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Nothing stops anyone today from running Narrowband in GMRS. If the repeater owner thinks that setting the receive window to 12.5 Kc will improve the receiver performance for their particular situation, they can do it. Most repeater owners run 25 Kc wideband because it works better and sounds better. The day that 12.5 becomes the better alternative is the day most will switch. In most parts of the country there is ZERO issue with channel congestion in GMRS. I'll keep mentioning this until folks get it. If you want to run DMR, there's nothing stopping you except for a Part 90 license. Go get yourself coordinated for a Private Carrier license for DMR, and invite all your friends and family to join in. You'll be talking Digital in no time.

You can start getting them used to the FCC requirements by having them use a pair of FRS radios. If they forget to identify it's not an issue as they are not required to use your call sign.

I actually run 2 of my 6 repeaters in NB and most likely will be switching another to NB in the near future. For those that run the Midland gear it does help those radios. I still like my WB stuff but i use what makes it work best for the users on the system. As you said its all whats best for the repeater owners and users. I wouldn't want the FCC to say you MUST go NB cause i would be unplugging half of mine.

For the record, a programming cable for the Bao Feng UV-5R will work just fine. Be sure to get one with FTDI however, as the cheap knockoffs may not work at all.

I hope to have a valid answer to this very soon. I have sent an inquiry email to the offices of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth, who are THE experts in the field of communication law. I hope they will respond.