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--- uk-licence-archive [2026/07/05 15:13] – [2006] g3aka
+++ uk-licence-archive [2026/07/06 16:17] (current) – [2005] Added archive.org link to Amateur radio licensing - Policy Statement g3aka
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
       * Foundation and Intermediate were permitted to operate on vessels within UK and Crown Dependency Territorial Waters (12 mile limit) although licence wording still wasn't clear. Ofcom's Spectrum Policy Manager Fraser Murrey issued this clarification which implied this had been the case since 2006: {{ :ofcom_clarification_of_foundation_operation_in_territorial_seas.jpg?direct&600 |}} See clause 2.14/2.15 of {{ :2016-04-08_amateur_radio_licence_guidance_for_licensees.pdf | April 2016 Ofcom Licence Guidance Document}} and {{ :uk_territorial_seas_and_internal_waters_map_2015.pdf | 2015 UK Territorial Seas and Internal Waters Map}}
       * Mandatory 15 minute Identification requirement scrapped, no longer have to ID every 15 minutes or when changing frequency. It became the responsibility of the licence holder to determine when to identify
-    * Ofcom had wished to take advantage of this licence update to correct the error in the December 2006 licence that meant amateurs must use the Main Station callsign with Main Station RSL when visiting other regions within the UK&CD. Ofcom's proposed change meant amateurs would be able to use either the Core UK callsign (no RSL) or use an appropriate RSL when visiting other UK&CD regions. This provoked an outcry (see [[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/radio-equipment/amateur-radio-licence|Consultation Responses]]) so Ofcom decided not to correct it in this update.  The error wasn't corrected until the 2024 licence
+    * Ofcom had wished to take advantage of this licence update to correct the error in the December 2006 licence that meant amateurs must use the Main Station callsign with Main Station RSL when visiting other regions within the UK&CD. Ofcom's proposed change meant amateurs would be able to use either the Core UK callsign (no RSL) or use an appropriate RSL when visiting other UK&CD regions. This provoked an outcry (see [[https://web.archive.org/web/20240812092839/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/radio-equipment/amateur-radio-licence/]]) so Ofcom decided not to correct it in this update.  The error wasn't corrected until the 21 February 2024 licence
 ===== 2007 =====
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       * Foundation were:
         * Permitted to use 28 MHz band
-        * No longer had to use CE approved transmitting equipment. Instead kit or ready-built transmitters just had to be operated in a way that satisfied IR-2028. The situation for Foundation kit built transmitters remained essentially the same, there had never been any compliancy requirements for kits neither had there been any definition on what comprised a kit, which allowed considerable flexibility. Transmitting equipment capable of operating in non-amateur bands was permitted as long as no transmissions were made out of authorised amateur bands
+        * No longer had to use CE approved transmitting equipment. Instead kit or ready-built transmitters just had to be operated in a way that satisfied IR-2028. The situation for Foundation kit built transmitters remained essentially the same, there had never been any compliancy requirements for kits neither had there been any definition on what comprised a kit, which allowed considerable flexibility e.g. a bare PCB and a circuit diagram could constitute a kit. Transmitting equipment capable of operating in non-amateur bands was permitted as long as no transmissions were made out of authorised amateur bands. There were no power restrictions on the transmitting equipment that could be built, a Foundation holder was permited to build a 100 watt transceiver but they would have to turn the power down to what in 2006 was 10 watts to be able to use it on-air
-      * Full were permitted to supervise an unlicenced person on-air.  Previously only Club stations using the special Club RSL had been permitted to do this
+      * Full were permitted to supervise an unlicenced person on-air.  Previously only Club stations using the special Club RSL had been permitted to do this.   This meant the special Club RSL's no longer served any purpose but some clubs had become attached to them so Club RSL's remained
       * The licence was free and lifetime, annual renewals were no longer required
     * This version of the lifetime licence didn't go as far as some amateurs wanted and still contained a number of unnecessary restrictions. This summary of the issues with the new licence was posted on the daily Southgate Amateur Radio News Service site on 5 July 2006:
       * {{ :first_impressions_of_ofcom_amateur_licence_statement_2006-07-04.doc | OFCOM Amateur Radio Licence Statement – First Impressions}}
     * Although planned to start from 1 October 2006 this version of the licence was never issued to anyone. Significant last-minute changes were made that addressed some of the issues raised in the Southgate post
+===== 2005 =====
+  * On 26 May 2005 Ofcom published a //'Consultation on a proposal to reform amateur radio licensing - A lighter, electronic licensing process'// which aimed to improve the licensing process, modernise the amateur licence and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic regulations. The reform process was led by Ofcom's Steve Roper CEng FIET, a licenced radio amateur, G8MXZ, who had specialised in radio systems engineering and radio wave propagation at the Universiy of Bath.  The consultation was open until 18 August 2005
+  * From the outset the RSGB were opposed to the modernisation proposals and encouraged their members to respond to Ofcom consultation to voice their objections. The RSGB stated a Licence for Life was //"inherently dangerous//" {{ :2005-05_radcom_rsgb_fights_threats_to_the_hobby.jpg?linkonly | May 2005 RadCom page 7}}, they even went so far as to place full page adverts in radio magazines like Practical Wireless and Short Wave Magazine declaring that a Licence for Life would mean the end of amateur radio in 5 years
+{{ :2005-06_rsgb_poster_-_ofcom_grim_reaper.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+  * In addition to the consultation process, on 26 May 2005, MORI sent a questionnaire and accompanying material to 4,500 amateur radio licence holders. The survey sought licensees' views on Ofcom's proposals and also gathered other information such as membership of societies. MORI received 1,572 completed questionnaires by the closing date of 20 June 2005 - [[https://web.archive.org/web/20051028014106/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/morireport/#content#content|26 October 2005 MORI Report on Amateur Radio Licensing]]
+{{ :2005_mori_amateur_radio_survey.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
+  * The consultation document and the ~1,466 responses are available at [[https://web.archive.org/web/20050729085019/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/|]]
+  * The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20060425110255/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/aradio/statement/|Amateur radio licensing - Policy Statement]] was published on 14 February 2006
 ===== 2004 =====