FCC: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: Types of Licenses: General Radiotelephone

General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

Description

A PG is required to adjust, maintain, or internally repair FCC licensed radiotelephone transmitters in the aviation, maritime, and international fixed public radio services. It conveys all of the operating authority of the MP. It is also required to operate the following:

any compulsorily equipped ship radiotelephone station operating with more than 1500 watts of peak envelope power.
voluntarily equipped ship and aeronautical (including aircraft) stations with more than 1000 watts of peak envelope power.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must:

be a legal resident of (or otherwise eligible for employment in) the United States; and
be able to receive and transmit spoken messages in English; and
pass a written and/or telegraphy examination(s) as described below under Examinations.

Term of License

A PG is issued for the holder's lifetime.

How to Obtain a License

Submit FCC Form 605 along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificates (for the requisite written examination elements). Use the FCC Form 605 and the FCC Form 159 (fee processing form) to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license. Many Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs) file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLEM if it provides this service to its customers.

Examinations

To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written and/or telegraphy Elements as illustrated in the following table.

View License Comparison Chart	Written Elements								Telegraphy Elements
Type of License	1	3	5	6	7	7R	8	9	1	2	3	4
General Radiotelephone Operator License

Written Examination Elements

Element 1 - Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.
Element 3 - General Radiotelephone. Electronic fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair, and maintain radio transmitters and receivers. The exam consists of questions from the following categories: operating procedures, radio wave propagation, radio practice, electrical principles, circuit components, practical circuits, signals and emissions, and antennas and feed lines. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 75 out of 100 questions.

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Last reviewed/updated on

9/3/2010.