In 1948, the original CB radios were designed for operation on the 460–470 MHz UHF band. There were two classes of CB radio: "A" and "B". Al Gross established the Citizens Radio Corporation during the late 1940s to manufacture class B handhelds for the general public. And went on to sell over 100,000 units, primarily to farmers and the US Coast Guard.
Class A Citizens Radio Service the predecessor to GMRS. With transmitter power limited to 60 watts and Tube-type transceivers were used. 50 kHz channel spacing using FM with ±15 kHz transmitter deviation At the time, this was the normal use for all U.S. services.
There was also a Class B Citizens Radio Service which used a different set of 461 MHz channels and was limited to 5 watts output. Business users were permitted to be license here.
In the 1960s, the UHF 450–470 MHz band was re-allocated to 25 kHz channels. This meant transmitter deviation was reduced to ±5 kHz. This doubled the number of channels available across the entire 450–470 MHz band. Class B Citizens Radio Service channels were re-allocated to other radio services.
In the 1970s, allowed power was again changed to 50 watts across the output terminals of the transmitter. Most of the 460–470 MHz band was reassigned for business and public-safety use; CB Class A is the forerunner of the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). CB Class B is a more distant ancestor of the Family Radio Service (FRS)
In 1987, the radio service was changed to its present name; General Mobile Radio Service or GMRS. There was congestion on all channels in larger metropolitan areas licensing of business users was discontinued and businesses were allowed to continue operating until their licenses expired. A GMRS system licensed to a non-individual prior to July 31, 1987 was also eligible for renewal, but the licensee may not make any major modification to the system. Moving businesses to Business Radio Service channels would provide some relief.
In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information, added channels in the 467 MHz band, increased the license term from 5 to 10 years, and revised the definition of the FRS service. FRS operation is now permitted with up to 2 watts on the shared FRS/GMRS channels. The FCC will not grant certification for hybrid radios that would exceed the limits for the FRS service on the FRS channels. Current "hybrid" FRS/GMRS radios will not require a GMRS license for power up to 2 watts, but FRS radios will still not be permitted to use the input frequencies of GMRS repeaters. Any radio exceeding the limits of the new FRS service will be classified as a GMRS radio.
September, 2019, it became unlawful in the USA to import, manufacture, sell, or offer to sell radio equipment capable of operating under both GMRS and FRS.
A GMRS license is issued for a 10–year term. The current fee is $70 for all applicants. The fee is expected to be reduced sometime in 2021 to $35 once the FCC publishes a notice of the actual effective date.
You may apply for a GMRS license if you are 18 years or older and not a representative of a foreign government. If you receive a license, any family member, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations and units within the licensed system.
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