I don’t need government permission to run this website, but I did need permission to run the radio station transmitter when I was working alone on the weekends. The requirement was passing the test for an FCC 3rd Class Radiotelephone Operator’s License.
This study guide was printed the year after I took the test. Looking through the questions now, I can’t believe I knew any of this material.
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-FCC/FCC-Commercial-License-Study-Guide-1974.pdf
Many wannabe DJ’s had trouble with the test. I passed it the first time. The license is in a box somewhere. As I recall, the FCC dropped the test before I quit the business. All you had to do to get a license was fill out a form and send it in.
Let me amend something I said. Parts of Element 9, the more technical section, are still with me.