The FCC has proposed sweeping changes to the regulations related to Personal Radio Services, including the General Mobile Radio Service. The proposal calls for ways to “simplify, streamline, and update the Part 95 rules to reflect technological advances and changes in the way the American public uses the various Personal Radio Services.” Personal radio services include MURS, GMRS, FRS and CB.
Obviously, these changes could impact some of our readers who use our two GMRS repeaters (which could potentially be outlawed – please see last paragraph for how to file a comment against this proposal).
The full 92 page notice can be read at the FCC website at this address. GMRS specific comments start on page 9.
The proposal could have devastating effects on the GMRS service as we know it. Some of the possible changes include:
- Eliminate GMRS licensing (aka “license by rule”), similar to the FRS and CB spectrum, or extend licensing term from five to ten years.
- Relax eligibility requirements. Under the current GMRS licensing regulations, only those aged 18 years or older are eligible to apply for a GMRS license. According to the FCC, if licensing is eliminated, it will be very similar to the FRS service, which has no such age restriction, so they don’t find a reason to continue the age eligibility requirement.
- Move to narrowband 12.5 kHz spacing. Currently GMRS uses 25 kHz spacing. Moving to narrowband FM would provide better spectrum management.
- Decrease GMRS handheld radio output power from 5 to 2 watts.
- Eliminate the use of repeaters in the GMRS service.
- Consideration of a petition from Garmin to allow the transmission of GPS location information and user-generated text messages on certain GMRS channels. These emissions are already authorized on FRS channels, but Garmin would like the FCC to consider allowing it in the GMRS spectrum. An example of such a radio that is on the FRS service is the Garmin Rino 110.
- Prohibition of approval of dual VHF Marine/FRS radios.
- Clarification of regulations to explicitly allow hands-free microphones to operate in the CB band.
- Decrease the allowable output power or prohibit the use of directional antennas for CB radios.
- to retain licensing for mobile/base/repeater operations
- to specifically continue to allow repeater operations (special emphasis on this point!)
- to specifically allow current power requirements to continue (up to 50 watts)
- to allow more time for narrowbanding to occur, to allow for station owners to upgrade equipment, and to use the large amount of land mobile radios that will be available in the coming years due to rebanding that effects public safety
- to allow the use of digital modulation types (such as P-25)
- to oppose the garmin proposal to allow GPS data to be sent on the GMRS only frequencies
- to generally organize and update the GMRS regulations.
