73·STUDY

General exam question G1B06

Subelement G1, COMMISSION’S RULES· Group G1B · 47 CFR §97.15(b), PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)

G1B06 · §97.15(b), PRB-1, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)

Under what conditions are state and local governments permitted to regulate amateur radio antenna structures?

  • A.Under no circumstances, FCC rules take priority
  • B.At any time and to any extent necessary to accomplish a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity, provided that proper filings are made with the FCC
  • C.Only when such structures exceed 50 feet in height and are clearly visible 1,000 feet from the structure
  • D.Amateur Service communications must be reasonably accommodated, and regulations must constitute the minimum practical to accommodate a legitimate purpose of the state or local entity (correct answer)

WhyState and local governments may regulate amateur antenna structures only to the minimum extent necessary for a legitimate local purpose, and only while still reasonably accommodating amateur communications. PRB-1, the FCC's 1985 preemption ruling codified at §97.15(b), lets state and local governments regulate amateur antenna structures, but only to the minimum extent necessary for a legitimate local purpose, and only if amateur communications are still reasonably accommodated, answer D. Local governments aren't shut out entirely as A claims, but they're also not free to regulate without limit as B suggests, and the 50-foot/1,000-foot threshold in C isn't a real rule.

Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2023-2027 NCVEC Element 3 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.

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