THE FCC PERMITS LANGUAGES BESIDES ENGLISH?

[JHENRY]

I RECENTLY USED A GMRS REPEATER ON MT. WILSON 462.600 MHz WITH A 167.9 Hz PL TONE. IT WAS SPANISH -ONLY, AND WHILE USING GOOGLE TRANSLATER TO TRANSLATE WHAT I WAS HEARING, I WAS CURSED AT FOR SPEAKING ENGLISH. I THOUGHT FCC REGULATIONS REQUIRED ENGLISH ON GMRS REPEATERS. CAN OTHER LANGUAGES BE USED?

[OffRoaderX]

You thought wrong. The only requirement regarding language is that your callsign be announced in English, and even if there was a requirement that you use only English on repeaters, it wouldn't matter because the FCC does not enforce the rules (ie; they dont care).

Welcome to the exciting and dynamic world of GMRS in the L.A. area!

[nokones]

Many many years ago, English was the only language allowed by the FCC and that requirement went away either in the 80s or the 90s.

[Lscott]

28 minutes ago, nokones said:

Many many years ago, English was the only language allowed by the FCC and that requirement went away either in the 80s or the 90s.

Maybe not any more.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/designating-english-as-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/

[Socalgmrs]

So when you got your license you swore to the fcc that you read and understood the rules before you paid.       If you had read and understood you wouldnt have to come on here and ask strangers for information.  In this world there is no excuse for ignorance.    If we only had small pocket sized devices that we could look up anything and everything in the world in seconds.     

[Lscott]

23 minutes ago, Socalgmrs said:

 If we only had small pocket sized devices that we could look up anything and everything in the world in seconds.     

Isn't that called a "smart phone" with an Internet connection?

[SteveShannon]

For GMRS, the FCC allows plain language voice communications:

95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses.

The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities.

Earlier, in the overarching Personal Radio Services definitions (which apply to all of the personal radio services) the FCC tells us what is meant by plain language voice communications:

95.303 

Plain language voice communications. Voice communications without codes or coded messages intended to provide a hidden meaning. Foreign languages and commonly known radio operating words and phrases, such as “ten four” and “roger,” not intended to provide a hidden meaning, are not considered codes or coded messages.

Even with an executive order to establish English as our official language changes to the above rules would need to be made if the government determined that radio communication must be done in English.  Of course legislation could do it, assuming it withstood a constitutional challenge.

[WRUU653]

Hello @JHENRY, as mentioned already it’s permitted. Repeaters are privately owned so there’s that.
As for our resident idiot petulant child SoCalgmrs that feels the need to chastise people, tell them their radios are junk and profess to getting 250 miles on his very fine radios in the desert. Feel free to ignore him. This info really should be part of the welcome packet.

One last thing, some people view all caps as a form of yelling. Thought I’d mention it in case you were not aware. ️ 

[Davichko5650]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

    If we only had small pocket sized devices that we could look up anything and everything in the world in seconds.     

Pull out your pen and say "Open Channel D."

[LeoG]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

So when you got your license you swore to the fcc that you read and understood the rules before you paid.       If you had read and understood you wouldnt have to come on here and ask strangers for information.  In this world there is no excuse for ignorance.    If we only had small pocket sized devices that we could look up anything and everything in the world in seconds.     

Seriously?  The 1000s of pages of regulations that are "interpreted" to mean one thing during this case and another during the next?  You read them and understand them as best you can and then you might get corrected because of your wrongful interpretation.  No one, not even the smartest guy at the eff sea sea knows all the rules and regulations pertaining to even a single class of radio and understands them to the fullest exception of the interpretation of the different people who will eventually rule on them on an individual case basis.

 

[GrouserPad]

2 hours ago, nokones said:

Many many years ago, English was the only language allowed by the FCC and that requirement went away either in the 80s or the 90s.

[WRUE951]

about two years ago i was making a trip to Bass Pro with some friends i was visiting in Glendora.  My brother was meeting us there, we was coming in from opposite direction.  We were using a 'local' repeater to communicate then jumped over to Ch 7 when we got close enough.  When we started talking, no one was on their air, we soon got jumped on by two spanish speaking individuals.   Two of the guys with me from Glendora speak Spanish fluently.   They were relaying what the two spanish guys were calling us gringos..  quite comical once the two spanish guys got hold of the mic.   I think the guy with the local repeater even made a few comments.   

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

about two years ago i was making a trip to Bass Pro with some friends i was visiting in Glendora.  My brother was meeting us there, we was coming in from opposite direction.  We were using a 'local' repeater to communicate then jumped over to Ch 7 when we got close enough.  When we started talking, no one was on their air, we soon got jumped on by two spanish speaking individuals.   Two of the guys with me from Glendora speak Spanish fluently.   They were relaying what the two spanish guys were calling us gringos..  quite comical once the two spanish guys got hold of the mic.   I think the guy with the local repeater even made a few comments.   

Hopefully people won’t get too wrapped up in recreational use of radio, but with the official language decree I could see court orders going out against any business who discriminates against someone who is using English.

[WRUE951]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

Hopefully people won’t get too wrapped up in recreational use of radio, but with the official language decree I could see court orders going out against any business who discriminates against someone who is using English.

Personally, i don't care what language is used.. A lot of people do for whatever reason but i find this is why the ch knob was invented.  

[UncleYoda]

4 hours ago, LeoG said:

Seriously?  The 1000s of pages of regulations that are "interpreted" to mean one thing during this case and another during the next?  You read them and understand them as best you can and then you might get corrected because of your wrongful interpretation.  No one, not even the smartest guy at the eff sea sea knows all the rules and regulations pertaining to even a single class of radio and understands them to the fullest exception of the interpretation of the different people who will eventually rule on them on an individual case basis.

 

I think some of us do know the relevant regs (ham and gmrs for me) and understand them fully to the point the wording is clear.  We obviously can't know what isn't there.  But that is not due to not reading or not understanding the language.  Courts interpret any ambiguity in contracts against the author.  Applying the same logic to regs, it's the agency responsible that has to make the regs clear, not for us to use a crystal ball.   Socal may come across abrasive to sensitive folks, but he is right that not enough newbies bother to learn before bugging eveeryone one else with questions that would be answered just by studying the rules.  And RTFM (reading the fine manual) for their radios.

[H8SPVMT]

23 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

For GMRS, the FCC allows plain language voice communications:

95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses.

The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities.

Earlier, in the overarching Personal Radio Services definitions (which apply to all of the personal radio services) the FCC tells us what is meant by plain language voice communications:

95.303 

Plain language voice communications. Voice communications without codes or coded messages intended to provide a hidden meaning. Foreign languages and commonly known radio operating words and phrases, such as “ten four” and “roger,” not intended to provide a hidden meaning, are not considered codes or coded messages.

Even with an executive order to establish English as our official language changes to the above rules would need to be made if the government determined that radio communication must be done in English.  Of course legislation could do it, assuming it withstood a constitutional challenge.

"... it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language.  Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.

Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States." 

 

I don't think a constitutional change would be necessary, myself.

[SteveShannon]

43 minutes ago, H8SPVMT said:

"... it is in America’s best interest for the Federal Government to designate one — and only one — official language.  Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.

Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States." 

 

I don't think a constitutional change would be necessary, myself.

Nobody said a constitutional change is necessary.  I said that a change would need to be made to the rules we have now in order to require that only English be used to communicate. I also said that legislation could do it (override the rules) assuming that said legislation withstood a constitutional challenge (meaning that legislation requiring all communications to be made in the English language might be challenged in court as being unconstitutional). 

 

23 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Even with an executive order to establish English as our official language changes to the above rules would need to be made if the government determined that radio communication must be done in English.  Of course legislation could do it, assuming it withstood a constitutional challenge.

 

[LeoG]

That would be tough for the Spanish speaking tv stations.  I would assume since it's govt it would be a "one size fits all" rule.

[amaff]

BORTHER THANK FOR USING BIG LETRS SO THEY READ EASY. MY EYES AINT SO GOOD AND I CANT GET TO A EYE DOC SINCE BARB LEFT AND TOOK THE KEYS GOBBLESS

[ULTRA2]

On 4/16/2025 at 6:18 AM, Socalgmrs said:

  If you had read and understood you wouldnt have to come on here and ask strangers for information.  In this world there is no excuse for ignorance

Wow really!!! All he did was asking to confirm the rules that's all. If you had to do that I rather you didn't answer or give your 2 cents worth

[Alec]

On 4/16/2025 at 6:44 AM, SteveShannon said:

For GMRS, the FCC allows plain language voice communications:

95.1731 Permissible GMRS uses.

The operator of a GMRS station may use that station for two-way plain language voice communications with other GMRS stations and with FRS units concerning personal or business activities.

95.303 

Plain language voice communications. Voice communications without codes or coded messages intended to provide a hidden meaning. Foreign languages and commonly known radio operating words and phrases, such as “ten four” and “roger,” not intended to provide a hidden meaning, are not considered codes or coded messages.

Just like the word "unreasonable" is arguably the most important word in the 4th amendment of the U.S. constitution, the definition of the term "Plain Language" is the key phrase in the FCC rules.   

Actually, the precise definition wording of section 95.303 as shown above poses a very interesting question as it is being presumed that all foreign languages, by definition, are not considered coded or secretive.  It says: "Foreign languages and commonly known radio operating words...".   It does not say; "Common Foreign languages and ..."

The public at large cannot be expected to understand the wide variety of foreign languages that may be broadcast over the air.  Clearly some recognized foreign languages are not at all well-known and in fact our own military has used this strategy expressly to create "secret communications"!

"CODE TALKER"

Wikipedia: "A code talker was a person employed by the military during wartime to use a little-known language as a means of secret communication. The term is most often used for United States service members during the World Wars who used their knowledge of Native American languages as a basis to transmit coded messages."

As @UncleYoda pointed out, it is the FCC's responsibility to make the rules clear.  At this point, I'm not sure they really are.

 

[Alec]

___

@JHENRY, yours was a very good question.  I'm fairly new to this forum, but I'm quickly learning to just ignore the regular trolls...

[WRXL702]

"Code Talker" Is Not Mentioned Anywhere In FCC Regulations, Part 95 Subpart E

Why Are You Displaying Definitions For Terms That Are Irrelevant ?

The Part 95 Regs For GMRS Are Quite Clear - Guess Folks Just Need To Learn How To Read & Understand Them.....

[Alec]

12 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

"Code Talker" Is Not Mentioned Anywhere In FCC Regulations, Part 95 Subpart E

Why Are You Displaying Definitions For Terms That Are Irrelevant ?

The Part 95 Regs For GMRS Are Quite Clear - Guess Folks Just Need To Read & Understand Them.....

Really ??   I did not infer that "Code Talker" is mentioned anywhere in the FCC rules.  I'm merely using that as an example to point out that "Plain Language" is an ambiguous term, not all foreign languages are commonly understood, and that perhaps the FCC's definition is not as clear or definitive as it should be!

[WRXL702]

Then Why Post A Deffiniton Of "Code Talker."

Makes No Sense & Totally Irrelevant.

FCC Definitions Are Quite Clear To Me.......