'''Amateur radio''', commonly called "'''ham radio'''", is a [[hobby]] enjoyed by many people throughout the [[world]];. [[asAs of [[2004]] about 3 [[million]] worldwide, 70,000 in [[Germany]], 5,000 in [[Norway]], 57,000 in [[Canada]], and 700,000 in the [[United States|USA]]. A holder of an Amateur Radio [[license]] has studied and passed required tests in his or her [[country]] and been issued a ''[[radio call sign|call sign]]'' by its [[government]]. This call sign is unique to the operator and is often a source of pride. The holder of a call sign uses it on the air to legally identify all [[voice]] and [[data]] [[communication]]s. Amateur Radio should not be confused with [[CB radio]], [[General Mobile Radio Service]] or [[Family Radio Service]] which are limited to voice operation, allowed lower power limits, fewer frequency allocations, and are unlicensed in most countries.
According to the [[Federal Communications Commission]], the United States agency that regulates radio and telecommunications, the [[Federal Communications Commission]], Amateur radio serves the following purposes:
*Promotion and enhancement of the Amateur Radio Service as a voluntary noncommercial public communications service.
*Continual advancement of the art of radio communication.
