Question E1F03:
[97.315] Under what circumstances may a dealer sell an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz if it has not been granted FCC certification?  

Choices:  
A: Gain is less than 23 dB when driven by power of 10 watts or less  
B: The equipment dealer assembled it from a kit  
C: It was manufactured and certificated in a country which has a reciprocal certification agreement with the FCC  
D: The amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station    

Correct Answer is  D: The amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station  

To the point: Part 97.315 says you generally may not market external RF power amplifiers capable of operation below 144 MHz unless they have an FCC certification. The key exception preserves “homebrew” privileges for hams.

Why the correct answer is correct
- The amplifier is constructed or modified by an amateur radio operator for use at an amateur station.
  - 97.315 explicitly exempts amplifiers that are built or modified by a licensed amateur for use at their amateur station from the certification requirement. This protects homebrew and experimental work while restricting commercial marketing of uncertified amps.

Why the other choices are incorrect
- A: Gain is less than 23 dB when driven by power of 10 watts or less
  - Incorrect. Those numbers are not in Part 97. Even more importantly, meeting technical specs (see 97.317) is for obtaining certification; it does not create an exemption from certification when marketing.
- B: The equipment dealer assembled it from a kit
  - Incorrect. 97.315 covers amplifier “kits” too; commercial assembly by a dealer does not waive the certification requirement. The exemption is for amateur construction/modification, not dealer assembly.
- C: It was manufactured and certificated in a country with a reciprocal certification agreement with the FCC
  - Incorrect. The FCC requires its own certification (grant) for marketing in the U.S.; there is no reciprocity that substitutes for an FCC grant.

Useful rules of thumb
- If it’s an external RF power amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz and it’s being commercially sold in the U.S., assume it must have an FCC certification.
- The only practical exception you’ll see on the exam: amateur-built or amateur-modified for use at an amateur station (homebrew/modified by a licensed ham). 
- Kit or foreign approvals don’t create a U.S. marketing exemption.