# Shortwave Radio License

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 17, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655 "2000-11-17T21:17:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Arken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@Arken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arken)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655/1 "2000-11-17T21:17:07Z")

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I’ve been interested lately in possibly buying a Shortwave transmitter and broadcasting a low-power shortwave station (since I missed the LP-FM license application window in my state).

What does the FCC require for a shortwave radio license? I find their website way too confusing.

What about an AM license?

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**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655/2 "2000-11-18T00:44:33Z")

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First I’d contact the ARRL.American Radio Relay League. They have been the leader in Amateur Radio for probably 50 years. Someone there will be able to answer your questions.  
I went to their website but found way too much info to post . I didn’t see anything for the beginner in my quick search. That doesn’t mean it isn’t there though.

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655/3 "2000-11-18T02:24:08Z")

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You won’t be able to transmit on international shortwave frequencies, unless you want to start a major radio station.  
I’m not sure about the requirements for low-power broadcast- band AM (the band normally on the AM section of a radio).

Arjuna34

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**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortwave-radio-license/41655/4 "2000-11-18T13:09:37Z")

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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s information page for shortwave broadcasting is located at: [http://www.fcc.gov/ib/pnd/neg/hf\_web/hf.html](http://www.fcc.gov/ib/pnd/neg/hf_web/hf.html)

The FCC’s “How to Apply for a Broadcast Station” page (AM and FM) is located at: [http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/getstat.html](http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/asd/getstat.html)