§  13.7   Classification of operator licenses and endorsements.

   (a) Commercial radio operator licenses issued by the FCC are classified
   in accordance with the Radio Regulations of the ITU.

   (b) There are eleven types of commercial radio operator licenses,
   certificates and permits (licenses). The license's ITU classification,
   if different from its name, is given in parentheses.

   (1) First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate.

   (2) Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate.

   (3) Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (radiotelegraph
   operator's special certificate).

   (4) General Radiotelephone Operator License (radiotelephone operator's
   general certificate).

   (5) Marine Radio Operator Permit (radiotelephone operator's restricted
   certificate).

   (6) Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (radiotelephone
   operator's restricted certificate).

   (7) Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use
   (radiotelephone operator's restricted certificate).

   (8) GMDSS Radio Operator's License (general operator's certificate).

   (9) Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator's License (restricted operator's
   certificate).

   (10) GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License (technical portion of the
   first-class radio electronic certificate).

   (11) GMDSS Radio Operator/Maintainer License (general operator's
   certificate/technical portion of the first-class radio electronic
   certificate).

   (c) There are six license endorsements affixed by the FCC to provide
   special authorizations or restrictions. Endorsements may be affixed to
   the license(s) indicated in parenthesis.

   (1) Ship Radar Endorsement (First and Second Class Radiotelegraph
   Operator's Certificates, General Radiotelephone Operator License, GMDSS
   Radio Maintainer's License).

   (2) Six Months Service Endorsement (First and Second Class
   Radiotelegraph Operator's License).

   (3) Restrictive endorsements relating to physical handicaps, English
   language or literacy waivers, or other matters (all licenses).

   (4) Marine Radio Operator Permits shall bear the following endorsement:
   This permit does not authorize the operation of AM, FM or TV broadcast
   stations.

   (5) General Radiotelephone Operator Licenses issued after December 31,
   1985, shall bear the following endorsement: This license confers
   authority to operate licensed radio stations in the Aviation, Marine
   and International Fixed Public Radio Services only. This authority is
   subject to: any endorsement placed upon this license; FCC orders,
   rules, and regulations; United States statutes; and the provisions of
   any treaties to which the United States is a party. This license does
   not confer any authority to operate broadcast stations. It is not
   assignable or transferable.

   (6)(i) If a person is afflicted with an uncorrected physical handicap
   which would clearly prevent the performance of all or any part of the
   duties of a radio operator, under the license for which application is
   made, at a station under emergency conditions involving the safety of
   life or property, that person still may be issued the license if found
   qualified. Such a license shall bear a restrictive endorsement as
   follows:

   This license is not valid for the performance of any operating duties,
   other than installation, service and maintenance duties, at any station
   licensed by the FCC which is required, directly or indirectly, by any
   treaty, statute or rule or regulation pursuant to statute, to be
   provided for safety purposes.

   (ii) In the case of a license that does not require an examination in
   technical radio matters, the endorsement specified in paragraph
   (c)(6)(i) of this section will be modified by deleting the reference
   therein to installation, service, and maintenance duties.

   (iii) In any case where an applicant who normally would receive or has
   received a commercial radio operator license bearing the endorsement
   prescribed by paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section, indicates a desire
   to operate a station falling within the prohibited terms of the
   endorsement, the applicant may request in writing that such endorsement
   not be placed upon, or be removed from his or her license, and may
   submit written comments or statements from other parties in support
   thereof.

   (iv) An applicant who shows that he has performed satisfactorily the
   duties of a radio operator at a station required to be provided for
   safety purposes during a period when he or she was afflicted by
   uncorrected physical handicaps of the same kind and to the same degree
   as the physical handicaps shown by his or her current application shall
   not be deemed to be within the provisions of paragraph (c)(6)(i) of
   this section.

   (d) A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use issued by
   the FCC to an aircraft pilot who is not legally eligible for employment
   in the United States is valid only for operating radio stations on
   aircraft.

   (e) A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use issued by
   the FCC to a person under the provision of Section 303(1)(2) of the
   Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is valid only for the operation
   of radio stations for which that person is the station licensee.

   [ 58 FR 9124 , Feb. 19, 1993;  58 FR 12632 , Mar. 5, 1993, as amended at  68 FR 46958 , Aug. 7, 2003;  73 FR 4479 , Jan. 25, 2008]

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