2 way radio needs FCC approval?

[s.hale]

Just bought a set of Motorola Talk About 2 way radios and the instructions say to obtain FCC GMRS license. I sent for the forms and received a 1/4 inch thick batch of information sheets.

It appears they want $70 for the license.



Does anyone really spend hours reading this info and paying nearly as much as the radios cost to get this license?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No...

 

[DIESELMAN]

Here is a short answer... ... .



Some manufacturers have received approval to market radios that are certified for use in both the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). Other manufacturers have received approval of their radios under the GMRS rules, but market them as FRS/GMRS radios on the basis that:



Some channels are authorized to both services, or

A user of the radio may communicate with stations in the other service.

Radios marketed as "FRS/GMRS" or "dual-service radios" are available from many manufacturers and many retail or discount stores. The manual that comes with the radio, or the label placed on it by the manufacturer, should indicate the service the unit is certified for. If you cannot determine what service the unit may be used in, contact the manufacturer.



If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license. FRS radios have a maximum power of ½ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power and integral (non-detachable) antennas. If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license. GMRS radios generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas. The current fee for a new GMRS license is $75.



Before any station transmits on any channel authorized in the GMRS from any point within or over the territorial limits of any area where the FCC regulates radio services, the responsible party must obtain a license. The FCC usually grants GMRS system licenses for a five-year term. To apply for a GMRS system license, you may file online through ULS (www.fcc.gov - Wireless Telecommunications - Universal Licensing System )



Less than a hundred individuals a year are cited for unlicensed use, you probably cheat on your taxes already, and your odds of being singled out are much much higher with the IRS, when was the last time you were audited?



(Most unlicensed use citations are NOT GMRS related, though the FCC has expressed concern over the proliferation of FRS/GMRS radios)



DM

 

[Sixpack]

Nope!

 

[klenger]

diselman:



You'r short answer is 100 times longer than the standard answers.

 

[daytripper63]

This is what happens when you read the instructions/owners manual

 

[DIESELMAN]

Thats what happens when you have filled out the paper work over 15,000 times in 20 years:--)

 

[MGordon]

I did license my radios. Of course this was back before almost every radio was made with both FRS and GMRS frequencies. Figure better safe than sorry.



Also , once the FCC figures out how many people are using unlicensed GMRS frequencies, I figure they will either eliminate the license requirement or really step up enforcement - just imagine the income. It might be hard for them to resist.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Dunno - the FCC seems pretty helpless in keeping truckers and other CB bootleggers off the 10 meter Ham bands - no reason they would make more than a token effort on FR/GMRS radios at best...



FCC enforcement in many cases is pretty laughable - especially where the perps are mobile and harder to track...

 

[daytripper63]

Dunno - the FCC seems pretty helpless in keeping truckers and other CB bootleggers off the 10 meter Ham bands - no reason they would make more than a token effort on FR/GMRS radios at best...



FCC enforcement in many cases is pretty laughable - especially where the perps are mobile and harder to track...



Soccer moms are easy targets over moving vehicles

 

[DIESELMAN]

Just a few numbers, if interested... .



In 2003 the FCC fined Public Safety agencies $2. 2 Million for 911 failures,

$1. 0 Million for Tower Safety violations,

$346,000 for Radio stations not broadcasting the emergency alert messages,

$184,000 for AM Radio stations without a fence around their Hot AM Towers,

$181,000 to Cable Companies for leaky cable lines,



And only $20,000 in fines for illegal transmissions/radiation.



And they fined 120 nuisance fax senders $6. 5 Million,

26 Companies were cited for illegal pre-recorded sales calls, they are illegal, period.



So in 2003 they received $31 Million in fines, and very little from Joe Public and his Soccer Mom wife.



BTW, The FCC only enforces CB on Public Safety complaints and rarely on Ham complaints, and Hams are rarely cited unless they are snitched on, and the GMRS system is so screwed up, it won't become free, it is going to dissapear and be re-allocated at some point.



And now you know, the REST of the Story

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

OR to put it into better perspective, it's FAR easier to catch and fine a target that's sitting still and regularly identifies itself, than one on the move that only goes by the name "swampdog" or something similar - harder to hit a vaporous moving target - take more determination and manpower... Not profitable or efficient use of time and equipment...

 

[s.hale]

Dieselman:



From your three responses you seem very well informed on FCC requirements and it appears you are or were employed in this industry.



The radios I purchased are FRS/GMRS and I was wondering if I only transmit on FRS channels would a license be required?



The FCC should make the radio manufactures state on the package that a "$75" license is required and the license form should be included in the package.



I'm all for obeying our laws and rules, and have done so in the past, including not cheating on income taxes ( as you alluded to)but I feel in this case I wasn't properly warned that it would cost me almost as much for the license as the radios cost.



Guess I'll only transmit on FRS channels, if that's allowed and it works for me.



From the above responses I doubt if anyone obtains this license.

 

[DIESELMAN]

s. hale - Yes , I am.



Put it this way, FRS/GMRS radio sales outpace GMRS licenses 1000:1



I didn't mean to allude to you being a tax cheat, but every body cheats because there are over 30,000 tax rules, I guarantee no one has read them all. Ever take a deduction without a receipt? Accept a tip without claiming it? Buy something in your business and use it for personal use? Drive a company vehicle to Cirkle K for a soda and not log the miles..... I thought so, you cheater

 

[klenger]

My understanding is the an FRS/GMRS radio requires a license regardless of what channel you use it on. I bought a pair of Cobra GMRS radios from Camping World to try them out. They did not reduce power output on FRS freqs. , but thansmitted the 2 watts alllowed for GMRS on all freqs. The other reason is that a GMRS usually has a removable antenna, or provisions for an external antennna. This is not allowed on FRS radios. I ended up returning the radios and got a pair of Icom FRS radios instead. They cost me a bit more money, but are well made and I don't need a license. The GMRS that I tried did have better range though. I'd love to get a pair of Icom GMRS, but too much $$ for now. I doubt that you would ever get hastled by the FCC, but there are a bunch of GMRS natzies out there who will harass you.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

We had a situation here in a local town that someone was running ( I think it was a Ham Radio , not sure ) radio that every time it was keyed up or turned on the local cable for the whole town would go out or lose power. It took the FCC or whomever enforces that about 3 months of surveillance to get the person and then they confiscated everything he owned and don't know if he ever returned to the area. Never heard anything else about it. Too much power or abuse of power.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Hale:

The goverments system has worked on you. Live in fear of big brother. I know now you will never upgrade your truck. About anything you do violates the EPA rules and regulations. Only stock is within the rules. You never speed and you tithe at church 10%. What a clean life. I can only wish.



. . Preston. .

 

[DIESELMAN]

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/personal/generalmobile/