?

  1. AGain is less than 23 dB when driven by power of 10 watts or less
  2. BThe equipment dealer assembled it from a kit
  3. CIt was manufactured and certificated in a country which has a reciprocal certification agreement with the FCC
  4. DThe amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station
Why Section 97.315 requires FCC certification for external RF power amplifiers capable of operating below 144 MHz, a rule aimed at keeping illegal CB linears off the market. The rule lists specific exceptions, and one of them covers amplifiers built or modified by an amateur operator for use at an amateur station, since amateurs are allowed to homebrew and modify their own gear. A dealer may therefore sell such a unit without it ever having gone through the certification process.
Watch out There is no reciprocal certification agreement with other countries for amplifiers, and a dealer assembling a kit does not create an exemption; the gain figure is not part of the sale exception either.
Below 144 MHz amps need FCC certification unless a ham built or modified it for ham use.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.315 Certification of external RF power amplifiers.

(a) Any external RF power amplifier (see § 2.815 of the FCC Rules) manufactured or imported for use at an amateur radio station must be certificated for use in the amateur service in accordance with subpart J of part 2 of the FCC Rules. No amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed or modified by a non-amateur service licensee without a grant of certification from the FCC.

(b) The requirement of paragraph (a) does not apply if one or more of the following conditions are met:

(1) The amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station.

(2) [Reserved]

(3) The amplifier is sold to an amateur radio operator or to a dealer, the amplifier is purchased in used condition by a dealer, or the amplifier is sold to an amateur radio operator for use at that operator's station.

(c) Any external RF power amplifier appearing in the Commission's database as certificated for use in the amateur service may be marketed for use in the amateur service.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
← E1F02 All of E1F E1F04 →

The rest of E1F

  1. E1F01 On what frequencies are spread spectrum transmissions permitted?
  2. E1F02 What privileges are authorized in the US to persons holding an amateur service license granted by the governm…
  3. E1F03 Under what circumstances may a dealer sell an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz …
  4. E1F04 Which of the following geographic descriptions approximately describes "Line A"?
  5. E1F05 Amateur stations may not transmit in which of the following frequency segments if they are located in the con…
  6. E1F06 Under what circumstances might the FCC issue a Special Temporary Authority (STA) to an amateur station?
  7. E1F07 When may an amateur station send a message to a business?
  8. E1F08 Which of the following types of amateur station communications are prohibited?
  9. E1F09 Which of the following cannot be transmitted over an amateur radio mesh network?
  10. E1F10 Who may be the control operator of an auxiliary station?
  11. E1F11 Which of the following best describes one of the standards that must be met by an external RF power amplifier…
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