Licensing and Regulatory Issues

Because of the OCAR's similarity to a passive repeater, which for amateur uses does not need to be licensed, the regulations and requirements for it should not be too difficult. It can be argued that beyond 2*OCAR_range, any OCAR has less impact on the propagation in the EM spectrum than a passive reflector (though admittedly a very large one).

It's also worth noting that an OCAR is the same as a frequency translating repeater (like some of the OSCAR satellites) with zero frequency offset.

Here in the US, the ARRL's Regulatory Information Specialist has already responded with the opinion that OCAR's meet one of the basic purposes of amateur radio; experimentation. The question of transmitter identification was raised and the opinion offered that as long as every user appropriately identified his station when using the OCAR that the terms of the license were met. If this isn't the case the OCAR should have its own identification method. Anyone wishing to experiment with OCARs should probably consult with their licensing body.