REACT News
& Press Releases

Alarming Increase in
Illegal 2-Way Radio Use

Got radio? More and more people do. Sales of hand-held two-way radios are way up but some users don't realize they need a license from the Federal Communications Commission to operate them. At your friendly neighborhood electronics store there has been a run on the compact and inexpensive FRS (Family Radio Service) models. These and CB units do not require a license but other similar looking radios do.

FRS is great for - as name indicates - all kinds of communications for activities around the neighborhood, staying in touch at large events, camping, at the shopping mall, or wherever else family members are within one half to one mile away. Because of this short range coverage there is no need to fill out a license application and send it to the FCC. But there is a problem. Also available, at a higher price, are more powerful hand-held models called GMRS - General Mobile Radio Service, which can operate on the same frequencies.

Some buyers choose GMRS because they are a step up, and cover considerably more distance. Both the licensable and non-licensable radios are usually right next to each other on the store shelf or in a catalog. Not all sellers are telling customers about the difference. In some cases manufacturers are including information to that effect in with the radio, which is a surprise to the buyer when he gets home and opens the box. At that point the attitude can easily be, "Oh well," and then forgotten. The result is interference with the legally licensed users. GMRS even has a priority frequency for emergency and motorist assistance (462.675 MHz) that is suffering. In several parts of the country REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Communications Teams, a volunteer organization) knows about illegal and unidentified radio transmissions from users who have never been told about the license requirements.

The General Mobile Radio Service is designated by the Federal Communications Commission as a service for messages between personal licensees. Illegal operations are investigated, and users may be fined or loose their radio equipment. Earlier this year a ground crew at an airport started using GMRS radios without a license. When contacted the manager said the units had been supplied by their home office and he had no idea anything was wrong. Shortly thereafter they weren't heard anymore. The home office must have belatedly found out the information that should have been know beforehand.

Users frequently depend on sellers and radio providers to inform them, although the primary responsibility is on the part of the buyer. In another case, a college was found to be using GMRS radios rented from a large and well known national company. When the the college found out they had been using a frequency illegally they were somewhat less than happy with their supplier, who quickly put them on a proper frequency - hopefully with a license.

Stories have been received from different areas of the country, indicating widespread misuse. California, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Texas are only a few samples. In one state even the the Capitol staff is capturing the priority frequency of 462.675 for routine business communications to the extent of running off the legal users to another channel!

From this and other instances it will be seen that there are cases that don't get resolved so easily. In another instance a large warehouse in California has been using GMRS radios throughout their facility and grounds. They can be heard for miles, and are blocking legal personal communications. When one of the affected users tried to explain the situation, the response was one of disregard and refusal to do anything about it. Reports to the FCC have been made some time ago but enforcement action has been delayed, perhaps due to higher priorities and/or a shortage of resources.

In the final analysis, it becomes an issue of responsibility to educate the buyer on the part of the seller before the sale. One good example of this is the radio Shack catalog which consistently advised "FCC License required" on appropriate models. REACT suggests all radio providers set the proper example in order to maintain a radio service that is useful to the public.

Questions regarding radio use and personal communications may be directed to Public Relations Committee, REACT International Inc., 5210 Auth Road. #403, Suitland, MD 20746 or by email to: publicity@reactintl.org or the Federal Communications Commission.

Many areas of the country still need REACT'ers even though it only takes 3 people to start a team. Information may be found on the website: http://www.reactintl.org