The Family Radio Service (FRS)

The Family Radio Service is a very low power, short range UHF Citizens Band service in the 460 MHz band. Click here to review frequently asked questions about the FRS.

Click here for a copy of the current operating rules.

Creation of the FRS created quite a controversy within the GMRS user community, and the FCC was justifiably criticized for the manner in which it ignored legitimate complaints and constructive criticisms from the public. This controversy is discussed in accompanying materials that you can review on-line at this Web site. This discussion also includes a complete copy of the Report and Order that adopted the FRS Rules (including all portions of the Rules themselves, not just the operating rules cited above).

Additional background materials, including downloadable text files and other printed materials, are also available on this Web site.

Recent Developments (in reverse chronology):

• On March 3, 2003, the Federal Register published the R&O; in WTB Docket 01-339 (see the item immediately below). Thus, the new FRS Rules will become effective April 2, 2003.

• On February 10, 2003, the FCC released the Report and Order in WTB Docket 01-339. In that docket, the FCC had proposed to permit FRS transmission of data pertaining to the location of individual FRS units.

  In the R&O;, the FCC adopts changes in the FRS rules to permit such location-reporting and location-requesting communications, and to permit the transmission of other brief text messages. The transmission time may not exceed 1 second, and the time between data transmissions from a particular radio may be not less than 30 seconds (except to respond with a transmission of location information from an data query from another FRS unit).

  These changes will not permit retrofitting other or older FRS units with text-generating devices (such as a keyboard). Remaining in place will be the prohibition of attaching any device to an FRS radio that is not certified for use on that particular radio.

• In September 2002, the FCC announced a petition filed by the Industrial Telecommunications Association. ITA seeks to prohibit daily routine business communications on FRS channels, claiming that this could create congestion and deprive individuals and families from using FRS for personal communications. (ITA is a frequency coordinator for certain Private Land Mobile Radio Services. Businesses that opt to use FRS can avoid the coordinating and licensing costs associated with operation on business-type channels. FRS radios are also much less expensive than most business-type radios.)

  Although PRSG agrees that businesses should conduct their communications instead on other PLMRS frequencies explicitly reserved for such operation, PRSG opposes granting the ITA request because it would create essentially unenforceable rules. Click here to view a copy of the PRSG comments filed in opposition to the ITA petition.

• Garmin, a manufacturer of GPS receivers (location display devices based on signals received from Geo Positioning Satellites) has requested that the FCC permit FRS radios to transmit data bursts identifying the location of the respective unit. The signal would be received by other FRS radios, and a small map displayed indicating the relative positions of the two units.

  The FCC granted Garmin a special authorization to manufacture and market these GPS/FRS units. These units are currently available for sale through many retail outlets.

  In late 2000, the FCC released a "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (NPRM) requesting public comment on the Garmin request. Several parties submitted comments, most supporting the basic proposal but requesting additional changes from the FCC proposal. Other parties also submitted replies to those comments. You can view and download copies of those submissions (in a PDF format, requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader) from the FCC Web site. Click here to go to the FCC Web site, and enter "01-339" (minus the quotes) in the upper left query box for a list of the contents of this FCC docket.

If you have other questions or comments about the Family Radio Service, please send us an Email message.