What is a control operator as defined in Part 97?

The FCC defines a 'control operator' as an amateur operator designated by the licensee of a station to be responsible for the station's transmissions and for ensuring those transmissions comply with FCC rules. Whenever an amateur station is transmitting, it must have a designated control operator. While the station licensee is presumed to be the control operator by default, they can designate another licensed amateur to take on this responsibility. The control operator is not necessarily the person speaking into the microphone; an unlicensed person can speak over the radio (called third-party traffic) as long as a licensed control operator is present and actively controlling the station.