In accordance with following guild lines I am looking for some folks to step up and documented control operators. One of these people MUST be physically at the operating location while it is in operation.
Effective November 1, 2020 there MUST be a control operator present anytime the club call sign, W4AAZ, is in use. These operators must be designated in writing by me, Stephen Strom, N4GXX, the NOARC call sign trustee. These letters of designation must be on file with the master station logs.
What are the duties of the club trustee?-
Think of the club station license trustee as the “chief control operator” for the club station license. It is the duty of the trustee to act in the best interests of the club; after all, the station license belongs to the club, not to the trustee individually. The club station license trustee must designate control operators to ensure that the station is operated as the club wants it to be. A club station control operator is designated by the club license trustee and must be someone who is trusted and will follow all FCC rules at all times.
What do FCC rules say about station license responsibilities?-
Part 97 says: §97.103 Station licensee responsibilities. (a) The station licensee is responsible for the proper operation of the station in accordance with the FCC Rules. When the control operator is a different amateur operator than the station licensee, both persons are equally responsible for proper operation of the station. (b) The station licensee must designate the station control operator. The FCC will presume that the station licensee is also the control operator, unless documentation to the contrary is in the station records. (c) The station licensee must make the station and the station records available for inspection upon request by an FCC representative. When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with FCC Rules, the station licensee must maintain a record of station operations containing such items of information as the EIC may require in accord with §0.314(x) of the FCC Rules. What does the FCC say about control operator duties? Part 97 says: §97.105 Control operator duties. (a) The control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the station, regardless of the type of control. (b) A station may only be operated in the manner and to the extent permitted by the privileges authorized for the class of operator license held by the control operator. Where can I find more information on station control? See “Who’s in Control of Your Station”
Club Station Control Operator Application (click for printable form)
North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club
Club Station Control Operator Application
North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club callsign, W4AAZ, is granted by the FCC to a Callsign Trustee. Although the callsign belongs to the club, the FCC holds the Callsign Trustee legally and financially responsible for ensuring that any amateur station operating under that callsign is doing so in compliance with all applicable FCC Regulations. The Callsign Trustee is essentially the Station Licensee of the Club Callsign.
§97.103 Station licensee responsibilities. (a) The station licensee is responsible for the proper operation of the station in accordance with the FCC Rules. When the control operator is a different amateur operator than the station licensee, both persons are equally responsible for proper operation of the station. (b) The station licensee must designate the station control operator. The FCC will presume that the station licensee is also the control operator, unless documentation to the contrary is in the station records. (c) The station licensee must make the station and the station records available for inspection upon request by an FCC representative. When deemed necessary by an EIC to assure compliance with FCC Rules, the station licensee must maintain a record of station operations containing such items of information as the EIC may require in accord with §0.314(x) of the FCC Rules.
This means that the Callsign Trustee is responsible to the FCC to ensure that anyone who operates under the Club Callsign, W4AAZ, whether operating a club owned station or a privately owned station using the club callsign, such as during field day, does so in accordance with FCC Part 97 rules and within that operator’s license privileges. The Callsign Trustee may designate other Control Operators to operate the club callsign when he is not present, however the Callsign Trustee must also ensure that the club records include documentation of designated control operators who are responsible for the operation of any station using the club callsign at any given time.
§97.105 Control operator duties. (a) The control operator must ensure the immediate proper operation of the station, regardless of the type of control. (b) A station may only be operated in the manner and to the extent permitted by the privileges authorized for the class of operator license held by the control operator.
Finally, the Designated Control Operator is responsible for the operation of any station which is operated using the Club Callsign, during the time they are present and functioning as the Designate d Control Operator, and the operational band and power limits are determined by the callsign privileges of the Designated Control Operator.
I___________________________________________, Callsign ___________ hereby acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to adhere to the preceding rules and regulations as well as FCC part 97 rules while I am the Designated Control Operator of amateur radio stations operating under the Club Callsign, W4AAZ.
Signed_____________________________________________Date____________________
Club Station Control Operator Application (click for printable form)
[ As of 10/27/2020, there are only three designated operators: N4GXX, W6VVA, and N4CU.]