Ofcom General Notice of decision to vary amateur radio licences - Feb 2024

21st Feb 2024
Today OFCOM have published a General Notice of decision to vary amateur radio licences (PDF, 599.5 KB). This General Notice explains the reasons for their decisions and confirms that, with some amendments in light of stakeholder responses to the consultation, they will vary all amateur radio licences to implement their plans to update the amateur radio licence framework.

All amateur radio licences are effectively varied as of today’s date and any use of amateur radio equipment must be in accordance with the new terms and conditions for the class of amateur licence held. OFCOM will shortly commence contacting licensees to provide them with their new licence documents.

Alongside the General Notice of decision they have also published an updated version of the Amateur Radio Licence Document, an updated version of the Amateur Radio Wireless Telegraphy Licence Conditions Booklet, an updated version of the Notice of Coordination and an updated version of the amateur radio guidance document.

Link to new licence and guidance documents

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/amateur-radio-info

RSGB Detailed Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZZCqcL6CSY

Essex Ham Overview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z5PfGTsJKI

Summary of License Changes from Essex Ham

21st Feb 2024
New Licence Conditions – Effective today!

Ofcom has today (21st Feb 2024) announced the new licence conditions, and they take immediate effect.

The full details can be found in the announcement released by Ofcom today: Ofcom Statement 21 Feb 24, but here’s our summary:

Phase 1 Changes – Now in effect (as of 21st February 2024):

• Regional Secondary Locators (“W” Wales, “M” Scotland, “I” Northern Ireland, etc) are now optional (except for
  intermediate 2x, where the letter is mandatory)
• Those in England are now able to add an optional “E” to their callsign at Foundation and Full (e.g. ME7QQQ)
• Any suffix (after the “/” slash”) is now allowed after a callsign (e.g. “M7QQQ/Garden”)
• Power increases:
• Foundation: 25 watts (most bands) – the consultation was for 20 watts
• Intermediate: 100 watts (most bands)
• Full: 1,000 watts (primary bands)
• New applicants will only be allowed to hold one personal licence
• Supervision of unlicensed people allowed at all 3 levels
• Airborne to be permitted to a maximum of 0.5 watts EIRP (primary bands)
• Relaxing / clarification of operating maritime (now at all licence levels)
• More flexibility for Beacons, Gateways and Repeaters (including the ability to run 5w ERP without an RSGB-issued callsign)
• More flexibility and clearer terms for remote and unattended operation
• New “Data Station” operation clause (intended for unattended machine-to-machine modes)
• Foundation licence holders can now build their own transmitters (including kits)
• Foundation licence holders now have access to 2.4GHz and 5GHz (max 2 watts)
• If a special prefix is allowed by Ofcom (as for Queen’s Jubilee), there is no need to apply for an NoV

Ofcom will be issuing around 100,000 new licences, which will obviously take some time. The new rules come into effect today, but it may take until Autumn 2024 before all of the licences get reissued.

Other changes have been confirmed, but these will coming in slightly later, as they require updates to the Ofcom IT system. These are:

Phase 2 – Planned for “Later in 2024”

• Ofcom to cease issuing 2x Intermediate calls – to be replaced with M8 and M9
• Existing Intermediates will be encouraged (but not forced) to move to M8 / M9 callsigns
• Simplified rules for Special Event (e.g. GB) callsigns
• Restrictions on the number of callsigns held (one per person for personal use, up to 5 callsigns for clubs)

Phase 3 – Planned for “before April 2025”

• Revoking lower-class licences begins (leaving one for personal use, and up to 5 for clubs)
• Improved online validation process
• The ability for amateurs to choose any available callsign
• The ability for amateurs to change their callsign once every 5 years
• Reissuing of old callsigns after a 5-year grace period since the licence was surrendered or revoked. This includes SK callsigns

Note for students

Although the new rules are now in effect, the RSGB Exam teams have asked Ofcom for 6 more time to prepare for these changes (even though these were hardly a surprise!). Accordingly, the OLD licence conditions will still be examinable for a while. Exams covering the new conditions start on the 1st of September 2024. See our Guidance for Foundation Students

That’s all for this update… enjoy your new licence privileges everyone!

73,

The Essex Ham Team

www.essexham.co.uk