What determines the transmitting privileges of an amateur station?

The transmitting privileges of an amateur station are determined primarily by the class of operator license held by the control operator. The control operator is responsible for ensuring that the station operates within the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and their license class specifically dictates the bands and modes that they are authorized to use.

Each class of amateur radio license—Technician, General, and Extra—grants access to different frequency bands and power limits. For example, a Technician class license has more limited privileges compared to a General class license. Hence, if the control operator has a higher class license, the station can operate within the privileges of that license.

This means that even if someone with a lower class license is present at the station, as long as the control operator has a valid higher class license, the station can use the frequencies allotted to that higher license. Thus, the control operator's license class is the key factor in determining the transmitting privileges of an amateur station.