File Author: Reginfo@arrl.org International

Third-Party Traffic. Proceed With Caution.

Occasionally, DX stations may ask you to pass a third-party message to a friend or relative in the States. This is all right as long as the US has signed an official third-party traffic agreement with that particular country, or the third party is a licensed amateur. The traffic must be non-commercial and of a personal, unimportant nature. During an emergency, the US StateDepartment will often work out a special temporary agreement with the country involved. But in normal times, never handle traffic without first making sure it is legally permitted. US Amateurs May Handle Third-Party Traffic With:

• C5 -- The Gambia
• CE -- Chile
• CO -- Cuba
• CP -- Bolivia
• CX -- Uruguay
• D6 -- Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
• DU -- Philippines
• EL -- Liberi
• GB* -- United Kingdom
• HC -- Ecuador
• HH -- Haiti
• HI -- Dominican Republic
• HK -- Colombia
• HP -- Panama
• HR -- Honduras
• J3 -- Grenada
• J6 -- St Lucia
• J7 -- Dominica
• J8 - St Vincent and the Grenadines
• JY -- Jordan
• LU -- Argentina
• OA -- Peru
• PY -- Brazil
• TG -- Guatemala
• TI -- Costa Rica
• T9 -- Bosnia-Herzegovina
• V2 -- Antigua and Barbuda
• V3 -- Belize
• V4 -- St Christopher and Nevis
• V6 -- Federated States of Micronesia
• V7 -- Marshall Islands
• VE -- Canada
• VK -- Australia
• VR6** -- Pitcairn Island
• XE -- Mexico
• YN -- Nicaragua
• YS -- El Salvador
• YV -- Venezuela
• ZP -- Paraguay
• 3DA -- Swaziland
• 4U1ITU -- ITU Geneva
• 4U1VIC -- VIC, Vienna
• 4X -- Israel
• 6Y -- Jamaica
• 8R -- Guyana
• 9G -- Ghana
• 9L -- Sierra Leone
• 9Y -- Trinidad and Tobago

Notes: *Third-party traffic permitted between US amateurs and special-events stations in the United Kingdom having the prefix GB only, with the exception that GB3 stations are not included in this agreement

.** Since 1970, there has been an informal agreement between the United Kingdom and the US, permitting Pitcairn and US amateurs to exchange messages concerning medical emergencies, urgent need for equipment or supplies, and private or personal matters of island residents.

Please note that the Region 2 Division of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has recommended that international traffic on the 20 and 15-meter bands be conducted on the following frequencies:

• 14.100-14.150 MHz
• 14.250-14.350 MHz
• 21.150-21.200 MHz
• 21.300-21.450 MHz

The IARU is the alliance of Amateur Radio societies from around the world; Region 2 comprises member-societies in North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. Note: At the end of an exchange of third-party traffic with a station located in a foreign country, an FCC-licensed amateur must also transmit the call sign of the foreign station as well as his own call sign.