Licence Changes Ofcom Statement Dec 2023

Following a consultation in 2023, Ofcom released its statement based on 1,443 responses on the 11th of December 2023.
Here's Essex Ham's summary of what's set to change in the UK amateur radio licence from February 2024...

[@TheStickbow]

Having done my course with you l think the changes are very fair and bring us more into line with the rest of Europe. Thanks for all your work!

[@petersheldon3558]

I did my foundation is September and I started doing my intermediate training 2 weeks ago, the training finishes in February 2024!!. I'm hoping that the syllabus doesn't change too much otherwise its back to square 1 for all!, have to add that Essex Ham is the best training provider out there, wish you did the intermediate training as well as the foundation, your training is second to none.

[@patricenegros3982]

same for me, I'll try to get an examination before though!

[@clivedewhirst]

passed mine with essex ham nearly 2 years ago ,yes agreed they are very good .m7cud

[@victorm7vic619]

Well done with the video, it certainly helps those that don’t want to trawl through the paperwork. Very well done with the answers to some of the comments too, an exceptional example of the fantastic work you guys do at Essex Ham. 👍

[@sacheus]

Thank you for suggesting the changes regarding the requirements for first timers, in regards to the modern day enthusiasts’s ability to purchase COTS equipment and really not having to build their own equipment from scratch. The days of Radio sets are long gone.

[@kerbsidemotors9249]

Essex Ham great, as I now have full licence it's great to see information in easy format.

[@Team-fabulous]

I don't agree with the power increase for the foundation and intermediate licence holders. I am a 2I0 call and have no intention of using an amplifier because of my location and 100 watts is more than enough for me, however now the incentive to persue a full call has been removed I can't really see myself doing it....

[@EssexhamUk]

It’s not mandatory to operate at the proposed higher power limits- if you’re happy to continue at 50w for Intermediate, that’s fine.

[@Team-fabulous]

@@EssexhamUk yes but under the old system one of the incentives was having 100 watt at hand. Now that has been removed along with the incentive to progress up the licence ladder

[@EssexhamUk]

@@Team-fabulous Yes, I agree that it does remove one of the incentives to progress, but as a reminder, Ofcom are proposing to increase the limits as the UK.’s is lower than many other European countries. You have until the 22nd of January to let Ofcom know your objections..

[@alzeNL]

great news - as a fan of SSTV and a lack of SSTV repeaters in South West England as a Intermediate it sounds like I can run a 'data station' as a SSTV Repeater/replay function, i also like the respect show to SK's and allowing 5 years. I think overall this is a postive step for amateur radio in the UK and will ensure it will keep going for the next generation of operators. 73's 2E0FWE

[@ipklondonuk]

I received the Ofcom consultation as we were traveling from Stuttgart to Friedrichshafen (just as well I did as I was going to get a printed callsign shirt whilst I was there) have to be honest I never had any problems with the consultation and I still don't. I personally think it's a positive move, even giving up my foundation callsign (as I no longer use it anyway) At least I'll be able soon to use 100w on my three HF radio's now, Yaesu's FT 450D, FT 891 and FT-DX 10. Seeing I have no chance of getting my full licence due to complications at home, although I'd sooner get the full but no chance at this rate.

[@AbrasiveScotsman]

This might just get me interested again. I sorta petered out after getting Foundation. Increased power is one reason I'd have considered Intermediate, but for the foreseeable future I think 25W is plenty. That lets me conceivably buy top end equipment and just turn the power down. Some of them can't be set as low as 10W so are unusable by Foundation holders legally. If they ever do "Direct to Full" that's another thing that would pique my interest - I wouldn't mind leapfrogging Intermediate. I also like that they now allow building on Foundation. Many interpret even low level modding as building so a foundation holder was considered (by some) to have violated their license terms if they removed resisters (including ones *designed* to be removed) to wideband their radio. My main reason for getting into radios was disaster preparedness. I want them to be able to transmit on all sorts of frequencies for emergencies - doesn't mean I'm going to be running around transmitting where I shouldn't day to day...

[@EssexhamUk]

Just for info, Direct-to-Full has been available since January 2023.

[@AbrasiveScotsman]

@@EssexhamUk Shows how out of the loop I am then ;-) Thanks.

[@torquedude]

Fantastic video. Do you know much about the airborne changes. As a foundation member and a paraglider pilot it would be great to find out if a foundation license holder will be included in airborne usage.

[@EssexhamUk]

Airborne will be 0.5w EIRP on all primary bands, available to all 3 licence levels.

[@torquedude]

@@EssexhamUk fantastic, thank you for the info and help. Keep making the excellent videos 👍

[@torquedude]

I have just passed my foundation license last week via your videos and content, thank you. When the new rules come in to play does that mean that all existing foundation members will automatically be allowed to go from 10w to 25w without taking any further testing? Thanks

[@EssexhamUk]

Congtats on the pass. Correct, when the licence gets updated, the new conditions will apply current licence holders

[@torquedude]

@@EssexhamUk fantastic, thanks for the quick reply and many thanks again for the great online information to study for the foundation exam.

[@seahawk3057]

Very concerned about the use of "/anything you like" as a suffix, could end up with all sorts of nonsense.

[@EssexhamUk]

Ofcom did comment on this issue. They mentioned that ‘/QRP’, ‘/YOTA’ and ‘/NHS’ were used despite not being in the licence, and that suffixes do not form part of the core call sign and are not required for the management of the radio spectrum.

[@AbrasiveScotsman]

The airwaves will be chockablock with M7ABC /POOP! ;) Honestly, I think it would be hard to do any real harm. Anything really obscene would still breach license terms I think...

[@freedom_unite3845]

So if i was to take my Foundation exam ( which im currently studying for ) in January as planned , would the exam still be as it is currently or will there be more questions added about making antennas , etc ? Or does that happen when the new license conditions change ? Many Thanks

[@EssexhamUk]

There are unlikely to be any changes to exams held in January

[@freedom_unite3845]

@@EssexhamUk Thanks for replying 73's

[@DavidWood2]

RSGB have indicated that the exams will not change until 1 September 2024.

[@MrApolloTom]

Interesting point about making the foundation exam harder. I was responding on the basis that since this wasn't part of the proposal, that it wasn't a possibility. I hope that'll be honoured.

[@EssexhamUk]

There's no mention in the proposal of Ofcom requiring syllabus changes. Hopefully RSGB won't do what they did in the 2019 syllabus update and increase the level of electronics theory needed to gain an entry-level licence.

[@woodybollox]

When supervising will they use our callsign.

[@EssexhamUk]

If someone is using your licence to make contacts under your direct supervision, then yes, they are required to use your callsign

[@RAWEDC]

awesome news!!!

[@djfergiedmx]

Bring it on!

[@JohnhenryHitchens]

I’m at intermediate level and tried to do my advanced course but finding somewhere is impossible. Iv nearly given up on the Hobby because of it and also it would have been good if intermediate license holders could let people send a greetings message. Iv got young kids that can only ever watch and not have a go because the license condition which then they soon loose interest and get bored

[@DavidWood2]

These changes give you more than you wanted in relation to greetings messages. All classes of licence will include: "The Radio Equipment may be used by the Licensee or by any person who has the permission of the licensee to do so and who is under the direct supervision of the Licensee." This means that once the first batch of changes enters into force, anyone can operate your station using your callsign with your permission and under your direct supervision. Unlicensed users are not limited to greeting messages. For club licences (which are always Full licences), any Full licence holder can operate unsupervised with the licensee's permission, and any individual can operate with the licensee's permission under the direct supervision of any Full licence holder.

[@sptvids]

Thanks Pete, glad to hear of the power increases, that's a good result 👍

[@Chris-hy6jy]

The power limit imposed on simplex gateways needs to be increased inline with repeaters. 5W ERP to 25W ERP.

[@letmelooktv]

2% ouch, I must admit im one of those.

[@andybibby342]

I find it disappointing that the new changes haven’t gone further to help people with learning disabilities to become a Ham. There are many people with a disability that cannot be a licensed because they have difficulty recalling answers, fully understand the questions and remembering well enough to answer what may be simple questions for many. There ought to be a foundation license awarded through an application without the test process. Perhaps where a Ham club member could verify the application.

[@EssexhamUk]

To be fair, these are changes to the licence conditions, not the exams. Extra help is available for those who need it - have you spoken to the RSGB Exam Team about the extra help that’s available?

[@DavidWood2]

There is a limit to the reasonable adjustments that are available for the exam. If there is any hope of making the Foundation exam accessible, talk to the RSGB about reasonable adjustments. However, reasonable adjustments cannot reduce the need to demonstrate familiarity with the syllabus. If the person's learning difficulties prevent them from passing the exam with appropriate adjustments, then they cannot operate unsupervised. The changes to operating under supervision that should come into force next month will help - Ofcom's final draft suggests that any amateur can allow an unlicensed person to operate the amateur's station under their direct supervision. This would mean a relative, friend or carer could take the Foundation licence and then supervise the person with learning difficulties operating using the licensee's callsign. Supervised operation will not be restricted to greetings messages, as in the past.

[@hopperscot]

As suspected the RSGB still cling to the past I was wishing for OFCOM to move away from the closed shop exam system and move to a two tear license Like the driving test full license and provisional But this is just a way for the RSGB to make more money and mistakes

[@EssexhamUk]

I’d be interested to hear more about the two-tier system you mention - how would that work, and what would be the aim?

[@hopperscot]

@@EssexhamUk Basically similar to the older A+B one The current foundation would be a "Provisional license" and the current Int & Full would simple be the "Radio License" and it would be easy to add classes for repeater, beacon etc by way of codes on the document, the same as for cars result if you have single document with all the data Clubs would have a similar license But would have all Call signs attached and be the Clubs rather than an individual person, just random thoughts

[@EssexhamUk]

@@hopperscot We once had a”novice” and “full” class, so are you thinking of a return to that? my understanding of the Ofcom changes, is that they are looking to simplify things. Going for a solution with multiple codes for different privileges, and presumably with exams for each of these codes, is likely to be a nightmare for Ofcom. Also, I am not aware of any similar systems in other countries, which is likely to cause problems internationally.

[@DavidWood2]

@@hopperscot Your proposal goes against much of Ofcom's rationale for these changes. Ofcom is trying to simplify the licensing system by removing Notices of Variation and other extra formalities when possible, leaving them in place only when required by the primary user of the band (hence the continuation of repeater restrictions on 70cm) or when justified by the potential for interference (so repeaters with 5-25W output power will still require a special callsign, and repeaters with more than 25W output power will require a full NoV). Any blurring of the distinctions between Intermediate and Full would endanger Full licensees' CEPT T/R 61-01 privileges to operate in some foreign countries and their right to a CEPT T/R 61-02 HAREC. I don't understand why you seem to want to downgrade Foundation to a provisional status. Foundation is all that many amateurs need, so why force them to upgrade?

[@TimTM-gm6od]

98% of licensed hams obviously aren't that bothered then

[@TooEssgee]

More like 98% of licensed hams remember what happened last time, and realise that resistance is futile.

[@basstutorman]

​@TooEssgee I think there is a lot of truth in that. Like many other government bodies, it is questionable whether OFCOM are there to provide the public with a service, or to justify it's own existence and power. 😔

[@stripey1960]

@@basstutorman More like OFCOM were saddled with the responsibility of spectrum management and the licensing regime (along with telecoms, the internet, broadcasting etc, which are the real big ticket items for them and where the major investment in management takes place)..and are just trying to make it less of a ball ache to manage, especially as it is not a commercial and therefore revenue raising part of their portfolio. Any changes are going to be made with the OFCOM workload in mind and compliance to international agreements which are decided elsewhere, in many cases even outside of the governments immediate control. When OFCOM have been tasked with investigating AI and the impact on the digital landscape, in a recent Committee session in Westminster they said they had over 50 people working on it & the ministers were incredulous and asked them if that was enough, should they allocate more resource? They thought they should have more people working in it, where as I am pretty sure that the number of people that are responsible for Amateur Radio, I could probably count on my fingers the number of people with that are allocated to it! Just to put things in perspective, for OFCOM Amateur Radio is something they have to put up with as it is of rather lower importance to everything else they deal with. The hobby of Amateur Radio seems to revel in it's own self importance when actually we are a tiny part of the bigger picture for OFCOM.

[@DavidWood2]

I read the consultation document and decided not to waste time responding because I agreed with the proposals. I agree with @stripey1960's analysis - Ofcom is trying to reduce the administrative burden of amateur radio, aligning licence permissions with modern operating practices and reducing the workload of issuing NoVs to situations requiring frequency coordination or where there is a high risk of interference. They want amateur radio to be as low cost and low friction to administer as possible.

[@afbsartur1270]

That's a good news

[@leecwilkin]

👍

[@tomwaller6893]

Independent Scotland will of course decide within international law. The people of Scotland are soverign over Westminster under our claim of rights incorporated in the original act of the Union for all time. We gave you a choice. Brexit or the UK.

[@PaulStrickland]

An independent Scotland? I've just seen a flying haggis!

[@ndr8469]

So let me get this right, you're leaving one Union and joining another Union with France and Germany? Both of which caused the majority of the wars in Europe in the last 200 years 😂

[@Team-fabulous]

An independent Scotland... 😂😂😂😂😂.. Wise up..