The handling of radiogram traffic was the basis for the formation of ARRL, and a sizable segment of amateurs still makes this its principal Amateur Radio operating activity. Amateur radiogram service does not compete with other services, since there are no charges and can be no guarantee. Provided FCC and international regulations are complied with, messages may be accepted from anyone for sending by Amateur Radio. Generally speaking, unimportant, personal, non-business messages may be exchanged between different countries only after a special agreement has been reached between the countries. In addition, most countries do not object to actual emergency radiograms being handled in the amateur bands if government or commercial facilities are not available at the time.
Individual amateurs handle radiograms in a number of different ways.
Most traffic operators, however, participate in nets of various kinds. The largest organized system of nets is the ARRL National Traffic System. Others include networks organized by individuals for traffic-handling purposes in which individual amateurs participate out of preference. Any amateur can originate a radiogram on behalf of another individual, whether such individual be a licensed amateur or not. It is the responsibility of the originating amateur, however, to see that the message is in proper form before its first transmission, because under most circumstances it is improper for a relaying or delivering station to make changes.