FOTA Rules — Version 1
This is Version 1 of the FOTA rules — intentionally concise so it can evolve as the program grows. Expect revisions as real activations surface edge cases these rules don't cover yet.
Eligible Fairs
A county, state, regional, agricultural, or community fair — a recurring, publicly attended event tied to a specific fairgrounds or event site. Submit a fair through the Submit a Fair page; an administrator reviews it before it becomes an official FOTA reference.
Activation Location
Operate from within the fairgrounds or event site boundary, or from a location close enough that a reasonable observer would consider you "at the fair" (an adjacent parking lot during the fair's operating hours, for example). Activating from home and claiming a nearby fair does not qualify.
Valid Callsigns
Use your own licensed callsign. FOTA reviews callsign claims and marks them verified or disputed; deliberately claiming another operator's callsign is a conduct violation.
Contacts
A valid contact is a real-time, two-way exchange with callsigns and a signal report, made with an activator operating from an eligible location during a logged activation window. Contacts relayed through a third party, or claimed without an actual exchange, do not count.
Logging
Keep an accurate station log for your own records in addition to what you submit to FOTA, with start/end times in UTC. FOTA's own activation record (bands, modes, QSO count) is a summary, not a substitute for your log.
Spotting
Post a spot when you hear or work an activator, or when you start activating, so other hunters can find you. Spot accurately (correct callsign, frequency, mode) and mark yourself QRT when you go off the air rather than leaving a stale spot up.
Club Activations
A fair may be activated by a club rather than a single individual. Log the activation under the operating callsign actually on the air (a club callsign, or a member's callsign operating on the club's behalf), and set the activation's club field so the activation is credited to the club as well as the operator.
Multi-Operator Activations
Multiple operators trading off at the same station during one continuous activation should be logged as a single activation, with a note listing who operated. Operators activating at meaningfully different times (different days, or separated by hours) should log separate activations instead.
Operator Conduct
Standard amateur radio courtesy applies both on the air and on the site: listen before you call, keep pileups moving, and treat other activators, hunters, fair organizers, and fairgoers with respect. Harassment, impersonation, and deliberately disruptive operating are conduct violations.
Integrity
FOTA runs on trust in what participants submit. The following are all violations, whether on a fair submission, an activation log, or a spot:
- Logging activations or contacts that did not happen.
- Claiming a callsign that is not yours.
- Submitting fabricated or duplicate fairs.
- Manipulating spot timestamps or contact counts to game awards.
An award earned through inaccurate or fraudulent data may be revoked once discovered, and repeated abuse may result in account suspension.
Dispute Resolution
If you believe a fair reference, callsign decision, or moderation action was made in error, use the Contact page to reach a program administrator with the details. Jurisdiction disputes over a fair reference and callsign verification disputes are both resolved administratively, not automatically.