GMRS WEB Operator
and Retailer Code of Conduct

GMRS WEB
Magazine

Updated 6/24/2001

A GMRS Licensee's
Operating Code of Conduct

The following list was derived from discussions at the GMRS Web Personal Wireless Bulletin Board. Each item describes an operating practice, engineering or technical standard, licensing, and ethical and cooperative behaviors. Some items are not FCC enforceable but have been in the GMRS culture for many years. First the basis and Purpose of GMRS:

FCC R&R 95.1 & 95.601 The Basis and Purpose of the General Mobile Radio Service

"The GMRS is a land mobile radio service available to persons for short- distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a system consisting of one or more stations. "

By general agreement we observe the following obligations, duties, and general practices in order to preserve and protect the radio service our families have grown to appreciate.

• Remember that the purpose of GMRS is to provide personal communication associated with the activities of our immediate families. Respect and value the General Mobile Radio Service as a unique family communication tool. GMRS was not intended as a radio service for hobby communication or other type of communication that would otherwise be appropriate in the Citizens Radio Service, Amateur Radio Service or on a business radio channel.
• Monitor radio channels before transmitting to avoid interfering with other users of the channel.
• Wait for any emergency radio messages to be completed.
• Identify GMRS radio transmissions with the FCC assigned call letters at intervals as required by FCC rules. (Grandfathered GMRS licensees share the same station identification requirement.)
• Extend courteous behavior to other licensees using the GMRS channels.
• Read and follow the FCC Rules and Regulations governing the General Mobile and Family Radio Service.
• Coordinate repeater operations including input and output tones in order to prevent mutual interference.
• Respect the property rights of others by always asking permission before using any repeater that does not belong to you.
• Observe the operating requirements defined by the repeater group or the owner/licensee of the repeater you use.
• Whenever practical, enable CTCSS 141.3 Hz on your repeater input during regular hours of operation to allow any licensee access to the repeater to report an emergency or seek traveling information. If this tone is unavailable listen in open squelch to your repeater output whenever possible.
• Monitor your repeater so that it does not cause harmful interference during a period of malfunction and so it can be shut down when attacked by unauthorized users.
• Remember that GMRS was originally created as base-to-mobile, mobile-to-base, and portable-to-portable, radio service. As of February 1999 the restriction against base-to-base communication was lifted. Nevertheless, GMRS licensees engaged in such communication shall yield to mobile or portable communication.
• Keep radio transmissions on high level repeaters short to prevent monopolization of a frequency over a wide area for extended periods.
• Properly maintain a GMRS repeater so that is not randomly brought up by FRS radios on adjacent channels.
• Respect the occasional public service operation by a local public service team. GMRS was not created with public service communication as its Basis and Purpose. Such activities should be kept brief and to the point. Operators should yeild to regular GMRS traffic. Amateur Radio style network activity is discouraged. Organizations conducting public service activities on GMRS channels as a grandfathered business licensee should use care and keep on-the-air activity short. Consider licensing on a business channel.
• Identify, and report any unlicensed users of GMRS to the FCC.
• Respect and comply with the orders of commercial antenna site owners that allow a user group or individuals site access for radio equipment and antennas.
• Use standard commercial engineering practices when installing and operating GMRS radio systems, particularly systems located at commercial antenna sites. GMRS channels are located in-between commercial and public safety system channels. It is imperative that the equipment you use be maintained to commercial standard and efficiency in order to avoid improper operation and interference.
• Do not use an automatic-beacon Morse Code identifier when a repeater is not in use. ID'ers that identify as beacons do not respect simplex radio traffic or other repeaters sharing the same frequency. Use of the identifier during regular communication through the repeater is the preferred method of operating Morese Code identifiers.
• NEVER operate GMRS or FRS transceivers in other countries unless permitted by that country's laws.
• All GMRS repeater owners have the obligation to coordinate CTCSS and DPL tones in use on their systems. The last repeater owner to put a tone on his or her system changes the tone whenever a conflict arises. Tones are not left installed in a system to "hold" it. There shall be a current user for each tone. If one changes users, the date the tone was placed on the system is the date the newest licensee with that tone was placed on the system. Licensees are strongly encouraged to keep station records with this information.

A GMRS Retailer Code of Conduct

GMRS Web and all GMRS licensees understand the value and service the radio retail and radio service industry provide us. We encourage retailers to actively carry products and provide services we use. We desire that manufacturers continue to develop exciting new products to make our family and personal communication more efficient. We suggest retailers, manufacturers, and service shops subscribe to this simple Code of Conduct. The GMRS Web Certified Retailer button is used by retailers and manufacturers on their websites so they can show they subscribe to the spirit of this code. GMRS Web will not verify adherence to the code. We will rely on the honesty and integrity of each vendor displaying the emblem. Your comments on the development of this code are appreciated. Send them to ethics@gmrsweb.com

• Honesty and accuracy in advertising. Avoids misleading, false, inaccurate, or exaggerated claims. Maintains the integrity of every every commercial message from the marketing sell sheet to the helpful advice and counsel of the retail sales person. Is always forthright and informative to every customer seeking product advice or support.
• Advertising for Family Radio Service radios includes a statement that the radios may not be used in foreign countries, specifically that the radios can only be used where the FCC has jurisdiction.
• Recognizes GMRS as a radio service of personal licensees. Never rents, sells, or leases GMRS equipment to persons or businesses not intending to properly license in the appropriate radio service. Never leases GMRS repeaters or radio systems to businesses not eligible to license in GMRS. Never recommends to businesses that the eight main repeater pairs in GMRS are eligible for use by businesses and their employees. Never builds, installs, or recommends that businesses use GMRS repeater input or Interstitial channels for business simplex systems.
• Knows the FCC Rules and Regulations for GMRS as the rules apply to type acceptance, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and the day to day use of GMRS by licensees.
• Charges a fair market price. A fair market price enables a business to make a fair profit in order to remain in business providing services and products to GMRS licensees well into the future.
• Whenever possible, provides instructions to, or refers new radio buyers to, the process of FCC licensing in GMRS or other appropriate radio service.
• Makes every reasonable effort to resolve customer complaints about products or services.
• Does not advocate or sell radio equipment for the express purpose of encouraging illegal operation or modification of that equipment. e.g. out of band CB.

Distribute the Code

GMRS Web Magazine encourages manufacturers and retailers to print this Code and insert it in the packages of products you make or sell. Please give GMRS Web Magazine copyright credit and include the URL of the magazine on the form you create. Please send us a copy for our files. Thank you!

FCC

PRSG

Last updated June 24, 2001