About

Rule Part

47 C.F.R, Part 95

The Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) is a private, two-way, short-distance voice communications service for personal or business activities of the general public. It also may be used for voice paging. It is authorized 40 channels between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz.

Similar service includes the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

The CB Service provides a service for short-distance communications by individuals and businesses. Over the years, changes occurred to the service such as adding additional channels; however, the purpose of the service has remained the same.

Data

Channels

There are 40 CB channels. Each CB channel is 10 kHz. The channel number and its frequency are:

1) 26.965                                                          2) 26.975
3) 26.985                                                          4) 27.005
5) 27.015                                                          6) 27.025
7) 27.035                                                          8) 27.055
9) 27.065*                                                         10) 27.075
11) 27.085                                                         12) 27.105
13) 27.115                                                         14) 27.125
15) 27.135                                                         16) 27.155
17) 27.165                                                         18) 27.175
19) 27.185                                                         20) 27.205
21) 27.215                                                         22) 27.225
23) 27.255                                                         24) 27.235
25) 27.245                                                         26) 27.265
27) 27.275                                                         28) 27.285
29) 27.295                                                         30) 27.305
31) 27.315                                                         32) 27.325
33) 27.335                                                         34) 27.345
35) 27.355                                                         36) 27.365
37) 27.375                                                         38) 27.385
39) 27.395                                                         40) 27.405

*Channel 9 is reserved for emergency communications or for traveler assistance.

 

Licensing

Anyone, regardless of age, can operate a CB station – except a foreign government, a representative of a foreign government, a federal government agency or someone who has received an FCC a cease-and-desist order that is still in effect. Anyone who is eligible may operate a CB station for personal or business use, in accordance with the rules.

An individual license is not required to operate a CB station and the FCC does not renew formerly issued CB Radio Service licenses;

The FCC service rules for the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) are located in 47 C.F.R. Part 95.

Operations

Operating a Citizens Band (CB) Device

You may operate a CB transmitter at any location where the FCC regulates radio communications, subject to certain restrictions. A CB transmitter must be certified by the FCC. Transmitters that have been certified for use in the CB Radio Service may be found on the FCC website using the page at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm.

None of the CB channels are assigned for the exclusive use of any station. You must cooperate in the selection and use of the channels in order to make the most efficient use of them and to reduce the possibility of interference. If you use a CB station to transmit a message, you cannot talk with another station for more than 5 minutes continuously and then you must wait at least one minute before starting another communication.

There are several additional things to consider when using a CB device, including:

  • You may not raise the power output of a CB transmitter.
  • You may not attach a "linear," "linear amplifier" or any other type of power amplifier to your CB transmitter.
  • There are no height restrictions for antennas mounted on vehicles or for hand-held devices.
  • For structures, the highest point of your antenna must not be more than 20 feet above the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted, or 60 feet above the ground. There are lower height limits if your antenna structure is located within two miles of an airport.
  • You may use an on-the-air pseudonym ("handle") of your choosing.
  • You must at all times and on all channels, give priority to emergency communications.
Updated:
Thursday, April 13, 2017