intermod Posted February 21, 2018 Report Share Posted February 21, 2018 The FCC’s Consumer Complaints page for reporting interference recently added a category for reporting interference to GMRS stations. Previously, there was no way to report issues specific to GMRS, but there was for Broadcast, Amateur, etc. This is a small but important development and may help combat the FCC’s recurring claim that “…we have received no reports of interference...”. This statement has been common in most all Part 95 and GMRS rule-making proceedings over the last few decades to help justify further encroachment of FRS and support other policies that licensed GMRS licensees generally opposed. We are not suggesting the Commission lied about the lack of complaints – they had not provided a way to report, categorize and centrally store them! The Northern California GMRS Users Group (NCGUG) encourages repeater owners and users to report recurring interference problems, such as unlicensed operation on repeater uplink channels, intentional jamming and abuse, and of course interference from FRS (co- or adjacent-channel).We have been reporting recurring interference from maritime operations on our repeater uplinks for some time. While the FCC rarely responds to such complaints, this may go a long way to eventually reducing the rising tide of interference sources that we all have to deal with. Brief instructions on how to use this site follow. ____________________________ https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us Create an account (different from your ULS account) File a complaint Radio Fill in Subject and Description Radio Issues: INTERFERENCE Radio Interference Sub Issue: TO LICENSED TWO_WAY RADIO SERVICES (LAND MOBILE, AVIATION, MARINE) Your Radio Method: PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES (CB, FRS, GMRS) Fill-in the remaining fields marked with “*”. The site provides a selection of “To Unlicensed Service (CB, FRS GMRS)” under Radio Interference Sub Issue. This incorrectly refers the GMRS as an unlicensed service, which it is not. While we have requested a correction, we recommend using the “Licensed….” selection noted above instead. Greg Durake, berkinet, mcallahan and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durake Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Thank you so much for sharing this information, Greg. Mod, is this thread worthy enough to be pinned? Logan5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastorGary Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Mod, is this thread worthy enough to be pinned? Sure - for awhile... we'll give it a couple months... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intermod Posted February 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Please do..... G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intermod Posted February 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Here is the canned response that you will likely receive: FCC Consumer Help Center (FCC Complaints) Feb 21, 3:15 PM EST Hi Greg Your complaint provides valuable information and is shared among FCC bureaus and offices to spot trends and practices that warrant investigation and enforcement action. If the FCC needs more information about your complaint, we will contact you directly. Each year, the Enforcement Bureau takes hundreds of actions on behalf of consumers that result in tens of millions of dollars in penalties. These actions encourage companies and individuals to abide by the law and reduce future misconduct. Thank you for your help in furthering the FCC’s mission on behalf of consumers. JohnE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intermod Posted July 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Today the Northern California GMRS Users Group (NCGUG) reached a two-year milestone. Since July 2016, we have filed 84 specific complaints of ongoing and repeated interference related to unlicensed maritime traffic on our repeater uplink channel (affecting two repeaters). We have yet to receive anything significant from Commission other than their canned response, but we did receive some meaningful help from the local enforcement office. As a result, we were able to ID one of the shipping companies involved and reach out to them. Of course, this is truly a whack-a-mole situation as it is an international shipping problem. However, we noted that the local enforcement office is not tied into this system at all and were unaware of any complaints. We had to notify them directly. Obviously some improvements are needed here....but this allows DC to filter this stuff for them. But this information may be critical someday in defending the GMRS and our interests. I particularly encourage repeater owners to monitor their input frequencies for problems when possible as these are the most critical asset of a GMRS repeater system. Logan5 and berkinet 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nissanpu87 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 LMAO!! if you think they will actually follow up on you reporting interference to your station you have much to learn...... I reported interference to my amateur station from a drug house down the road over two years ago. I've dealt with Laura Smith, john Kuzma and many others at FCC and to this day I have that same interference. its came to the point that I'm moving in the spring to my other house and filing a lawsuit on FCC.. if you ever went on 15, 20, 40 and 80 meter bands you will see its a free for all and much worse than the CB band. no enforcement at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WRUU653 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 7 minutes ago, nissanpu87 said: LMAO!! if you think they will actually follow up on you reporting interference to your station you have much to learn. The post was from 2018… Sshannon and gortex2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intermod Posted January 4 Author Report Share Posted January 4 They have responded to numerous GMRS complaints I have made - and even traveling out to the suspected source. I just received an email today from the Regional Director asking for additional reports of interference. I am not sure why you are having so many problems. If there is a drug lab in your area you have likely made the right decision. For now, I would recommend getting a concealed-carry permit as well. But why would you operate a local HF station when the interference potential is so high? Just setup a remote station away from most population and you would be good to go. All of my equipment is located on a mountain top away from most all noise sources. If you need me to assist or tutor you on how to do this let me know. I understand that this stuff can be challenging to new hew hams. We are here to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intermod Posted January 4 Author Report Share Posted January 4 I assumed he would eventually figure this out. He seems a bit challenged. WRUU653 and gortex2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nissanpu87 Posted January 4 Report Share Posted January 4 we have hundreds of hams in Michigan with the same problem as me and they got zero help from FCC. we are all working together to file a massive lawsuit.. call yourself lucky to get help.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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