Recently, there’s been a surge of online discussion suggesting that the FCC is “adding low-band VHF to GMRS.” Before anyone starts clearing space in the shack, it’s worth slowing down and looking at what has actually happened, as there is a lot of misinformation out there on this so called “development.”
An individual licensee (just like you and me), has filed a Petition for Rulemaking asking the FCC to consider reallocating certain underutilized low-band VHF frequencies, primarily in the 46-49 MHz range, into the GMRS and FRS services. These frequencies were historically used for cordless phones, Part 15 devices, and some legacy low-band services that are now lightly occupied. The petition suggests converting largely abandoned portions of that spectrum into new GMRS/FRS channels, possibly including repeater use.
That is the extent of the development so far. Someone basically sent a memo asking if it could be done; that’s it. Would such an allocation be useful to the GMRS community? Absolutely! But that doesn’t make it a reality.
A petition is simply a request. It is not a proposal by the FCC. The Commission has not issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), has not opened a formal comment period, and has not signaled that it intends to pursue this reallocation. The FCC receives many petitions each year; most never progress to rulemaking.
Even if the FCC were to explore the idea, reallocating spectrum in the 30-50 MHz band would involve coordination, interference studies, allocation analysis, and policy review. That process would take years and would begin with a formal NPRM. None of that has happened.
So here’s the practical takeaway: do not rush out and buy low-band radios expecting GMRS to appear there anytime soon. There are no new authorized channels, no pending FCC proposal, and no rule change in motion. Buying equipment today on the assumption that this is “imminent” would be speculative at best. If you imminently want to tinker with low-band VHF; get an FM capable CB radio, or better yet, a ham license so you have access to the 6m 50-54mhz band.
For now, nothing has changed, and this petition is unlikely to go through without a massive industry push. There are no new GMRS frequencies. There is only a petition asking the Commission to consider one.
Creative spectrum ideas are healthy. But in regulatory matters, there’s a very big difference between someone asking, and the FCC deciding to act.