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uk-licence-archive [2026/09/13 12:23] – [1982] g3akauk-licence-archive [2026/09/23 18:42] (current) – [2006] g3aka
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 ===== 2006 ===== ===== 2006 =====
-  * {{ :uk-licence-2006-12-15.pdf}} 
-    * The Lifetime Licence issued 1 December 2006 contained these additional changes to the licence format announcement made on 4 July 2006:  
-      * Foundation permitted to use:  
-        * Amateur Satellites 
-        * 10 GHz band 
-        * Wireless remote control of their station using a 500 mW ERP control link within a Foundation amateur band above 30 MHz 
-      * Intermediate permitted 500 mW ERP wireless remote control 
-      * Full holders would see the scrapping of the planned 100 metre restriction on wireless remote control 
-      * Club licences were permitted to continue using the special Club regional secondary locators (RSL) even though the original reason for having them, enabling an unlicenced person to send a greetings message, no longer applied 
-    * This licence permitted Foundation and Intermediate to operate on a vessel sailing in UK Internal Waters e.g. the Bristol Channel, the Solent and the Thames Estuary out to a line drawn from North Foreland, Margate, Kent via the Kentish Knock lighthouse to Harwich in Essex.  That "Internal Waters" and "Inland Waters" were the same was not immediately apparent to some amateurs and led to Ofcom issuing a subsequent clarification.   UK Internal Waters are clearly shown on this [[https://datahub.admiralty.co.uk/portal/sharing/rest/content/items/a4ae723016944e54bbe86d0c660f8a27/data|Admiralty map]]. The Maritime and Coastal Agency used the term Inland Waters for the same waters and in 2006 they detailed them [[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007110813/https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/cat-waters/index.htm|here (select View the Full List)]]. It's clear some amateurs were not aware just how far from shore some Inland/Internal waters could extend 
-    * Due to the incorporation of these last minute changes the originally planned Lifetime licence issue date of 1 October 2006 was deferred to 1 December 2006.  All licences due for renewal in October and November were automatically issued the appropriate version (Fnd/Int/Full) of the BR68 licence free of charge. It is believed new licence applications were also free 
-    * An unintended consequence of a wording change (the removal of the previous BR68 clause 7(5)) meant the Main Station Address callsign complete with Main Station RSL e.g. MW0ABC, must be used when visiting another region within the UK and Crown Dependencies.  This was not noticed until 2013. A statement on the matter was given by Ofcom's Paul Jarvis G8RMM at the National Hamfest on 27 September 2013 and the RSGB Convention on 12 October 2013: {{ :2013_rsl_ofcom_statement_by_paul_jarvis_g8rmm.jpg?direct&600 |}}  [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150928061916/http://rsgb.org/main/archive/consultation-archive/ofcom-consultations/licence-review-preparation/regional-secondary-locator/]] 
-    * Among the errors in this licence were:  
-      * Clause 17(1)(d) defined all occurrences of the word "Amateur" (with initial capital) in the licence to mean a holder of a United Kingdom Amateur Radio Licence.  In consequence Clause 11 meant UK amateurs could only establish contact with other UK amateurs not those authorised by other countries.  Ofcom did not correct this error until the licence issued  24 February 2024  
-      * The licence referred throughout to the United Kingdom which breached UK Ministry of Justice instructions that: **//“Government officials must never state or imply that the Crown Dependencies are part of the United Kingdom, or Great Britain or England or act on that assumption.”//** Ofcom did not correct this error until the licence issued 18 May 2021 when they adopted the correct term "United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies" (the term "British Islands" defined in the Interpretation Act 1978 means the same thing) 
- 
   * {{ :lifetime_amateur_radio_licensing_-_format_of_new_licences_2006-07-04.pdf}}    * {{ :lifetime_amateur_radio_licensing_-_format_of_new_licences_2006-07-04.pdf}} 
-    * The lifetime licence was published on 4 July 2006 although significant changes would be made before it was finally issued. The principle changes announced in July over the previous BR68/F, BR68/I and BR68 licences were:+    * Ofcom announced the planned lifetime licence Terms and Condiions on 4 July 2006 although significant changes would be made before it was finally issued to amateurs on 1 December. The principle changes announced in July over the previous BR68/F, BR68/I and BR68 licences were:
       * Combining the three separate licence terms and conditions into one document       * Combining the three separate licence terms and conditions into one document
       * Gender neutral language, previous licences had assumed the holder was male       * Gender neutral language, previous licences had assumed the holder was male
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       * Foundation were:        * Foundation were: 
         * Permitted to use 28 MHz band         * 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 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+        * 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 removal of the CE requirement meant Foundation could now use ready-built transmitting equipment that had been modified e.g. 27 MHz CB rigs modified for 28 MHz band or commercial high-band VHF rigs modified to work in the 144 MHz band.  
 +        * 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 Foundation 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.   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        * 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       * The licence was free and lifetime, annual renewals were no longer required
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       * {{ :first_impressions_of_ofcom_amateur_licence_statement_2006-07-04.doc | OFCOM Amateur Radio Licence Statement – First Impressions}}       * {{ :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      * 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 
 +
 +  * {{ :uk-licence-2006-12-15.pdf}}
 +    * The Lifetime Licence issued on 1 December 2006 contained these additional “last minute” changes to the licence format announcement made on 4 July 2006: 
 +      * Foundation permitted to use: 
 +        * Amateur Satellites
 +        * 10 GHz band
 +        * Wireless remote control of their station using a 500 mW ERP control link within a Foundation amateur band above 30 MHz
 +      * Intermediate permitted 500 mW ERP wireless remote control
 +      * Full holders would see the scrapping of the planned 100 metre restriction on wireless remote control
 +      * Club licences were permitted to continue using the special Club regional secondary locators (RSL) even though the original reason for having them, enabling an unlicenced person to send a greetings message, no longer applied
 +    * This licence permitted Foundation and Intermediate to operate on a vessel sailing in UK Internal Waters e.g. the Bristol Channel, the Solent and the Thames Estuary out to a line drawn from North Foreland, Margate, Kent via the Kentish Knock lighthouse to Harwich in Essex.  That "Internal Waters" and "Inland Waters" were the same was not immediately apparent to some amateurs and led to Ofcom issuing a subsequent clarification.   UK Internal Waters are clearly shown on this [[https://datahub.admiralty.co.uk/portal/sharing/rest/content/items/a4ae723016944e54bbe86d0c660f8a27/data|Admiralty map]]. The Maritime and Coastal Agency used the term Inland Waters for the same waters and in 2006 they detailed them [[https://web.archive.org/web/20061007110813/https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/cat-waters/index.htm|here (select View the Full List)]]. It's clear some amateurs were not aware just how far from shore some Inland/Internal waters could extend
 +    * Due to the incorporation of these last minute changes the originally planned Lifetime licence issue date of 1 October 2006 was deferred to 1 December 2006.  All licences due for renewal in October and November were automatically issued the appropriate version (Fnd/Int/Full) of the BR68 licence free of charge. It is believed new licence applications were also free
 +    * An unintended consequence of a wording change (the removal of the previous BR68 clause 7(5)) meant the Main Station Address callsign complete with Main Station RSL e.g. MW0ABC, must be used when visiting another region within the UK and Crown Dependencies.  This was not noticed until 2013. A statement on the matter was given by Ofcom's Paul Jarvis G8RMM at the National Hamfest on 27 September 2013 and the RSGB Convention on 12 October 2013: {{ :2013_rsl_ofcom_statement_by_paul_jarvis_g8rmm.jpg?direct&600 |}}  [[https://web.archive.org/web/20150928061916/http://rsgb.org/main/archive/consultation-archive/ofcom-consultations/licence-review-preparation/regional-secondary-locator/]]
 +    * Among the errors in this licence were: 
 +      * Clause 17(1)(d) defined all occurrences of the word "Amateur" (with initial capital) in the licence to mean a holder of a United Kingdom Amateur Radio Licence.  In consequence Clause 11 meant UK amateurs could only establish contact with other UK amateurs not those authorised by other countries.  Ofcom did not correct this error until the licence issued  24 February 2024 
 +      * The licence referred throughout to the United Kingdom which breached UK Ministry of Justice instructions that: **//“Government officials must never state or imply that the Crown Dependencies are part of the United Kingdom, or Great Britain or England or act on that assumption.”//** Ofcom did not correct this error until the licence issued 18 May 2021 when they adopted the correct term "United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies" (the term "British Islands" defined in the Interpretation Act 1978 means the same thing)
 +      * 
  
 ===== 2005 ===== ===== 2005 =====
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 ===== 1999 ===== ===== 1999 =====
  
-  * {{ :1999-07-23_edinburgh_gazette_pages_10-11.pdf | Edinburgh Gazette Notice of Class A/B licence published 23 July 1999}} +  * Novice licence changed with effect from 21 June 1999: 
-    * This included the addition to the BR68 schedule of a new Note (b), a requirement for all amateurs to ensure that exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) [called RF radiation] did not exceed a certain level (ICNIRP 1998) and that safety precautions should be taken, particularly in locations to which people have access +    * Now permited 10 watts output (was 3 watts) 
 +    * A new SSB allocation in the 3.5 MHz band (Novice SSB operation on this band had been banned) 
 +    * Operation permitted on the 144-146 MHz band 
 +    * Amateur satellite operation was not permitted but the BR68a-N document did not make this clear so some Novices did use the satellites 
  
   * {{ :1999-07-15_ra_class_ab_announcement.pdf | Radiocommunications Agency announcement of Class A/B 15 June 1999}}   * {{ :1999-07-15_ra_class_ab_announcement.pdf | Radiocommunications Agency announcement of Class A/B 15 June 1999}}
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     * Permitted 100 watts output on all HF bands and 400 watts on bands above 30 MHz     * Permitted 100 watts output on all HF bands and 400 watts on bands above 30 MHz
     * Reservation for M5AAA-M5AZZ callsigns were accepted from 15 June 1999     * Reservation for M5AAA-M5AZZ callsigns were accepted from 15 June 1999
-===== 1994 ===== 
  
-  * {{ ::uk-licence-1995-03.pdf |Amateur Radio Licence (A) or (B) Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68 Issue 1 Rev 0 March 1995}}+  * {{ :1999-07-23_edinburgh_gazette_pages_10-11.pdf | Edinburgh Gazette Notice of Class A/B licence published 23 July 1999}} 
 +    * This included the addition to the BR68 schedule of a new Note (b), a requirement for all amateurs to ensure that exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) [called RF radiation] did not exceed a certain level (ICNIRP 1998) and that safety precautions should be taken, particularly in locations to which people have access  
 + 
 +  * RSGB June 1999 RadCom pages 9-11 gave full details of the revised licence conditions {{ :1999-06_radcom_new_class_ab_and_changes_to_novice.jpg?nolink&400 |}} 
 +===== 1996 ===== 
 +  * May 1996 RadCom page 10 reported //"At a ceremony held on 30 March, the first regular `M' series callsigns were presented. All British full licences issued from 1 April have the prefix M0"// 
 + 
 +===== 1994 ===== 
 +  * {{ ::uk-licence-1995-03.pdf |Amateur Radio Licence (A) or (B) Terms, Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68 Issue 1 Rev 0 March 1995}}. The last page of this document bears the date July 1994 suggesting it may have been in effect since then? 
     * Permitted the sending of Greetings Messages by unlicenced persons using a Club licenced station. Messages could only be sent the amateurs in the UK and Crown Dependencies, United States of America, Canada, Falkland Islands and Pitcairn Island. A person could only send one message which was limited to a maximum of 2 minutes duration     * Permitted the sending of Greetings Messages by unlicenced persons using a Club licenced station. Messages could only be sent the amateurs in the UK and Crown Dependencies, United States of America, Canada, Falkland Islands and Pitcairn Island. A person could only send one message which was limited to a maximum of 2 minutes duration
     * Club licence stations were allocated unique RSL's for the purpose of identifying transmission of greetings messages     * Club licence stations were allocated unique RSL's for the purpose of identifying transmission of greetings messages
     * Note B of the BR68 licence schedule imposed an Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) requirement. On the bands above 1,000 MHz the Power Flux Density must not exceed 10mW per square centimetre     * Note B of the BR68 licence schedule imposed an Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) requirement. On the bands above 1,000 MHz the Power Flux Density must not exceed 10mW per square centimetre
  
 +  * {{ :1994_br68a-n_novice_licence_page_2_frequencies.jpg?linkonly |1994 BR68a-N Novice licence page 2 frequencies and power - courtesy of 2E1AVX}}
 +    * Addition of 432-433 MHz and 435-440 MHz 
 ===== 1991 ===== ===== 1991 =====
  
   * The first Novice licences were issued on 25 July 1991 when Telecommunications Minister John Redwood presented Novice Licences to seven randomly selected applicants, all youngsters [Article September 1991 RadCom page 5]   * The first Novice licences were issued on 25 July 1991 when Telecommunications Minister John Redwood presented Novice Licences to seven randomly selected applicants, all youngsters [Article September 1991 RadCom page 5]
-  * There were two categories of licence Class A which required passing a 5 WPM Morse test as well as the theory exam and Class B. While exam was to the same level as that of the later 2002 Intermediate there were severe power and frequency restrictions imposed. Both Novice licence classes were limited to just 3 watts output, the more popular licence Class B only had access to a limited sections of the 50, 51 and 433 MHz bands along with the entire 1240 MHz and 10 GHz bands. There was little available equipment for use on the 50/51, 1240 MHz or 10 GHz allocation.  The Class A licence also gave access to small segments of the 1.9, 3.5, 10, 21, 28 MHz bands. Novices were not allowed to use the then popular 144 MHz band. +    * There were two categories of licence Class A which required passing a 5 WPM Morse test as well as the theory exam and Class B. While exam was to the same level as that of the later 2002 Intermediate there were severe power and frequency restrictions imposed.  
-  * The Novice licence was a failure, with the very low power and limited allocations contacts were hard to come by leading to discouragement. Several updates in available frequency bands and power limits were made during the 1990's in attempts to increase its popularity. In 2002 Novice was renamed the Intermediate licence +    * Both Novice licence classes were limited to just 3 watts output, the more popular licence Class B only had access to a limited sections of the 50, 51 and 433 MHz bands along with the entire 1240 MHz and 10 GHz bands. There was little available equipment for use on the 50/51, 1240 MHz or 10 GHz allocation.   
-    * {{ :1992_uk-novice-licence-information.pdf | Novice licence information - Electronics Education Autumn 1992}}+    * The Class A licence also gave access to small segments of the 1.9, 3.5, 10, 21, 28 MHz bands although SSB was only permitted in the 1.9 and 28 MHz allocations. Novices were not allowed to use the then popular 144 MHz band. 
 +    * The Novice licence was a failure, with the very low power and limited allocations contacts were hard to come by leading to newcomers becoming discouraged. Updates in available frequency bands and power limits were made during the 1990's in attempts to increase its popularity. In 2002 Novice was renamed the Intermediate licence. 
 +      * {{ :1992_uk-novice-licence-information.pdf | Novice licence information - Electronics Education Autumn 1992}}
  
 ===== 1990 ===== ===== 1990 =====
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 ===== 1985 ===== ===== 1985 =====
  
-  * 14 October 1985 - just prior to Jamboree-on-the-Air - it was announced that the privileges accorded to special event stations (GB callsigns) in respect of greetings messages passed by unlicensed third parties had been extended. Third-party greetings messages could now be exchanged with stations in the USA, Canada and the Falkland Islands +  * 1 April 1985, UK Class B amateurs were permitted to use CW on 144 MHz and above without the need to pass a Morse test if they applied for a letter of authorisation 
- +
-  * April 1, 1985, UK Class B amateurs were permitted to use CW on 144 MHz and above without the need to pass a Morse test if they applied for a letter of authorisation +
     * The then editor of Short Wave Magazine Paul Essery G3KFE wasn't happy about it {{ :1985-01_swm_-_morse_and_class-b_licences.jpg?direct&400 | Short Wave Magazine January 1985}}     * The then editor of Short Wave Magazine Paul Essery G3KFE wasn't happy about it {{ :1985-01_swm_-_morse_and_class-b_licences.jpg?direct&400 | Short Wave Magazine January 1985}}
  
 +  * 5 April 1985 [[https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1985-04-04/debates/2cfb2430-393e-443e-b90c-aa1d0cc416a5/AmateurRadio| Amateur Radio was discussed in the UK Parliament]]
 +    * Peter Hardy MP (Wentworth) asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry John Butcher MP (Coventry South West) several questions:
 +      * Why weren't Class B licence holders permited to use amateur allocations between 30 and 144 MHz?
 +      * What is the cost of administration of the amateur radio licence service and supervision?
 +      * To whom the licence fee paid by radio amateurs goes: and upon what purposes the money is spent?
 +      * What is an estimate of the cost involved in the issue of a gazetted notice concerning radio amateurs?
 +
 +  * 14 October 1985 just prior to Jamboree-on-the-Air - it was announced that the privileges accorded to special event stations (GB callsigns) in respect of greetings messages passed by unlicensed third parties had been extended. Third-party greetings messages could now be exchanged with stations in the USA, Canada and the Falkland Islands
 ===== 1984 ===== ===== 1984 =====
 +
 +  * {{ :1984-08-31_edinburgh_gazette_issue_21592_cropped.pdf | Official Gazette 31 August 1982}}. These licence changes took effect 10 September 1982:
  
   * {{ ::rsgb-news-bulletin-1984-schedule.pdf | New frequency schedule published by DTI took effect 10 September 1984}}   * {{ ::rsgb-news-bulletin-1984-schedule.pdf | New frequency schedule published by DTI took effect 10 September 1984}}
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 ===== 1982 ===== ===== 1982 =====
  
-  * {{ :1984-08-31_edinburgh_gazette_issue_21592_cropped.pdf | Official Gazette 31 August 1982}}. These licence changes took effect 1 October 1982: +  * These changes took effect from 1 January 1982: 
-    * non-licensed persons may send greetings to other stations; as part of an on-going experiment, the facility will initially be for users of special event (GB) callsigns only. Greetings messages may only be sent within the UK  +    * WARC-79 10 MHz band available 
-    * 431-432 MHz allocated to private mobile radio services in the London area. No longer available within 100 km of central London +    * Amateurs no longer had access to 70.5-70.7 MHz 
-    * Other non-amateur services to be moved into 10.25-10.4 GHz +
-    * WARC-79 amateur bands 18 and 24 MHz along with 47.0-47·2, 75.5-76.0, 142-144, and 248-250 GHz made available in UK +
-    * See October 1982 RadCom page 848+
  
   * {{ :1982-02-12_london_gazette_issue_48889.pdf | Official Gazette 12 February 1982 page 1986 gave Class B licence holders full access to the HF bands }}   * {{ :1982-02-12_london_gazette_issue_48889.pdf | Official Gazette 12 February 1982 page 1986 gave Class B licence holders full access to the HF bands }}
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 {{ :1982-02-26_london_gazette_correction_regarding_class-b_use_of_hf.jpg?nolink&400 |}} {{ :1982-02-26_london_gazette_correction_regarding_class-b_use_of_hf.jpg?nolink&400 |}}
  
-  * {{ ::uk-licence-b-1984-06-25.pdf | Home Office - Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur Licence B, dated 25 June 1982}}+  * {{ :1982-06-25_class_b_amateur_licence.pdf | Home Office - Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949 - Amateur Licence B, dated 25 June 1982}}
  
-  * These changes took effect from 1 January 1982: +  * These changes took effect 1 October 1982, details in October 1982 RadCom page 848: 
-    * WARC-79 10 MHz band available +    * non-licensed persons may send greetings to other stations; as part of an on-going experiment, the facility will initially be for users of special event (GB) callsigns only. Greetings messages may only be sent within the UK  
-    * Amateurs no longer had access to 70.5-70.7 MHz +    * 431-432 MHz allocated to private mobile radio services in the London area. No longer available within 100 km of central London 
 +    * Other non-amateur services to be moved into 10.25-10.4 GHz 
 +    * WARC-79 amateur bands 18 and 24 MHz along with 47.0-47·2, 75.5-76.0, 142-144, and 248-250 GHz made available in UK
  
 ===== 1977 ===== ===== 1977 =====
uk-licence-archive.1789302187.txt.gz · Last modified: by g3aka