I'm north of Line A and just made a big mistake!

[amaff]

3 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

The only factual reference for the GMRS rules is the government rules: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95?toc=1

Yup, this.

[nokones]

14 hours ago, amaff said:

 

I guess you're doing further research with sources you know to not be factual then. You're right, that makes way more sense...

"A I" is fake smarts.

[amaff]

14 hours ago, NWHov said:

And that source needs decoding!

It's fair that there's a lot of gray area in the FCC's rules (just look at the arguments on this forum...), but the Line A thing is pretty straight forward, in that it was a thing and now it's not.

[NWHov]

21 minutes ago, amaff said:

It's fair that there's a lot of gray area in the FCC's rules (just look at the arguments on this forum...), but the Line A thing is pretty straight forward, in that it was a thing and now it's not.

§ 95.309 Coordination procedures and other restrictions for operation in certain locations.

The operator of a Personal Radio Service station may be required to coordinate operation in advance and/or may be subject to operating restrictions if the station is to be operated in certain locations, described in the following paragraphs in this section.

(b) Near a U.S. border or in an area that is or may be subject to an international treaty or agreement. Treaties and agreements may be viewed or downloaded from the FCC Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/agree/.

What's "straight forward" about this?

[WRYZ926]

Straight forward and/or simple to understand along with the federal government in the same sentence makes as much sense as military and intelligence used in the same sentence.

This topic comes up regularly and the answers are always the same each time. I know my original official copy of my GMRS license issued in October 2023 had the line A restriction on it while a newer copy downloaded a few months ago does not have the line a restriction.

I have driven myself batty trying to read, understand, and explain NFA and GCA regulations to people. I will let other members here explain the FCC regulations. 

PS: NFA and GCA makes as much sense as FCC regs do.

[NWHov]

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Straight forward and/or simple to understand along with the federal government in the same sentence makes as much sense as military and intelligence used in the same sentence.

This topic comes up regularly and the answers are always the same each time. I know my original official copy of my GMRS license issued in October 2023 had the line A restriction on it while a newer copy downloaded a few months ago does not have the line a restriction.

Right!  I just don't like basing my understanding of the rules from a consensus of experienced users saying the rule is not longer on their license.  If I was to go this alone (without this forum) how would I come to understand all this? 

2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

I have driven myself batty trying to read, understand, and explain NFA and GCA regulations to people. I will let other members here explain the FCC regulations. 

PS: NFA and GCA makes as much sense as FCC regs do.

marcspaz did a great job explaining in above post.  If § 95.309 wasn't there, I would be satisfied with concluding Line A is not a GMRS thing anymore, but it's there and a GMRS user should not have to research treaties and international agreements to get yet another indirect answer to a poorly written rule.

[WRYZ926]

Pretty much any and all federal regulations were written by lawyers for lawyers. None are easy for the average person to understand. And as we see with FCC regulations and NFA/GCA regulations, some portions can and do conflict with each other.

I don't blame you for wanting clarification if the line A issue might affect you or not. I also would not take what is posted on any forum as 100% correct without first verifying the information. 

I dealt with enough conflicting and/or confusing regulations back when I had my FFL. And it has not gotten any easier when dealing with the NFA and GCA.

[Davichko5650]

On 8/8/2025 at 1:36 PM, SteveShannon said:

Download an official copy of your license from the FCC. If th Line A prohibitions still affect you they will appear on your license. 
Th consensus of those of us who did this is that our current licenses no longer include the Line A restrictions. 

I went and did this. And it's quite easy; no problem finding it and downloading it to print. . And yes, the Official Copy I printed today does not have any mention of Line A that the one I printed in '20 did.

[WSAQ296]

On 8/8/2025 at 3:34 PM, NWHov said:

 

That's good info.  Was it only channel 19 and 21?  AI cited the below codes to me but when I looked them up, nothing about Line A.  If it were still affect, I guess my local reliance NET peeps would not be such a reliable source since they use channel 17, 18, and 22 within Line A.  

The FCC Part 95 sections relevant to Line A restrictions for GMRS operations near the U.S.-Canada border are:

• 47 CFR § 95.309: Defines Line A as a line ~120 km (75 miles) south of the U.S.-Canada border and prohibits certain GMRS channels (462.550–462.725 MHz and 467.550–467.725 MHz) north of it.
• 47 CFR § 95.1767: Specifies GMRS power limits, including ≤5 watts ERP for handhelds and ≤50 watts for mobiles on allowed channels (e.g., 462.5625–462.7125 MHz) north of Line A.
• 47 CFR § 95.1705: Prohibits GMRS fixed-base stations north of Line A and outlines general operational rules.
• 47 CFR § 95.1763: Lists GMRS channel frequencies, clarifying which are restricted (channels 15–22) or permitted (channels 1–14) north of Line A.
• 47 CFR § 95.1733: Prohibits interference with Canadian systems, reinforcing Line A restrictions.

what version are you reading?  I downloaded the most recent copy the day you posted this, and the line A is not listed anywhere in the document. (CFR 47 part 95 subpart E, reading 95.1705. And 95.1763 is gone altogether.  A word search on the document finds the word canada missing altogether, per 95.1733.

[UncleYoda]

44 minutes ago, WSAQ296 said:

And 95.1763 is gone altogether.

Better check again; it's there for me, and it's one of the most important sections.

[WSAQ296]

3 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

Better check again; it's there for me, and it's one of the most important sections.

Copy as of yesterday, if you could highlight the part about line A or C, or 462.7 for me please, I am unable to find it.  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E?toc=1

[UncleYoda]

47 minutes ago, WSAQ296 said:

Copy as of yesterday, if you could highlight the part about line A or C, or 462.7 for me please, I am unable to find it.  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E?toc=1

I wasn't referring to Line A.  You said "95.1763 is gone altogether."  It's there.  If you meant Line A wasn't mentioned in 1763, then your wording was bad.