One of the real values of the Internet is the ability to link to other sites for related or supplemental materials. We have found dozens of sites (and references to sites) that have information potentially of interest to GMRS licensees and FRS users. Upon closer examination, we have found that some sites are more current and more accurate than others, and a few are even so far out of touch or out of date that they should probably be avoided altogether.
This has especially been true with regards to the accuracy and completeness of the FCC Rules governing the General Mobile Radio Service (or GMRS, governed by 47 CFR 95 Subpart A), the Family Radio Service (or FRS, governed 47 CFR Subpart B), the Multi-Use Radio Service (or MURS, governed by 47 CFR Subpart J), and the technical standards that apply to all three of these (and other) services (in 47 CFR 95 Subpart E). At times, nowhere did we find a complete source of these Rules (including even the site operated by the Government Printing Office!) that was actually then current (i.e., that included changes adopted as recently as November 2000). (The GPO's present printed version of the FCC Rules, the source used by many sites, is current only to October 2001.)
After great discussion (and some internal debate), we have chosen to list only those other sites that we can recommend for their unique qualities and special contributions. Even then, these sites may be useful only for the particular purposes or types of information shown below.
If you know of or wish to recommend a site that has special characteristics or some unique contribution, please send us E-mail and we will visit and evaluate it for inclusion here.
For information about FCC Rules, check our own site here concerning the GMRS Rules, the annotated FRS Rules, and the MURS rules. The GPO's most current information is also available (but usually out of date). Also, this information is available only on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, and you need to know the specific paragraph number. (Some other pages also sponsored by the GPO are not current!)
For information about spectrum issues in general, see information about Bennett Kobb's new "Wireless Spectrum Finder" publication, widely recognized as the definitive source of information on this subject.
For a comprehensive list of links to other GMRS and FRS sites, visit Doug Smith's GMRS and FRS pages. Innovative and of special interest is Doug's GMRS/FRS bulletin board, a resource that we recommend that every GMRS licensee should participate in. (NOTE: This URL for Doug's BBS page has changed recently.)
For the FCC's own version of reality, visit their Web sites about GMRS and FRS.
The FCC also has fee information available, which includes a description of where and how to obtain FCC forms.
For GMRS licensing instructions, we recommend that you check Clint Bradford's GMRS information page.
REACT International, a national organization of volunteer public service teams (some of which are active in GMRS and FRS), maintains a Web site about its functions and information about local teams (or creating your own).
There are numerous wide-ranging "chat rooms" and "listservs" dedicated to topics concerning the various personal radio services. Some listservs (automatic remailing systems) of particular note include the following: