ARRL Technician Practice Exam

Which of the following is an acceptable language to use for station identification when operating in a phone sub-band?

1. The Spanish language

2. The English language

3. The native language of the operator

4. Any language

The correct answer is: The English language

When operating in a phone sub-band, using English for station identification is acceptable and aligns with the regulatory guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. The FCC has specified that identification must be in a language understood by those who might be monitoring the communication; since English is the primary language for amateur radio in the U.S. and is widely recognized internationally, it serves as a common medium for identification. While other languages, such as Spanish or the operator's native language, might be understood by certain groups of operators, they do not ensure clarity and comprehension for all users, particularly in a diverse international setting. Therefore, using English for station identification effectively meets the requirement of notifying other operators of the station's call sign while promoting better communication across different language speakers in amateur radio operations.