T1D01: With which countries are FCC-licensed amateur radio stations prohibit…

T1D01§ 97.111(a)(1)T1D →

With which countries are FCC-licensed amateur radio stations prohibited from exchanging communications?

AAny country whose administration has notified the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that it objects to such communications
BAny country whose administration has notified the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) that it objects to such communications
CAny country banned from such communications by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
DAny country banned from making such communications by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

Why International amateur communications are governed by ITU treaty arrangements, and FCC rule 97.111(a)(1) permits contacts with amateurs in foreign countries except those whose governments have formally told the ITU they object. The ITU is the United Nations agency that administers international radio regulations, so an objection filed there is binding on FCC licensees. In practice very few administrations have ever filed such an objection, but the rule exists so the FCC can honor another nation's wishes.

Watch out The ARRL and the IARU are private membership organizations, not government or treaty bodies; they advocate for amateur radio but cannot ban or authorize communications with any country.

Only a government body can forbid contacts: objections go to the ITU, not to the ARRL or IARU.

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

47 CFR 97.111(a)(1) Authorized transmissions.

(a) An amateur station may transmit the following types of two-way communications:

(1) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with other stations in the amateur service, except those in any country whose administration has notified the ITU that it objects to such communications. The FCC will issue public notices of current arrangements for international communications.

(2) Transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and to facilitate relief actions.

(3) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a station in another FCC-regulated service while providing emergency communications;

(4) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a United States government station, necessary to providing communications in RACES; and

(5) Transmissions necessary to exchange messages with a station in a service not regulated by the FCC, but authorized by the FCC to communicate with amateur stations. An amateur station may exchange messages with a participating United States military station during an Armed Forces Day Communications Test.

(b) In addition to one-way transmissions specifically authorized elsewhere in this part, an amateur station may transmit the following types of one-way communications:

(1) Brief transmissions necessary to make adjustments to the station;

(2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations;

(3) Telecommand;

(4) Transmissions necessary to providing emergency communications;

(5) Transmissions necessary to assisting persons learning, or improving proficiency in, the international Morse code; and

(6) Transmissions necessary to disseminate information bulletins.

(7) Transmissions of telemetry.

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

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