How-To Guide
Subpart D — Citizens Band (CB)
Radio Service
Source: 48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983,
unless otherwise noted.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 95.401 (CB Rule 1) What are the
Citizens Band (CB) Radio Services?
The Citizens Band Radio Services are:
(a) The Citizens Band (CB) Radio
Service—a private, two-way, short-
distance 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 and data 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.
(d) The Medical Device Radio
communication Service (MedRadio)—
an ultra-low power radio service, for the
transmission of non-voice data for the
purpose of facilitating diagnostic and/or
therapeutic functions involving implanted
and body-worn medical devices. The
rules for this service are contained in
subpart I of this part.
(e) The Wireless Medical Telemetry
Service (WMTS)—a private, short
distance data communication service
for the transmission of patient medical
information to a central monitoring
location in a hospital or other medical
facility. Voice and video communications
are prohibited. Waveforms such as
electrocardiograms (ECGs) are not
considered video. The rules for this
service are contained in subpart H of this
part.
(f) The Multi-Use Radio Service
(MURS)—a private, two-way, short-
distance voice or data communications
service for personal or business activities
of the general public. The rules for this
service are contained in subpart J of this
part.
(g) Dedicated Short-Range
Communications Service On-Board
Units (DSRCS-OBUs). The rules for this
service are contained in subpart L of this
part. DSRCS-OBUs may communicate
with DSRCS Roadside Units (RSUs),
which are authorized under part 90 of
this chapter. DSRCS, RSU, and OBU
are dened in Sec. 90.7 of this chapter.
[61 FR 28769, June 6, 1996, as amended
at 61 FR 46566, Sept. 4, 1996; 64 FR
69929, Dec. 15, 1999; 65 FR 44008, July
17, 2000; 65 FR 53190, Sept. 1, 2000;
65 FR 60877, Oct. 13, 2000; 67 FR
63289, Oct. 11, 2002; 68 FR 9901, Mar.
3, 2003; 69 FR 46445, Aug. 3, 2004; 74
FR 22705, May 14, 2009]
Sec. 95.402 (CB Rule 2) How do I use
these rules?
(a) You must comply with these
rules (See CB Rule 21 Sec. 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,
Sec. 95.405);
(2) Aboard 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.
Sec. 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, a
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.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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 fty United States.
(2) The District of Columbia.
Caribbean Insular areas
(3) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(4) Navassa Island.
(5) United States Virgin Islands (50
islets and cays).
Pacic Insular areas
(6) American Samoa (seven
islands).
(7) Baker Island.
(8) Commonwealth of Northern
Mariana 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.
(d) Anyone intending to operate
a CB station on the islands of Puerto
Rico, Desecheo, Mona, Vieques, and
Culebra in a manner that could pose
an interference threat to the Arecibo
Observatory shall notify the Interference
Ofce, Arecibo Observatory, HC3 Box
53995, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, in
writing or electronically, of the location of
the unit. Operators may wish to consult
interference guidelines, which will be
provided by Cornell University. Operators
who choose to transmit information
electronically should e-mail to: prcz@
naic.edu.
(1) The notication to the
Interference Ofce, Arecibo Observatory
shall be made 45 days prior to
commencing operation of the unit. The
notication shall state the geographical
coordinates of the unit.
(2) After receipt of such notications,
the Commission will allow the Arecibo
Observatory a period of 20 days for
comments or objections. The operator
will be required to make reasonable
efforts in order to resolve or mitigate any
potential interference problem with the
Arecibo Observatory. If the Commission
determines that an operator has satised
its responsibility to make reasonable
efforts to protect the Observatory from
interference, the unit may be allowed to
operate.
[48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, as
amended at 62 FR 55535, Oct. 27, 1997;
70 FR 31374, June 1, 2005]
Sec. 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 ofcer 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 Sec. 1.1307 of
this chapter, you must provide an
environmental assessment, as set forth in
Sec. 1.1311 of this chapter, and undergo
the environmental review, c1.1312 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
Sec. 95.407 (CB Rule 7) On what
channels may I operate?
(a) Your CB station may transmit
only on the following channels
(frequencies):
Channel
Frequency
(megahertz MHz)
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
1
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
1
See paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Channel 9 may be used only
for emergency communications or for
traveler assistance.
(c) You must, at all times and on
all channels, give priority to emergency
communication messages concerning
the immediate safety of life or the
immediate protection of property.
(d) You may use any channel
for emergency communications or for
traveler assistance.
(e) You must share each channel
with other users.
(f) The FCC will not assign any
channel for the private or exclusive use
of any particular CB station or group of
stations.
(g) The FCC will not assign any
channel for the private of exclusive use of
CB stations transmitting single sideband
or AM.
Sec. 95.408 (CB Rule 8) How high may
I put my antenna?
(a) Antenna means the radiating
system (for transmitting, receiving or
both) and the structure holding it up
(tower, pole or mast). It also means
everything else attached to the radiating
system and the structure.
(b) If your antenna is mounted on
a hand-held portable unit, none of the
following limitations apply.
(c) If your antenna is installed at
a xed location, it (whether receiving,
transmitting or both) must comply with
either one of the following:
(1) The highest point must not be
more than 6.10 meters (20 feet) higher
than the highest point of the building or
tree on which it is mounted; or
(2) The highest point must not be
more than 18.3 meters (60 feet) above
the ground.
(d) If your CB station is located near
an airport, and if you antenna structure is
more than 6.1 meters (20 feet) high, you
may have to obey additional restrictions.
The highest point of your antenna must
not exceed one meter above the airport
elevation for every hundred meters of
distance from the nearest point of the
nearest airport runway. Differences in
ground elevation between your antenna
and the airport runway may complicate
this formula. If your CB station is near
an airport, you may contact the nearest
FCC eld ofce for a worksheet to help
you gure the maximum allowable height
of your antenna. Consult part 17 of the
FCC’s Rules for more information.
WARNING: Installation and removal of
CB station antennas near powerlines
is dangerous. For your safety, follow
the installation directions included
with your antenna.
[48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, as amended
at 48 FR 41416, Sept. 15, 1983]
Sec. 95.409 (CB Rule 9) What
equipment may I use at my CB
station?
(a) You must use an FCC
certicated CB transmitter at your
CB station. You can identify an
FCC certicated transmitter by the
certication label placed on it by the
manufacturer. You may examine a list
of certicated equipment at any FCC
Field Ofce or at FCC Headquarters.
Use of a transmitter which is not FCC
certicated voids your authority to
operate the station.
(b) You must not make, or have
made, any internal modication to a
certicated CB transmitter. (See CB
Rule 25, Sec. 95.425). Any internal
modication to a certicated CB
transmitter cancels the certication,
and use of such a transmitter voids
your authority to operate the station.
[48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, as
amended at 63 FR 36610, July 7,
1998]
Sec. 95.410 (CB Rule 10) How much
power may I use?
(a) Your CB station transmitter
power output must not exceed the
following values under any conditions:
AM (A3)—4 watts (carrier power)
SSB—12 watts (peak envelope power)
(b) If you need more information
about the power rule, see the technical
rules in subpart E of part 95.
(c) Use of a transmitter which
has carrier or peak envelope power in
excess of that authorized voids your
authority to operate the station.
Sec. 95.411 (CB Rule 11) May I use
power ampliers?
(a) You may not attach the
following items (power ampliers) to
your certicated CB transmitter in any
way:
(1) External radio frequency (RF)
power ampliers (sometimes called
linears or linear ampliers); or
(2) Any other devices which,
when used with a radio transmitter
as a signal source, are capable of
amplifying the signal.
(b) There are no exceptions to this
rule and use of a power amplier voids
your authority to operate the station.
(c) The FCC will presume you
have used a linear or other external RF
power amplier if—
(1) It is in your possession or on
your premises; and
(2) There is other evidence that
you have operated your CB station
with more power than allowed by CB
Rule 10, Sec. 95.410.
(d) Paragraph (c) of this section
does not apply if you hold a license
in another radio service which allows
you to operate an external RF power
amplier.
[48 FR 24894, June 3, 1983, as
amended at 63 FR 36610, July 7,
1998]
Sec. 95.412 (CB Rule 12) What
communications may be
transmitted?
(a) You may use your CB
station to transmit two-way plain
language communications. Two-way
plain language communications are
communications without codes or
coded messages. Operating signals
such as “ten codes” are not considered
codes or coded messages. You may
transmit two-way plain language
communications only to other CB
stations, to units of your own CB
station or to authorized government
stations on CB frequencies about—
(1) Your personal or business
activities or those of members of
your immediate family living in your
household;
(2) Emergencies (see CB Rule
18, Sec. 95.418);
(3) Traveler assistance (see CB
Rule 18, Sec. 95.418); or
(4) Civil defense activities in
connection with ofcial tests or drills
conducted by, or actual emergencies
announced by, the civil defense
agency with authority over the area in
which your station is located.
(b) You may use your CB station
to transmit a tone signal only when the
signal is used to make contact or to
continue communications. (Examples
of circuits using these signals are tone
operated squelch and selective calling
circuits.) If the signal is an audible
tone, it must last no longer than 15
seconds at one time. If the signal is a
subaudible tone, it may be transmitted
continuously only as long as you are
talking.
(c) You may use your CB station
to transmit one-way communications
(messages which are not intended to
establish communications between
two or more particular CB stations)
only for emergency communications,
traveler assistance, brief tests (radio
checks) or voice paging.
Sec. 95.413 (CB Rule 13) What
communications are prohibited?
(a) You must not use a CB
station—
(1) In connection with any activity
which is against federal, state or local
law;
(2) To transmit obscene, indecent
or profane words, language or
meaning;
(3) To interfere intentionally with
the communications of another CB
station;
(4) To transmit one-way
communications, except for
emergency communications, traveler
assistance, brief tests (radio checks),
or voice paging;
(5) To advertise or solicit the sale
of any goods or services;
(6) To transmit music, whistling,
sound effects or any material to amuse
or entertain;
(7) To transmit any sound effect
solely to attract attention;
(8) To transmit the word
“MAYDAY” or any other international
distress signal, except when your
station is located in a ship, aircraft or
other vehicle which is threatened by
grave and imminent danger and your
are requesting immediate assistance;
(9) To communicate with, or
attempt to communicate with, any
CB station more than 250 kilometers
(155.3 miles) away;
(10) To advertise a political
candidate or political campaign;
(you may use your CB radio for the
business or organizational aspects
of a campaign, if you follow all other
applicable rules);
(11) To communicate with stations
in other countries, except General
Radio Service stations in Canada; or
(12) To transmit a false or
deceptive communication.
(b) You must not use a CB station
to transmit communications for live
or delayed rebroadcast on a radio or
television broadcast station. You may
use your CB station to gather news
items or to prepare programs.
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