GMRS Fee to Go Down, Really

[rapidcharger]

If there's anything I've learned in the past month is that the FCC does listen to input. It just can take some time for something to happen.

I know the fee isn't free, but congratulations on at least getting it to move in the more affordable direction. That's a victory.

 

[KD8DVR]

Agreed. But I betcha if and when that happens, repeaters will disappear, then what's the point? That's the only reason I paid for it. Repeater access without having to study electronics, RF propagation, and all the other nonsense that goes along with Ham radio. I just want to talk and have more than a 2 mile range.

I'll shut up now. Don't want to slide OT.

You forgot the most important part...learning regulations you must follow.

Anyway, the reduced fees May encourage more people to be legal. It helps.

 

[N9NRA]

GMRS fee, another take.

hey there, i was reading some of the stuff on this (FCC getting rid of the GMRS proccessing fee & the vanity call fee), and here`s another take, the fee also has the unintended benefit of keeping out what i call the "honey-do list" crowd, kinda like the expensiveness of some ham gear (mainly the digital capible radios for stuff like DSTAR & DMR) does, it keeps out the wanna-be`s, so that the only ones that get onto the train, so to speak, are the ones that make the investment in equipment to operate on the GMRS bands. Now if they were to go through with this i could see some very unhappy GMRS users (or mabey not, who knows?), the point is folks, be careful of what we wish for, as we just MIGHT end up getting it, and we might not like what grows up outta it. N9NRA

 

[Josh380]

They could further reduce the administrative burden by making the licenses lifetime. That would reduce the paperwork to just the initial application, not having to process renewals every 5 or 10 years, and administrative changes such as upgrades, address changes, or cancellation upon the death of the holder as examples.

I like this idea.

 

[Dude111]

There should be no fee at all, for anything.

Too many people abuse thier radio for it to be FULLY ALLOWED w/o getting names,etc....... (The FEE is collected along with a name IN CASE they cause a problem)


No your right there shouldnt be a fee but PEOPLE CANT BE TRUSTED.. (Most anyway)

 

[KD8DVR]

hey there, i was reading some of the stuff on this (FCC getting rid of the GMRS proccessing fee & the vanity call fee), and here`s another take, the fee also has the unintended benefit of keeping out what i call the "honey-do list" crowd, kinda like the expensiveness of some ham gear (mainly the digital capible radios for stuff like DSTAR & DMR) does, it keeps out the wanna-be`s, so that the only ones that get onto the train, so to speak, are the ones that make the investment in equipment to operate on the GMRS bands. Now if they were to go through with this i could see some very unhappy GMRS users (or mabey not, who knows?), the point is folks, be careful of what we wish for, as we just MIGHT end up getting it, and we might not like what grows up outta it. N9NRA

Well, it could help reduce the number of unlicensed pirates on GMRS. Since most repeaters are closed anyway, the owners would still pick and choose who they want on their systems. I'll likely re-license, since my kids are old enough to trust with more expensive equipment now.

 

[N9NRA]

Well, it could help reduce the number of unlicensed pirates on GMRS. Since most repeaters are closed anyway, the owners would still pick and choose who they want on their systems. I'll likely re-license, since my kids are old enough to trust with more expensive equipment now.

Yeah, i can see what you`re gettin` at. But, i can already hear the muffled screams of the "old timers" in the GMRS service saying, "What?? Now we`re going to have to contend with users that don`t know how to use the service." I asy this, just because you don`t pay for the license anymore dosen`t mean you`re unlearned about how to use a GMRS radio. I say we should just sit back and watch what crops up, it might be just what the doctor ordered for the GMRS service, i can say that around here we DEFINITELY need a good "shot in the arm" of users to bring back GMRS, i used to listen to those guys on my scanner, even thought about getting a license (still might ). Now that`s all gone, i miss hearing GMRS chatter, so this would actually help things around here a lot. N9NRA

 

[KD8DVR]

Yeah, i can see what you`re gettin` at. But, i can already hear the muffled screams of the "old timers" in the GMRS service saying, "What?? Now we`re going to have to contend with users that don`t know how to use the service." I asy this, just because you don`t pay for the license anymore dosen`t mean you`re unlearned about how to use a GMRS radio. I say we should just sit back and watch what crops up, it might be just what the doctor ordered for the GMRS service, i can say that around here we DEFINITELY need a good "shot in the arm" of users to bring back GMRS, i used to listen to those guys on my scanner, even thought about getting a license (still might ). Now that`s all gone, i miss hearing GMRS chatter, so this would actually help things around here a lot. N9NRA

In my area, there really isn't much at all going on. That's a pretty good deal. I'm not too afraid of letting my kids on the air. They'd be tickled to use a call sign...... kind of like they think it's funny when I use my amateur call on the air. They've got it memorized.

 

[Aero125]

In LA GMRS has turned into a CB style free for all. I rarely hear a call sign (the repeaters do usually) and it often sounds like language that would embarrass a drunken sailor a biker bar. Its who can jam or step on who, or play the loudest music in Spanish.. I really don't think license or no license fee will change the unenforced wildland of GMRS.

 

[Jaxco]

In LA GMRS has turned into a CB style free for all. I rarely hear a call sign (the repeaters do usually) and it often sounds like language that would embarrass a drunken sailor a biker bar. Its who can jam or step on who, or play the loudest music in Spanish.. I really don't think license or no license fee will change the unenforced wildland of GMRS.

2 federal agencies to blame - Border Patrol/INS and FCC.