NEWSReport No. DC 96-44                         ACTION IN DOCKET CASE May 14, 1996

                  FCC ESTABLISHES A FAMILY RADIO SERVICE
                          (WT DOCKET NO. 95-102)

     The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) amended Part 95 of its Rules to
establish a new personal radio service -- the Family Radio Service.  This service was created
in response to a petition filed by the Radio Shack Division of Tandy Corporation, requesting that
the Commission establish a new radio service aimed at providing the American public an
affordable and convenient means of direct, short range two-way voice communications among
small groups of persons.  

     The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a short distance (approximately a couple hundred yard
to a half mile), two-way personal radio service.  Its purpose is to provide families, friends
and/or associates participating in group outings a way to communicate with members of the
group who are out of speaking range or sight but still in the same general area.  For example,
the FRS could be used by hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclists and other outdoor activity
enthusiasts to keep in contact with one another.  It could also be used by parents to keep in
touch with children playing in the neighborhood or families or friends to keep in contact with
one another while at shopping malls, sporting events, amusements parks, etc.

     The FCC rules authorize a user to operate an FCC certified FRS transmitter without a
license in places where it regulates communications. The FCC certified FRS unit may be
identified by the label placed on it by the manufacturer.  The radios transmit on any of the
fourteen 462-468 MHz channels allocated to FRS.  

     Action by the Commission May 10, 1995 by Report & Order (FCC 96-215).  Chairman
Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.

                                  - FCC -

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Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact:  William Cross at (202) 418-0691