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It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:46 pm
by K Albus
While reading BoatU.S. Magazine this month, I learned that the FCC has issued new rules making it legal to use portable handheld VHF radios while ashore. Such radios may now be used in areas adjacent to the water, for purposes relating to the operational and business needs of an associated vessel. Calls must be limited to the minimum practicable transmission time - no idle chatter. The following link leads to the Report and Order which includes the rule change, along with several other rule changes:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-16-119A1.pdf

[UPDATE:

For more information on this topic, see a more recent thread which includes the actual emended regulations.

A sidebar topic about handheld radio MMSI has been split into its own discussion.

--jimh]

Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:45 pm
by Don McIntyre - MI
It's nice to see that they've caught up to reality.

Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:51 pm
by Tom Hemphill
Relaxing the rules on this is a good thing. I can now easily and legally test the transmit and receive capabilities of my equipment.

Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:29 pm
by jimh
Kevin--great information. Thanks for posting.

Re: It Is Now Legal to Use Handheld VHF Radios While Ashore

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 7:12 pm
by ConB
I plead the 5th on how I have used my hand held in the past.

Con