Sec. 23.46  Operators, class required and general duties.

    (a) The operation and control of all transmitting apparatus licensed 
at a station in the international fixed public radiocommunication 
services shall be carried on only by a person holding a valid operator 
license issued by the Commission, except as provided in other paragraphs 
of this section.
    (b) Classes of operator licenses required are as follows:
    (1) Radiotelegraph stations: Radio-telegraph or Radiotelephone 
first- or second-class license: Provided, however:
    (i) If manual morse code keying is used for transmitting public 
correspondence, the person manipulating the telegraph key shall be the 
holder of a radio-telegraph first- or second-class license except as 
provided by paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section;
    (ii) If manual morse code keying is used only for the purposes of 
identification or for sending service messages, the person manipulating 
the telegraph key shall be the holder of a radiotelegraph third-class 
permit or higher class of radiotelegraph license except as provided by 
paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section;
    (iii) If automatic keying equipment is used, the operator of such 
equipment may send short service signals (requests for repeats, etc.) by 
manual morse code without being the holder of a radio operator license.
    (iv) Unlicensed telegraph operators of appropriate skill as 
determined by the radio station licensee may manipulate the telegraph 
key of radiotelegraph stations provided that properly licensed 
radiotelegraph operators are on duty at the transmitting station or 
authorized remote control point and that such licensed operators are 
fully responsible for the proper operation of the transmitting 
equipment.
    (2) Radiotelephone stations: Radiotelephone first- or second-class 
license: Provided, however, that, if manual morse code keying is 
employed in accordance with Sec. 23.12, the person manipulating the 
telegraph key shall be the holder of a valid radiotelegraph third-class 
permit or higher class of radiotelegraph license.
    (3) Radiotelegraph-Radiotelephone stations: Provisions under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section are applicable.
    (4) International control stations: Radiotelegraph or radiotelephone 
first- or second-class license.
    (c) One or more licensed operators of the grade specified in 
paragraph (b) of this section shall be on duty at the

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place where the transmitting apparatus is located and in actual charge 
thereof when it is being operated: Provided, however, That:
    (1) In case of stations in these services operating on frequencies 
above 30 MHz, the Commission may authorize unattended operation upon 
application therefor and showing that the equipment is so designed and 
constructed as to make such operation feasible. When such unattended 
operation is authorized, properly licensed operators shall be on duty at 
a terminal of the system of which the unattended station or stations are 
a part or shall be available on call to perform necessary maintenance 
duties.
    (2) In the case of a station where remote control is used, the 
Commission may grant authority to employ an operator or operators at the 
control point in lieu of the place where the transmitting apparatus is 
located, provided that the following conditions are complied with:
    (i) The transmitter shall be so installed and protected that it is 
not accessible to other than duly authorized persons.
    (ii) A device shall be provided at the remote control point which 
gives a continuous visual indication whenever the control circuits have 
been placed in a condition to activate the radio transmitting apparatus.
    (iii) Provision shall be made to monitor aurally all transmissions 
originating under control of the responsible operator at the remote 
point.
    (iv) The radiation of the transmitter shall be suspended immediately 
when there is a deviation from the terms of the station license or 
applicable provisions of this chapter.
    (v) When remote control of a transmitter is performed from a 
separate location such as a message center or telephone exchange and 
manual morse code keying is not used, the operator(s) at that point need 
not be licensed by the Commission provided that licensed operator(s) are 
on duty at the transmitter location or authorized remote control point 
at all times that the station is in operation, and they are fully 
responsible for the proper operation of the transmitting equipment. If 
manual morse code keying is used at a remote control point, the 
provisions of paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall apply.
    (3) When a radio station is radiating, all adjustments or tests 
during or coincident with the installation and servicing or maintenance 
of the transmitter and its associated equipment which may affect the 
quality of transmission or possibly cause the station radiation to 
exceed the limits specified in its instrument of authorization or in the 
rules pertaining to such station shall be made by or under the immediate 
supervision and responsibility of a person holding the proper license, 
who shall be responsible for the proper functioning of the radio 
facilities. A radiotelephone station must be under the supervision of a 
person holding a radiotelephone or radiotelegraph first- or second-class 
license, and a radiotelegraph station must be under the supervision of a 
person holding a radiotelegraph first- or second-class license.
    (4) When a radio station is not radiating, persons of appropriate 
technical skill, who are not licensed radio operators, may perform the 
functions described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section without direct 
supervision after having been authorized to do so by the responsible 
licensed operator under whose immediate supervision the facilities shall 
thereafter initially be placed in operation and be determined to be 
operating properly.
[ 38 FR 22480 , Aug. 21, 1973]