PLAIN ENGLISH RULES
CITIZENS BAND RADIO SERVICES
Prepared by the Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONS
(1) Want to report an interference complaint; or
(2) Want to know if the FCC has type accepted a transmitter for
R/C.
(b) Write to the FCC, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Private
Wireless Division, Washington, DC 20554, if you have questions
about the R/C Rules.
[48 FR 24890, June 3, 1983, as amended at
48 FR 41416, Sept. 15, 1983; 60 FR 50123, Sept. 28,1995]
Subpart D—Citizens Band (CB)
Radio Service
SOURCE: 48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, unless otherwise noted.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 95.401 (CB Rule 1) What are the Citizens Band Radio
Services?
The Citizens Band Radio Services are:
(a) The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service—a private, two-way,
shortdistance voice communications service for personal or
business activities of the general public. The CB Radio Service may
also be used for voice paging.
(b) The Family Radio Service (FRS)—a private, two-way, very
short-distance voice communications service for facilitating family
and group activities. The rules for this service are contained in
subpart B of this part.
(c) The Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)—a private, short-distance
communication service providing auditory assistance to persons
with disabilities, persons who require language translation, and
persons in educational settings, health care assistance to the ill, law
enforcement tracking services in cooperation with law enforcement,
and point-to-point network control communications for Automated
Marine Telecommunications System (AMTS) coast stations licensed
under part 80 of this chapter. The rules for this service are listed
under subpart G of this part. Two-way voice communications are
prohibited. [61 FR 28769, June 6, 1996, as amended at 61 FR
46566, Sept. 4, 1996]
§ 95.402 (CB Rule 2) How do I use these rules?
(a) You must comply with these rules (See CB Rule 21 § 95.421, for
the penalties for violations) when you operate a station in the CB
Service from:
(1) Within or over the territorial limits of places where radio services
are regulated by the FCC (see CB Rule 5, § 95.405);
(2) A board any vessel or aircraft registered in the United States; or
(3) Aboard any unregistered vessel or aircraft owned or operated by
a United States citizen or company.
(b) Your CB station must comply with technical rules found in
subpart E of part 95.
(c) Where the rules use the word ‘‘you’’, ‘‘you’’ means a person
operating a CB station.
(d) Where the rules use the word ‘‘person,’’ the rules are concerned
with an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a
joint stock company, a trust, a state, territorial or local government
unit, or other legal entity.
(e) Where the rules use the term ‘‘FCC’’, that means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(f) Where the rules use the term ‘‘CB station’’, that means a radio
station transmitting in the CB Radio Service.
§ 95.403 (CB Rule 3) Am I eligible to operate a CB station?
You are authorized to operate a CB station unless:
(a) You are a foreign government, are representative of a foreign
government, or a federal government agency; or
(b) The FCC has issued a cease and desist order to you, and the
order is still in effect.
§ 95.404 (CB Rule 4) Do I need a license?
You do not need an individual license to operate a CB station. You
are authorized by this rule to operate your CB station in accordance
with the rules in this subpart.
§ 95.405 (CB Rule 5) Where may I operate my CB station?
You are authorized to operate your CB station from:
(a) Within or over any area of the world where radio services are
regulated by the FCC. Those areas are within the territorial limits of:
(1) The fifty United States.
(2) The District of Columbia.
Caribbean Insular areas
(3) Common wealth of Puerto Rico.
(4) Navassa Island.
(5) United States Virgin Islands (50 islets and cays).
Pacific Insular areas
(6) American Samoa (seven islands).
(7) Baker Island.
(8) Commonwealth of Northern Marian Islands.
(9) Guam Island.
(10) Howland Island.
(11) Jarvis Island.
(12) Johnston Island (Islets East, Johnston, North and Sand).
(13) Kingman Reef.
(14) Midway Island (Islets Eastern and Sand).
(15) Palmyra Island (more than 50 islets).
(16) Wake Island (Islets Peale, Wake and Wilkes).
(b) Any other area of the world, except within the territorial limits of
areas where radio services are regulated by—
(1) An agency of the United States other than the FCC. (You are
subject to its rules.)
(2) Any foreign government. (You are subject to its rules.)
(c) An aircraft or ship, with the permission of the captain, within or
over any area of the world where radio services are regulated by
the FCC or upon or over international waters. You must operate
your CB station according to any applicable treaty to which the
United States is a party.
§ 95.406 (CB Rule 6) Are there any special restrictions on the
location of my CB station?
(a) If your CB station is located on premises controlled by the
Department of Defense you may be required to comply with
additional regulations imposed by the commanding officer of the
installation.
(b) If your C/B station will be constructed on an environmentally
sensitive site, or will be operated in such a manner as to raise
environmental problems, under § 1.1307 of this chapter, you must
provide an environmental assessment, as set forth in § 1.1311 of
this chapter, and undergo the environmental review, § 1.1312 of this
chapter, before commencement of construction.
[48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, as amended at 55 FR 20398, May 16,
1990]
HOW TO OPERATE A CB STATION
§ 95.407 (CB Rule 7) On what channels may I operate?
(a) Your CB station may transmit only on the following channels
(frequencies):
