FCC Enforcement Bureau Sends:

PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Communications Commission 45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 21-73 Released: January 17, 2021
FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY

WARNING: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTS
The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission issues this Enforcement Advisory to remind licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, that the Commission prohibits the use of radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts.
The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities. The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes.
Specifically, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.”1 Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.”2 Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some cases, criminal prosecution.3
Media inquiries should be directed to 202-418-0500 or [email protected].

To file a complaint with the FCC, visit https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL- FCC. To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI. 
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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

37 Comments

  1. S.L. Amboni January 17, 2021 at 20:54

    Lol. The FCC can’t monitor the water cooler.

    • NC Scout January 17, 2021 at 21:04

      You watch, they’re going to start cancelling licenses. Its coming. From there they’ll send FLEAs to seize equipment.

      • Garry F. Owen, Trooper January 17, 2021 at 21:16

        I guess I’ll have to schedule another fishing trip and take my radio equipment with me. It’s a shame that stuff gets tossed overboard.

      • Sprocket January 17, 2021 at 21:24

        Yep. You do all have multiple H/Ts and HF rigs, bought used in other locations, right? They always go after the radio guys.

      • Pirate TX Guy.. January 17, 2021 at 22:45

        I did a basic search for all licenses, active, expired, etc., in the fcc database for nc, returned 40406 results…lots of kit to confiscate..
        https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/results.jsp;JSESSIONID_ULSSEARCH=nvQ4gFCZ0vQ7GGQ41fR2KFJzTtfGFVLksxVTrvmvWDvTh4LTjMGQ!867221946!1502703402
        never mind the fact that folks usually have multiple rigs stashed, and can tx from any location…
        good luck w that…

      • ConSigCor January 18, 2021 at 02:42

        This reminds me of the cb war back in the 70’s. Uncle Charlie thinks himself to be a god. They aren’t as all powerful as they would like to have you believe. This statement in itself proves they fear the people. And a license is just a piece of paper for hobbyists.

    • Johnny Paratrooper January 17, 2021 at 21:38

      Word on the street is they are going to delete all the gun guy channels on youtube.
      Wait till they start jamming everyone using repeater towers.
      I was in the Fort Meade Area teaching my friends the basics, and my radio was jammed within 2 minutes.
      All I did was show my friend that if you key the transmitter, it cuts out the FM receive and jumps back to DTMF mode, and then back to FM.
      I transmitted twice, for 1 half second, while giving a lesson on emergency comms to two police officers.
      I have no doubt that robotic/automated jamming systems exist. I will never be convinced otherwise.
      We are in serious trouble. This country is about to make Soviet Russia look survivable.
      I feel sorry for my friends who have kids who just started High School. I couldn’t imagine…

      • James January 17, 2021 at 23:21

        Johnny,while I feel your troubles lets keep in mind,Soviet Russia did disappear and actually some Russians may be radioed with us during that time,perhaps we have over seas feed back,plus,we have the AR-47/AK-15,all is not lost yet!
        Eh,just trying to stay positive!

      • Matt Bracken January 18, 2021 at 07:23

        In the newz this morning: Facebook will now disallow ads for “firearm accessories.” Does that mean holsters? Mags? Mag holders? Rigger’s belts?

        • SOG January 18, 2021 at 11:18

          Bracken these books are insane, read book 1, in around 24/36 hours now halfway thru book 2! my only gripe is it too damn close to reality:(

    • Keypounder January 18, 2021 at 20:57

      Apparently, this memo is related to the article in the Mordor-on-the-Potomac Post that talked about protesters headed for Richmond using CB, FRS and amateur equipment.
      Make no mistake, the *technology* to monitor and enforce the Commission’s rules exists. Keep in mind that during WW2, British HF DF accounted for between 1/4 and 1/3 of the German submarines sunk during the war. Doenitz ordered his subs to keep transmissions to less than 20 seconds in the expectation that the British could not intercept a signal in that time and he was wrong, in part due to the HFDF network the Brits built, in part due to the HFDF equipment installed on capital ships, and in part due to Bletchley Park’s breaking of Enigma. The Germans had good DF gear too, and they caught a lot of British agents in occupied Europe. Read “Between Silk and Cyanide” by Leo Marks for an account of the British experience, and “London Calling North Pole” by Giskes for the German experience, written by the German overseeing the counterintel effort.
      In 75 years DF has gotten MUCH better and faster. The cheap pseudo doppler setup I have can get a bearing on VHF within 45 degrees in less than a second, and there is much better DF gear than that available today. Once I know the frequency and approximate bearing I can get a bearing manually with an Adcock in less than three seconds. My understanding from folks ‘in the business’ is that HFDF networks have the technical capability to resolve skywave HF signal bearings within a degree or two, and with multiple locations, maybe 6 nationwide, the FCC could locate a transmitter within a mile in less than a second or two. What has been lacking for the last 30+ years is the political will and funding for a serious enforcement effort. LOS comms can be pegged easier and faster IF they can hear you, and IF you are not operating in an area with high reflectivity. (tall buildings with lots of aluminum panels….)
      If the Commission is given the funding for enforcement then one can expect that things will change, and the incoming administration may direct the Commission to target Liberty loving people like us in any manner of means, ranging from surveillance to arbitrary license cancellations to wholesale abolishment of the amateur service. If the Left gets the idea that amateur radio is a threat then there will at best be restrictions and greatly increased scrutiny, which will ensure that more amateurs will be HIGHLY motivated to protect their hobby from ‘domestic terrorists’ and the VM program will significantly expand, likely using data culled from social media to target ‘deplorables’, while profanity and other miscellaneous rule breaking on CB, FRS, and MURs will likely continue to be ignored. If the PTB determine that amateurs are a national security risk and not an asset then they could just end the hobby, cancel all the licenses, and confiscate any equipment they can get hold of. Not just tranceivers or transmitters, receivers, scanners, frequency counters and test equipment could be banned or licensed. There are only something over about half a million active amateurs nationwide, most are apolitical. Unlike the gun lobby, the amateur radio lobby is small and weak.
      Not only that, but with half of their worldwide market gone, I’d expect to see much less interest by electronic equipment makers in catering to the international market for ham gear, especially when you consider that amateur sales are just the decorative icing on the cake for most of these firms. Not saying any of the above will happen, but it could happen. If you’d asked me three months ago whether DC would have 30,000 troops billeted around the Capitol with the District shut down for 2 weeks before and during the Inauguration, I’d have laughed my ass off. Not laughing now.
      Keypounder

      • ConSigCor January 19, 2021 at 09:17

        What seems to be lacking in some is common sense. Every amateur knows you don’t promote illegal activity over the air. By now, everyone should know you don’t run you big mouth on social media. And, most should have figured out that a cellphone is a tracking device. It seems that people didn’t learn the lessons of Malhauer. Don’t run around during a protest with your radios strapped to your tackycool gear for all the world to see; especially the media.
        This public notice was a warning intended to scare the amateurs, many of whom already despise the unwashed masses on CB. Now the wannabe G-men and frequency Nazi’s just got the green light to monitor the airwaves looking for deplorables. You can bet that some of them will have 1-800-Dial Snitch on speed dial.

      • Just throwing out ideas January 31, 2021 at 14:28

        I have a question, maybe a stupid one, so what happens if say lots of people key their microphones, that happen to be on the same frequency, at the same time. I generally understand that nobody would be able to talk to anyone else but I mean as in a fuck you way. Traceable ? What about jammable ? Things like that. I’m not a radio guy though I do have a chingchong type handheld, I’ve never used it to transmit and have no license to do so but I’m not apposed to, well let’s just say it may accidentally fall on the button if it could be a problem for the communist dictators in general.
        All hypothetical of course..

        • NC Scout January 31, 2021 at 14:30

          The strongest signal. closest to the listening post doing the monitoring, would be able to get a bearing on it.
          There’s way too many variables there to get into, but its all stuff I cover in the RTO Course, Advanced RTO Course, and Signals Intelligence Course.

  2. Luke January 17, 2021 at 20:54

    Scout I have still not even opened my Baofengs. Just laziness. Probably should give them to my 10yr niece and nephew. Let them figure it out and teach Uncle Luke. On one of you comm posts I think you shared a way to enter a code into the radio so we couldn’t be tracked. Not 100% sure but if you have that info would be greatly appreciated……. thanks in advance. Don’t know much about radios.

    • NC Scout January 17, 2021 at 20:58

      That’s not how they work. Anything that transmits can be ‘tracked’, so to speak, while its transmitting.
      You should come to class.

      • Luke January 17, 2021 at 21:46

        As I mentioned am from C FL. Got a high school buddy up in NC. We had drinks together before Christmas. I turned him on to you. I’ll get a hold of him and see if he wants to go with.
        I’m healed up now. Was having some major reactions with blood pressure. I think it’s a lot more to do with the shit that been going on since 2020 kicked off. Got my ass kicked in a bar fight last night. Feel like I’ve been in a car wreck. Kinda felt good tho. I went into turtle shell mode and they were kicking me. I remember laughing. The cops swarmed the place and a couple ladies covered for me and told them it wasn’t my fault. They asked if I wanted to press charges and I said nope just want to go home. They were pretty big dudes and I am not small 5/11 220. Got my battle scars but all’s well that ends well. Will email you if I can get up there and take a course.

        • James January 17, 2021 at 23:14

          Damn Luke,you really need a couple of days off!
          Learning radio/any other skills a good thing.
          That said,maybe some personal combat skills/also avoidance of fights ect.?
          Eh,see yas on the other side no matter what that may bring,in the end,we are all in this together.

    • Johnny Paratrooper January 17, 2021 at 21:32

      Hamstudy.org
      Use this tool before you go to scout’s class. Hamstudy is a great crash course and intro 101 to radios.
      https://www.manualslib.com
      Type your radio type into the search bar and print the largest manual that pops up. Print one manual per radio.
      Study this manual.
      Also, open your radios and charge your batteries now, then, regularly schedule chargings to condition and maintain your batteries.
      https://www.youtube.com/user/hoshnasi
      Watch his videos. Start with the beginners basics.
      It’s A LOT to learn. But it’s interesting. There is physics, chemistry, electrical, EMF, weather, and dozens of other sciences in the radio field.
      It’s way cooler, and far more interesting, than firearms. Radios > Guns

      • Luke January 17, 2021 at 22:51

        Thanks Johnny

  3. Proud American January 17, 2021 at 20:54

    Excuse my french but NO S#!T…..

  4. Razorback Trapper January 17, 2021 at 21:11

    Lol. “We can ignore the 4th amendment and store all of your data, but you peasants better behave on the radio”.

  5. Jack January 17, 2021 at 21:18

    Hmmm
    They are like children..
    They Listen, selectively

  6. James Carpenter aka "Felix" January 17, 2021 at 21:31

    I have no doubt whatsoever that NC Scout’s warning is far, far from exaggeration. Face it, everyone here with a transmitter will be committing crimes sooner or later (the definition of which will rapidly evolve to target any activity/thoughts they don’t like).. And while seizing radio equipment, you think they’ll stop there?
    I was becoming hopeful of at least being able to receive HAM signals to glean real news from different locales. Now? What’s to stop the FCC from claiming monopoly on classes of information, criminalizing any unauthorized transmissions containing material held in category monopoly?

  7. boss21 January 17, 2021 at 21:37

    So, carrier pigeons? Smoke signals maybe. Lets see – Masks, social distancing, censorship, and now the lowly CB. Hmm, they sure don’t want the humans talking to each other. Probably a coincidence that 2020 was the end of the Age of Pisces (belief) and now we are in Aquarius ( Knowledge). This hocus pocus might seem silly but these freaks take it deadly serious and have been dreading and planning for this transition for a long time.

  8. Anonymous January 17, 2021 at 21:47

    5

  9. Vulcan January 18, 2021 at 00:09

    Just bought a 10 meter 70 watt radio. And no I’m not getting my license. FCC can suck a shit just like all the other fed agencies.

    • Johnny Paratrooper January 18, 2021 at 09:27

      They allow illegals to hog the bands and use them to infiltrate our country and engage in illegal trade and barter. Tax Free.
      They also allow ChiCom radio stations to transmit propaganda into the U.S.
      Our government is illegitimate and doesn’t have, nor does it deserve, the mandate of the people.

  10. Cavguy January 18, 2021 at 07:58

    Guess we all can expect the proverbial NO-KNOCK Entry on the door soon? Damn and I be liking my sleep.
    Be nice if they send us a list of what they intend to steal, instead of ripping apart my place looking.
    How the hell are we going to avoid this crap? What happened to my country? Why don’t others just mind their own fucking business?
    Cavguy

    • NC Scout January 18, 2021 at 08:26

      Shooting them.

  11. B January 18, 2021 at 09:03

    Warned people years ago to not register their rigs for Emergency use. Will dissing the administration soon be considered a crime?
    I was at a demo where an USAF person showed actual tracking of almost any RF signal. Showed signal location in real time down to location within a house or moving vehicle. Demo person said it could be actively tied to other equipment used to remove signal. All this before mike button was released.

    • NC Scout January 18, 2021 at 09:29

      Just remember that’s a demo, used to sell hideously overpriced equipment to guys marginally trained to use it. To say the conditions of testing are stilted is putting it nice.
      There’s a multitude of ways to either spoof them or avoid their capabilities altogether.
      I teach them.

      • B January 18, 2021 at 10:21

        I was not really too impressed by the USAF officer or the equipment. The main box was about the size of a breadbox, and looked fragile and not hardened. Monitor was LEDLCD (old one). Antenna arrays looked like they could monitor VHF up to EHF. Not very portable. Tried to get CP picture, but was stopped. When questioned, officer knew basic operations, but evasive on specific knowledge.
        We had better equipment from Israel in the 70’s, and about half the size of a loaf of bread.
        Spoofing, hopping, spread array, and spark plugs work good.
        Would like to take your class, but getting too old to go anywhere.

  12. 72E January 18, 2021 at 09:17

    here is a link to the
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/goi988fjcbbtzr0/National%20Interoperability%20Field%20Operations%20Guide%20v1%206%201.pdf?dl=0
    this is a valuable emcomm resource that should be saved, and printed, put in binder.
    This details the national plan for joint, interoperable communications between all levels of .gov/.mil/.le/civ systems and the common, (vhf/uhf/hf) freqs/channels to be used….

  13. B January 18, 2021 at 09:25

    I forgot to add. A while back, I received communications that suggested I register my RF equipment for use in COG (continuity of government) operations in a national emergency.
    communication said “officials “ might come to my house and use my equipment to ensure COG.
    Yeah right! Like I’m supposed to believe this? A team showing up at 4am dressed in black PJ’s is going to ask to use my measly equipment?

  14. Pistol Pete January 18, 2021 at 09:37

    Meat space, from here forward everything has to happen in meat space. I’m not talking secret I-spy stuff. All these laws rules mandates and regulations are being written in the government agencies. Why? because people on the right do not get involved, waiting for someone else to do it, someone else to lead the charge. Focus small, focus local. Every village and town meeting should be flooded with concerned citizens < every meeting. Small attendance will get picked off quick, support each other. If you have good leaders in your towns support them, help them, run for office yourself. Take note of the office holders that have an agenda against the people – study them. Same goes for schools, does not matter if you have children, ensure the curriculum is not an indoctrination system or better yet, decentralize to the state level. De-centralize food production, grow and raise as much food as possible, set up trade and support systems with each other – food is the weapon. Faith, the Church is in shambles our Pastors, Preachers and Ministers are weak, timid and controlled. The Assembly – Laodicean, Luke warm and judgemental, content in their Churchianity.
    Run the charlatans off, the Lord grabbed hold of a whip and ran the blasphemers out. Get to the Home Church level if you must,
    Don't wait to run for election some day, don't wait for a fictitious red line to be crossed. There is no more time, you must act today.
    If you have a fac^bouk or tweekter or amoozoon account you are consorting and supporting the enemy. You are providing them with names addresses photos locations funding and actions. You are a spy for the enemy, you know what happens to spies.? The lack of flying lead gives the illusion, we are not at war – It Is Only an Illusion.

  15. […] my good Friend NC Scout has already said, concerning the FCC Bulletin about personal and HAM radio use. They are setting the stage for big […]

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