GMRS, or General Mobile Radio Service, is the band of radio frequencies occupying 15 of the 22 channels commonly used on the hand-held two-way radios commonly known as walkie-talkies. GMRS radios are readily and cheaply available from well-known retailers such as Walt-mart, Academy, Amazon.com, and Target, as well as specialty retailers such as BuyTwoWayRadios.com. Frequently used by kids "playing soldier," paintball players, hikers, and businesses, GMRS is a great service; unfortunately, most GMRS users are breaking the law.

The FCC requires two-way radio users to hold a GMRS license before transmitting a signal, penalties for unlicensed usage can be up to $10,000 plus jail time. Millions of unknowing users are breaking the law in using GMRS radios; arguably, most of them are using them for legitimate reasons. Furthermore, the FCC charges $85 for a GMRS license and does not allow anyone under 18 to receive a license; a $15 pair of radios becomes $100. The license requirement is in the fine print of the instruction manual, which is likely not even read by many purchasers. The question should also be raised as to why the FCC requires an $85 fee since licensing requires no knowledge test; the only expenses are the minimal ones related to running the FCC website and, ironically, enforcing the license requirement.

The license requirement is not well-known, poorly enforced, and serves little purpose other than the generation of revenue. The FCC should stop criminalizing normally law-abiding citizens who unknowingly violate the small print of radio usage.

We the undersigned petition the FCC to allow usage of the General Mobile Radio Service without a license, and request that enforcement instead be focused on harmful usage of the service.

NOTE: We oppose the reduction in permitted output power to the currently proposed 2-watts, but would be open to a 5-watt limit. Existing inventory should be allowed to be sold, and there should be no end-of-use deadline.