Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • REC Home
  • Apply
    • REC Services Rate Card & Policies
    • LPFM Construction Completed
    • LPFM License Modification
    • New FM Booster Station
    • New Class D FM Station in Alaska
    • New Low Power FM (LPFM) Station
  • Initiatives
    • RM-11846: Rural NCE Stations
    • RM-11909: LP-250 / Simple 250
    • WIDE-FM
    • RM-11952: Translator Reform
    • RM-11843: 8 Meter Ham Band
    • PACE - LPFM Compliance
  • Services
  • Tools
    • Today's FCC Activity
    • Broadcast Data Query
    • Field strength curves
    • Runway slope
    • Tower finder
    • FM MODEL-RF Exposure Study
    • More tools
    • Developers - API
  • LPFM
    • Learn about LPFM
      • Basics of LPFM
      • Self Inspection Checklist
      • Underwriting Compliance Guide
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • FCC Rules for LPFM
      • HD Radio for LPFM
      • Transmitters certified for LPFM
      • Interference from FM translators
      • RadioDNS for LPFM Stations
    • 2023 Window REC Client Portal
    • myLPFM - LPFM Station Management
    • LPFM Station Directory
    • Spare call signs
    • REC PACE Program
    • More about LPFM
  • Reference
    • Pending FCC Applications
    • FCC Filing Fees
    • Radio License Renewal Deadlines
    • FCC Record/FCC Reports
    • Pirate Radio Enforcement Data
    • Premises Info System (PREMIS)
    • ITU and other international documents
    • Recent FCC Callsign Activity
    • FCC Enforcement Actions
    • Federal Register
    • Recent CAP/Weather Alerts
    • Legal Unlicensed Broadcasting
    • More reference tools
  • LPFM Window
  • About
    • REC in the Media
    • Supporting REC's Efforts
    • Recommendations
    • FCC Filings and Presentations
    • Our Jingles
    • REC Radio History Project
    • Delmarva FM / Riverton Radio Project
    • J1 Radio / Japanese Broadcasting
    • Japan Earthquake Data
    • REC Systems Status
    • eLMS: Enhanced LMS Data Project
    • Open Data at REC
    • Our Objectives
  • Contact

Breadcrumb

  • Home

Operational Status

Michi on YouTube

Most popular

fcc.today - real time updates on application activity from the FCC Media Bureau.  fccdata.org - the internet's most comprehensive FCC database lookup tool.  myLPFM.com - Low Power FM channel search and station management tool.  REC Broadcast Services - professional LPFM and FM translator filing services. 

Other tools & info

  • Filing Window Tracking
  • Enforcement Actions
  • REC Advisory Letters
  • FAQ-Knowledge Base
  • U/D Ratio Calculator
  • Propagation Curves
  • Runway Slope/REC TOWAIR
  • Coordinate Conversion
  • PREMIS: Address Profile
  • Spare Call Sign List
  • FCC (commercial) filing fees
  • Class D FM stations in Alaska
  • ARRR: Pirate radio notices
  • Unlicensed broadcasting (part 15)
  • FMmap - broadcast atlas
  • Federal Register
  • Rate Card & Policies
  • REC system status
  • Server Status
  • Complete site index
Cirrus Streaming - Radio Streaming Services - Podcasting & On-demand - Mobile Apps - Advertising

Breaker! Breaker! FCC on deck to approve 11-meter FM CB

By Michi Bradley | 2:00 AM EDT, Fri July 16, 2021

Michelle Bradley, CBT, KU3N.
July 15, 2021

Normally, three weeks prior to the monthly open meeting of the Federal Communications Commission, the agency releases drafts of the items they will be voting on in the meeting.  These "circulation drafts" are not the exact wording of the final decisions, but they are a good sneak preview of what is to come.

The FCC is planning to vote on granting three Petitions for Reconsideration in the Part 95 Personal Radio Services in WT Docket 10-119.  According to the circulation draft, the Commission intends to grant reconsideration to Motorola, who had proposed that GMRS and FRS units be permitted to send automatic data transmission of location information as well as the ability to send short text messages as well as a request by medical device maker Medtronic to fix some rules language as it applies to MedRadio service, an ultra-low power radio service for the transmission of non-voice data for the purpose of facilitating diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions involving implanted and body-worn medical devices.

But the most interesting of these petitions was the one by Cobra that originally asked the FCC to permit FM emmissions in the 27 MHz Citizens Band.  Frequency modulation has been used for decades on 11 meters in many parts of Europe.  The FCC originally rejected the idea of FM CB because it would "change the fundamental nature" of the radio service, but now, they have taken a new postion that FM CB would not change the nature of the service.and would "improve the customer experience".  

Under the proposed revised rules, FM mode, like AM, will be limited to 4 watts.  Radios will be limited to a +/- 2 kHz deviation, which matches the European Telecommunications Standard.  There will be no expansion to the 40 channels in the service and there will be no restrictions on which of the 40 channels FM operation can take place. In order to assure maintain service compatability, the FCC will require that any CB radio marketed in the United States with FM mode must also have AM.  

This news comes at a time when conditions on the 10 meter Amateur Radio Service band have been improving.  This will also improve the ability to "shoot skip" in the 11 meter Citizens Band.  FM operations in the 10 meter Amateur Radio Service band are mainly conducted on the spectrum between 29.5~29.7 MHz.  Unlike CB, Amateur Radio is permitted to operate repeaters on 10 meter FM.

Also, in order to be "legal", all FM CB radios must be FCC certified and have an FCC ID number.  This does not mean that radios that have been previously (illegally) imported into the United States are legal.  In addition, uncertified transcievers for the Amateur Radio Service are not legal on the Part 95 CB frequencies.  

The FCC's Open Meeting will be on Tuesday, August 5, 2021 and will be streamed live on the FCC's YouTube Channel and at FCC.gov/live.

REC Essentials

  • FCC.TODAY
  • FCCdata.org
  • myLPFM Station Management
  • REC site map

The More You Know...

  • Unlicensed Broadcasting
  • Class D Stations for Alaska
  • Broadcasting in Japan
  • Our Jingles

Other REC sites

  • J1 Radio
  • REC Delmarva FM
  • Japan Earthquake Information
  • API for developers

But wait, there's more!

  • Join NFCB
  • Pacifica Network
  • LPFM Wiki
  • Report a bug with an REC system

Copyright © REC Networks - All Rights Reserved
EU cookie policy

Please show your support by using the Ko-Fi link at the bottom of the page. Thank you for supporting REC's efforts!