M.O.R.E. Project

Interested in getting an Amateur Radio License?

The Make Operating Radio Easier (MORE) Project is an initiative to reduce both gender and age imbalances in Amateur (Ham) Radio, through education and hands-on activities. The ambitious goals of the MORE Project (running through June 2026) are: to train and license 500 new U.S. Radio Amateurs; to examine and explore various types of radio signals, such as by using Software Defined Radio (SDR); and to help our new Hams learn basic communications protocols by observing and participating in HF and VHF operations.

Amateur Radio involves all of the aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and can lead to degrees and occupations in these fields. While Hams enjoy this lifelong hobby world-wide, they are also a critical part of local, national and international emergency readiness, as their communications are possible even during severe infrastructure failures due to catastrophic circumstances.

Our training course is provided in 6 sessions, typically one 2.5-hour session per week, and may be scheduled to occur virtually and/or in person. Students must have access to the Internet in order to view and download study materials, and to participate in Zoom sessions using video and audio. Our students are also expected to study, using the materials that we provide, at least 1/2 hour per day, during all 6 weeks of the MORE Course. Our grant covers the costs of training, testing and licensing students who have applied and been accepted into the MORE Project. Students who attend and complete a MORE Project Approved Course, pass the Amateur Radio Technician exam, and receive their callsign and license from the FCC, will receive a handheld 2-way radio from the MORE Project, plus additional coaching in how to Get On The Air.

Resource materials can be found at the MORE Project Resource Page.

Download:
MORE Project Poster
Download:
MORE Project Call for Participation Flyer

Call for Participation:

While the MORE Project is primarily seeking youth (ages 12-17) and non-male applicants who want to receive training for the FCC Amateur Radio Technician license, we are currently accepting students of ALL ages (12+) and genders. To be considered for this licensing program, you must be at least 12 years old (or older) and have an address in the United States (or territories).

IMPORTANT: The MORE Project amateur radio licensing program is NOT affiliated with the BSA. The MORE Project provides training ONLY for the FCC Amateur Radio Technician License. The MORE Project does NOT provide training for the BSA Radio Merit Badge.

SCOUTS: The BSA Radio Merit Badge program is a good introduction to Amateur Radio. The MORE Project typically does not accept scouts into our license training program until AFTER they have earned the BSA Radio Merit Badge, and can show us their completed blue card. To get the blue card, individual scouts or scout troops must arrange for BSA Radio Merit Badge training. BSA Radio Merit Badge information can be found via the K2BSA Amateur Radio Association’s website at <https://k2bsa.net/radio-merit-badge-2/>. If you are a scout who has a legitimate reason why you want to take our MORE Course BEFORE getting the BSA Radio Merit Badge, send an email to Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, K3RPM at <MOREProject500@gmail.com> to discuss your situation. Non-scouts do not need to earn the BSA Radio Merit Badge or have any other prior training before applying to the MORE Project to take a MORE Course.

ALL APPLICANTS: As radio operations in the U.S.A. are overseen by the Federal Government, all participants in the MORE Project must be willing to create a permanent public record of certain salient personal information, which will be posted online by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and shared with other entities. If you are not willing to have your license information made public, then you should not get a radio license or join the MORE Project.

To Apply to be a Student in the MORE Project (all ages 12+ and all genders):

Step 1: Go to <https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/support/universal-licensing-system-uls-resources/getting-fcc-registration-number-frn> to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN). The personal information you provide to obtain the FRN must be yours, not anyone else’s.

Step 2: Download our registration form:
MORE Project Registration and Agreement

Fill in ALL of the requested information, carefully and clearly (plus your parent’s or guardian’s full name and email address, if you are within 12 to 17 years of age). When you save the file (as a jpg or pdf), add your first and last name to the file name of the registration form.

Step 3: Send an email to Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, K3RPM at <MOREProject500@gmail.com> with your registration form as an attachment. We’ll add you to our mailing list to receive information about upcoming MORE Project Approved Courses. Your completed registration form MUST be received and approved by the MORE Project BEFORE you attend a MORE Course or take the Technician license exam.

IMPORTANT: If your MORE Project form is incomplete or mentions Merit Badge, you will receive an email message from the MORE Project explaining what you need to do before we can admit you into a MORE Course.

GROUP LEADERS: The MORE Project also wants to hear from STEM clubs, youth scouting groups, preparedness teams, societies and lodges, senior centers, and other educational or recreational activity organizers. If your members would like to learn about radio technology and how it is used in a wide range of applications, including informal chatting, emergency search and rescue, global and outer-space communication, and much more, please contact Dr. Mercuri at <MOREProject500@gmail.com>, with a description of your group.

TRAINERS and VEs: We have an ongoing need for FCC-licensed amateur radio operators at the General level or above, in the U.S.A. or territories, who are certified as Volunteer Examiners (or who want to earn this certificate), to assist with training, testing, GOTA activities and outreach.  If you would like to be involved, please provide your full name and callsign in an email, with the subject line — MORE Project — to Rebecca K3RPM at <MOREProject500@gmail.com>.

The formal description of the MORE Project is available here: MORE Project Description

MORE Project Resources:

Resource materials can be found at the MORE Project Resource Page.

Our Sponsors:

The MORE Project is supported by a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (AR|DC) <ampr.org> and is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Princeton / Central Jersey Section, Broadcast Technology Chapter (IEEE PCJS BTC) <site.ieee.org/pcjs>, with the assistance of the David Sarnoff Radio Club (DSRC) <n2re.org> and ARCsquared <arcsquared.org>.