ARRL Technician Practice Exam

When, under normal circumstances, may a Technician Class licensee be the control operator of a station operating in an exclusive Extra Class operator segment of the amateur bands?

1. At specific allowed times

2. Only during emergencies

3. At no time

4. Only with supervision

The correct answer is: At no time

A Technician Class licensee may not be the control operator of a station operating in an exclusive Extra Class operator segment of the amateur bands at any time under normal circumstances. The licensing structure in amateur radio is delineated by various classes, each granting access to specific segments of the bands. The Extra Class license grants access to bands and frequencies that are not available to Technician Class licensees. Since these exclusive segments are reserved for use by Extra Class operators, only those with the appropriate license level can act as control operators in those segments. This ensures that all operators adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding operator privileges. Thus, a Technician Class licensee would not be able to control a station transmitting in an Extra Class-only segment, reinforcing the importance of understanding the limitations that come with different class licenses in amateur radio.