FCC license holder presence

[MasBel]

I understand that a volunteer church security team can use GMRS radios as long as one member holds a current FCC GMRS license. It's also my understanding that the "team" would fall under the same rules as "family members".  My question is, "Does the FCC license holder have to be present at all times while the team is conducting GMRS comms under that license permissions?" Can anybody educate me on whether I have valid "understandings" on this matter?  Thanks, WSLP718

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, MasBel said:

I understand that a volunteer church security team can use GMRS radios as long as one member holds a current FCC GMRS license. It's also my understanding that the "team" would fall under the same rules as "family members".  My question is, "Does the FCC license holder have to be present at all times while the team is conducting GMRS comms under that license permissions?" Can anybody educate me on whether I have valid "understandings" on this matter?  Thanks, WSLP718

There’s no such exception in the current rules. Church members may not operate under a non-relative’s license, unless the church has a grandfathered license. 

[LegitByDefault]

There's nothing stopping you from using FRS radios. They should work just as well for the purpose and likely cost less, simple operation, etc

If using GMRS, everyone on the security team using a GMRS radio would need to be licensed. The only exception would be for those (if any) of you that are blood related... Father, son, brother, sister, etc.

[amaff]

Yeah, this really seems like where FRS is the solution.

Or getting a commercial license for the church.

But the FCC regs, if you're trying to follow them, don't say "licensees and their immediate family members... and additionally anyone they happen to go to church with or run into at the grocery store or at daycare or at the gym"

[SteveShannon]

MURS would also be a good unlicensed option for a church.

[WRYZ926]

I have to agree that MURS or FRS would be a better solution unless everyone is willing to get their GMRS licenses.

[Jaay]

13 hours ago, MasBel said:

I understand that a volunteer church security team can use GMRS radios as long as one member holds a current FCC GMRS license. It's also my understanding that the "team" would fall under the same rules as "family members".  My question is, "Does the FCC license holder have to be present at all times while the team is conducting GMRS comms under that license permissions?" Can anybody educate me on whether I have valid "understandings" on this matter?  Thanks, WSLP718

Family member does NOT mean members of your congregation. NO, Not legal.

[Northcutt114]

4 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

MURS would also be a good unlicensed option for a church.

I would argue that MURS would probably be a better choice because there's less potential for interference as fewer people are on it. Unless, of course, the church is near a Walmart. 

[Jaay]

3 hours ago, Northcutt114 said:

I would argue that MURS would probably be a better choice because there's less potential for interference as fewer people are on it. Unless, of course, the church is near a Walmart. 

Except Most Walmarts are now using Motorola ISM radios now, instead of MURS radios, and actually even Churches could use ISM radios, with very little chance of interference, due to the short range on 900 mhz.

[Bogieboy01]

23 minutes ago, Jaay said:

Except Most Walmarts are now using Motorola ISM radios now, instead of MURS radios, and actually even Churches could use ISM radios, with very little chance of interference, due to the short range on 900 mhz.

Depending on what sound equipment they are running for wireless mics, 900mhz could interfere... 

[Jaay]

7 minutes ago, Bogieboy01 said:

Depending on what sound equipment they are running for wireless mics, 900mhz could interfere... 

The Motorola Radios that Walmarts are using are FHSS so probably not, because each frequency they use is only for a few milliseconds each time it transmits.

[MasBel]

Thanks to all for the responses, I kind of found the answer via other searches and the responses validate what I learned. Not sure if my security team members are interested in getting GMRS licenses so we'll keep exploring.

[WSKY396]

47 minutes ago, MasBel said:

Thanks to all for the responses, I kind of found the answer via other searches and the responses validate what I learned. Not sure if my security team members are interested in getting GMRS licenses so we'll keep exploring.

From what I can tell the GMRS frequencies are hardly even in use at all.

I would just get the radios you want and set them to the shared FRS frequencies. 

 

[WSKY396]

On 2/11/2026 at 7:55 PM, MasBel said:

I understand that a volunteer church security team can use GMRS radios as long as one member holds a current FCC GMRS license. It's also my understanding that the "team" would fall under the same rules as "family members".  My question is, "Does the FCC license holder have to be present at all times while the team is conducting GMRS comms under that license permissions?" Can anybody educate me on whether I have valid "understandings" on this matter?  Thanks, WSLP718

Just to run the question back, you are asking about security communications at a place of worship right?

You could get basic duel band monitoring hand held’s with 2 dedicated net controllers communicating with different input and output frequencies assigned to them and then structure communication so that the security team or teams communicate with pre determined frequencies to the controllers who can then coordinate security assets in real time. Unless this is a 24/7 megachurch with concerns then you could go with just the one net controller and a team or two with the same concept at a smaller scale. 

I am new to this as well and could be completely wrong but this is what I suspect brother, for whatever it’s worth.

[WSKY396]

On 2/11/2026 at 7:55 PM, MasBel said:

I understand that a volunteer church security team can use GMRS radios as long as one member holds a current FCC GMRS license. It's also my understanding that the "team" would fall under the same rules as "family members".  My question is, "Does the FCC license holder have to be present at all times while the team is conducting GMRS comms under that license permissions?" Can anybody educate me on whether I have valid "understandings" on this matter?  Thanks, WSLP718

Navigating the FCC website just to pay the whatever small dollars to get the GMRS license is not that hard for several people to do and it’s probably harder than the technician ham test on a first try to be honest. This a perfect use case in my opinion. No need for further research, an immediate solution is present in FRS with some planning and just a step further your worries about license are solved.

[amaff]

7 hours ago, WSKY396 said:

...the GMRS frequencies are hardly even in use at all.

...set them to the shared FRS frequencies. 

 

 

 

*since 2017

[WSKY396]

7 hours ago, amaff said:

 

 

*since 2017

Lol, this is good.

[WSKY396]