I am governed by what is known as the Amateur Radio Licence Terms, Conditions and Limitations, Section 2. In that illustrious document the following are the key requirements that I MUST comply with:
Clause 11(1): The Licensee shall be permitted to use the Radio Equipment to discuss any topics of mutual interest with other Amateurs, and to seek to receive and impart any information and any ideas.
Clause 11(2): Unless the Radio Equipment is being used for the purposes of clauses 1(2) or 1(3):
a) Messages sent from the station shall only be addressed to other Amateurs or to the stations of those Amateurs;
b) Messages sent from the station shall not be encrypted for the purposes of rendering the Message unintelligible to other radio spectrum users.
Clause 11(3): Messages sent from the station shall not be encrypted for the purposes of rendering the Message unintelligible to other radio spectrum users.
Clause 11(4): The Licensee shall not send Messages (whether directly or for onwards transmission by another station) for general reception other than:
a) initial calls; or
b) to groups or networks (“nets”) of three or more Amateurs as long as communication is first established separately with at least one Amateur in any such group;
c) Messages transmitted via a mailbox or bulletin board for reception by Amateurs.
In compliance of Note (h) of Notes for the Licence
Note (h): The Wireless Telegraphy (Content of Transmission) Regulations 1988 make it an offence to use any station for wireless telegraphy or any wireless telegraphy apparatus to send a message, communication or other matter in whatever form that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.
OK, so what does this lot mean...
It means,
I am not allowed to use grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing nature, so I cannot use bad language, but the occasional "bugga" is permitted.
I can talk about pretty much anything, such as the hobby, equipment, my other hobbies, my job, my partner (but please don't tel them), but I am not allowed to sell or deliberate promote commercial enterprises. So I can big up Yaesu, but I cannot sell Yaesu equipment, I can talk about my camera that I use to take wildlife photos, but I cannot sell cameras, and so on.
All messages must be in the clear (voice), expect where I am using internationally recognised codes (Morse), abbreviations (Q-Codes), clarities (Phenetic Alphabet), etc. The ONLY exception to this is if I am assisting a User Service in an Emergency or Disaster, then at the direct request of a User Service (such as the ambulance service) I may obscure or encrypt the message to protect details (such as a casualties name, specific location or condition). However, the message in its entirety, who instructed the message to be sent and who it was sent to MUST be logged on each and every occasion.
I am not allowed to make general broadcast transmissions, such as playing music, giving lectures, replay religous services, etc.
In accordance with Ofcom's Amateur Radio Licence Terms, Conditions and Limitations Section 2:
Clause 1(2): The Licensee may use or permit the use of the Radio Equipment by a member of a User Service during any operation conducted by a User Service or during any exercise relating to such an operation in each case for the purpose of sending Messages on behalf of the User Service.
Clause 1(3): The Licensee may use the Radio Equipment to assist with communications in times of disaster or national or international emergency.
Clause 11(2): Unless the Radio Equipment is being used for the purposes of clauses 1(2) or 1(3)*:
.....
b) Messages sent from the station shall not be encrypted for the purposes of rendering the Message unintelligible to other radio spectrum users.
Clause 11(3): The Licensee may use codes and abbreviations for communications as long as they do not obscure or confuse the meaning of the Message.
So what does this lot mean?
It means...
In the event of a national emergency or disaster or any authorised training exercise, we can be requested (and we are obliged) to allow our Radio Equipment to be used to aid communication.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, we CAN pass and receive obscured messages, such as the identity of a causality but ONLY when (and in the presence) of a user service, such as the ambulance service or coast guard. This is one of those times when we are required to maintain a logbook, which must show the message sent or received and who requested/sent it.
Now for the sake of clarity
Radio Equipment: means the authorised licence holder who is licenced to establish and use stations or install or use radio transmitting and receiving apparatus for wireless telegraphy e.g. the Call Sign.
User Service: means the British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the St Andrew's Ambulance Association, the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, the Salvation Army, any Government Department, any ‘Category 1’ responder (e.g. emergency services and local authorities), and any Category 2 responder (e.g. utilities, transport companies) as defined in Annex A of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Opens as a PDF).
Encryption of messages: on specific request of a User Service, encryption of message content (not callsigns) can occur – but must be logged.
Last updated 23 March 2022.