Sec. 13.7  Classification of operator licenses and endorsements.

    (a) Commercial radio operator licenses issued by the FCC are 
classified in accordance with the Radio Regulations of the ITU.
    (b) There are nine types of commercial radio operator licenses, 
certificates and permits (licenses). The license's ITU classification, 
if different from its name, is given in parenthesis.
    (1) First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate.
    (2) Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate.
    (3) Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate 
(radiotelegraph operator's special certificate).
    (4) General Radiotelephone Operator License (radiotelephone 
operator's general certificate).
    (5) Marine Radio Operator Permit (radiotelephone operator's 
restricted certificate).
    (6) Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (radiotelephone 
operator's restricted certificate).
    (7) Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use 
(radiotelephone operator's restricted certificate).
    (8) GMDSS Radio Operator's License (general operator's certificate).
    (9) GMDSS Radio Maintainer's License (technical portion of the 
first-class radio electronic certificate).
    (c) There are six license endorsements affixed by the FCC to provide 
special authorizations or restrictions. Endorsements may be affixed to 
the license(s) indicated in parenthesis.
    (1) Ship Radar Endorsement (First and Second Class Radiotelegraph 
Operator's Certificates, General Radiotelephone Operator License, GMDSS 
Radio Maintainer's License).

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    (2) Six Months Service Endorsement (First and Second Class 
Radiotelegraph Operator's License).
    (3) Restrictive endorsements relating to physical handicaps, English 
language or literacy waivers, or other matters (all licenses).
    (4) Marine Radio Operator Permits shall bear the following 
endorsement: This permit does not authorize the operation of AM, FM or 
TV broadcast stations.
    (5) General Radiotelephone Operator Licenses issued after December 
31, 1985, shall bear the following endorsement: This license confers 
authority to operate licensed radio stations in the Aviation, Marine and 
International Fixed Public Radio Services only. This authority is 
subject to: any endorsement placed upon this license; FCC orders, rules, 
and regulations; United States statutes; and the provisions of any 
treaties to which the United States is a party. This license does not 
confer any authority to operate broadcast stations. It is not assignable 
or transferable.
    (6)(i) If a person is afflicted with an uncorrected physical 
handicap which would clearly prevent the performance of all or any part 
of the duties of a radio operator, under the license for which 
application is made, at a station under emergency conditions involving 
the safety of life or property, that person still may be issued the 
license if found qualified. Such a license shall bear a restrictive 
endorsement as follows:
    This license is not valid for the performance of any operating 
duties, other than installation, service and maintenance duties, at any 
station licensed by the FCC which is required, directly or indirectly, 
by any treaty, statute or rule or regulation pursuant to statute, to be 
provided for safety purposes.
    (ii) In the case of a license that does not require an examination 
in technical radio matters, the endorsement specified in paragraph 
(c)(6)(i) of this section will be modified by deleting the reference 
therein to installation, service, and maintenance duties.
    (iii) In any case where an applicant who normally would receive or 
has received a commercial radio operator license bearing the endorsement 
prescribed by paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section, indicates a desire to 
operate a station falling within the prohibited terms of the 
endorsement, the applicant may request in writing that such endorsement 
not be placed upon, or be removed from his or her license, and may 
submit written comments or statements from other parties in support 
thereof.
    (iv) An applicant who shows that he has performed satisfactorily the 
duties of a radio operator at a station required to be provided for 
safety purposes during a period when he or she was afflicted by 
uncorrected physical handicaps of the same kind and to the same degree 
as the physical handicaps shown by his or her current application shall 
not be deemed to be within the provisions of paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this 
section.
    (d) A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use issued 
by the FCC to an aircraft pilot who is not legally eligible for 
employment in the United States is valid only for operating radio 
stations on aircraft.
    (e) A Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit-Limited Use issued 
by the FCC to a person under the provision of Section 303(1)(2) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is valid only for the operation 
of radio stations for which that person is the station licensee.
[ 58 FR 9124 , Feb. 19, 1993;  58 FR 12632 , Mar. 5, 1993]