FCC Improves On-line Interference Reporting

[intermod]

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]

Thank you so much for sharing this information, Greg. 

 

Mod, is this thread worthy enough to be pinned?

[PastorGary]

Mod, is this thread worthy enough to be pinned?

Sure - for awhile... we'll give it a couple months...

[intermod]

Please do.....

 

G

[intermod]

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.

[intermod]

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. 

[nissanpu87]

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.  

[WRUU653]

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…

[intermod]

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. 

[intermod]

I assumed he would eventually figure this out.   He seems a bit challenged.  

[nissanpu87]

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.. 

[SOBX]

On 1/3/2023 at 9:04 PM, nissanpu87 said:

LMAO!! if you think they will actually follow up on you reporting interference to your station you have much to learn......

Give this man a cigar.
Now the FCC's can be a lot faster and more streamlined at doing nothing.

If the FCC's gave one fart about enforcement they would do something about the fishermen offshore using our ham repeater for their fishing fleets, and they'd do something about all the deer hunters driving around with Marine VHF radios in their trucks looking for their lost dogs all season long.

[OffRoaderX]

9 minutes ago, LariatAdvance said:

Now the FCC's can be a lot faster and more streamlined at doing nothing.
If the FCC's gave one fart about enforcement they would do something.....

HOW DARE YOU SIR!!  Any lack of enforcement is not the fault of the FCCs!! It is obviously the fault of some guy on Youtube daring to point out the fact that the FCCs don't care/does nothing to enforce the H.A.M., CB, or GMRS rules!!!1

[SOBX]

WOW!  NOTARUBICON replied to one of my comments!

It's like meeting Elvis and shaking his hand!
Love all your videos on Rumble, Sir.
BRB...I gotta print this page out so I can frame it and hang it on the wall of my shack!   

[GreggInFL]

2 hours ago, LariatAdvance said:

WOW!  NOTARUBICON replied to one of my comments!

It's like meeting Elvis and shaking his hand!
Love all your videos on Rumble, Sir.
BRB...I gotta print this page out so I can frame it and hang it on the wall of my shack!   

That's no big deal.  Hell, he replied to one of my posts with something like, "Jeeezus, WTF are you thinking?" Now that's funny. 

[WRYZ926]

The FCC might have made it easier to file a complaint but it sure hasn't sped them up to deal with issues.

My lovely neighbor has installed ultrasonic pest deterrent devices in her yard with several of them pointed directly at my house. They cause me physical pain and are also interfering with my HF radio equipment. I filed a complaint on February 6th and another complaint this morning.

The local police and city prosecutor are no help either. I have filed several peace disturbance complaints since September and nothing has been done.

Yes I really want to walk over and smash them devices to pieces but I am trying my best to stay out of trouble.

[OffRoaderX]

19 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

My lovely neighbor has installed ultrasonic pest deterrent devices... They cause me physical pain

Sounds like they're working.

[WRQC527]

21 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Sounds like they're working.

[WRYZ926]

21 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Sounds like they're working.

She originally put the devices up to keep cats out of her yard. But the feral cats walk right up to them even when they are on full blast.

[WRUE951]

well,, the FCC can have a 'Hay Day' in the Las Angeles basin area.   But we all know that aint ever gonna happen  

[WRQI663]

What does H.A.M. mean? Have another margarita? It never meant Amateur Radio to me or any I know????

 

[WRXB215]

Ham is a very old term for an amateur radio operator. There is some controversy as to exactly how and when it came into being. The most common explanation I've heard is that the early operators were apparently quite colorful in the way they used their equipment which was referred to as "hamming it up" so to speak. The term stuck and has been used as a slang term for amateur radio operators ever sense.

[BoxCar]

31 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

Ham is a very old term for an amateur radio operator. There is some controversy as to exactly how and when it came into being. The most common explanation I've heard is that the early operators were apparently quite colorful in the way they used their equipment which was referred to as "hamming it up" so to speak. The term stuck and has been used as a slang term for amateur radio operators ever sense.

Another story is the commercial shipboard operators called the amateurs "ham fisted."

[WRQC527]

4 hours ago, WRQI663 said:

What does H.A.M. mean? Have another margarita? It never meant Amateur Radio to me or any I know????

 

H.A.M. (or HAM) isn't an acronym. It's a word. Ham. Like you've read, its origins are sort of varied. The reason some people here use H.A.M. or HAM is to irritate ham radio operators. Some folks here are openly hostile toward ham radio operators. It's an inferiority complex or something, I don't know. 

[back4more70]

2 hours ago, WRQC527 said:

Some folks here are openly hostile toward ham radio operators.

My GMRS personality argues with my Amateur Radio personality constantly.  It's like the other voices can't get a word in.