Whether you need an FCC license for a two-way radio depends on the radio. Some need no license at all. Others, including most business-grade handhelds and mobile radios, need one before you transmit a single word. This guide shows which group your radios fall into and, if you need a license, how to get it.
One rule of thumb: if you bought the radios at a big box store for the crew and they are rated for 2 watts or less, you are probably license free. If you want more range, more power, or channels that are protected from other users, you are looking at a licensed business radio system.
Two-way radios you can use without an FCC license
FRS radios
Family Radio Service radios work on UHF channels around 462 to 467 MHz and transmit at up to 2 watts on the shared channels. No FCC license is required. FRS is a fit for retail floors, event staff, camping trips and short-range work around a yard. The range printed on the package assumes open ground, so expect much less inside buildings or in the hills. If you are comparing FRS with its licensed cousin, our guide to FRS and GMRS differences covers the details.
MURS radios
Multi-Use Radio Service radios use VHF channels around 151 to 154 MHz and are limited to 2 watts. They also need no license. Small businesses sometimes choose MURS for short-range work because the channels are less crowded than FRS, but the power limit keeps the range modest.
CB radios
Citizens Band radio does not require an FCC license. The trade-off is that the channels are open to everyone and nothing is private, which is why CB is popular with truckers and hobbyists but a weak choice for a business crew. We break down the difference in CB radio vs two-way radio.
LTE and push-to-talk over cellular radios
Push-to-talk over cellular radios connect through a carrier network instead of a radio channel you license yourself, so you do not hold an FCC radio license for them. You pay a monthly service plan instead. If you need coverage across Washington without managing frequencies, look at our LTE two-way radio service and our breakdown of what LTE two-way radios cost.
Two-way radios that need an FCC license
GMRS radios
General Mobile Radio Service radios run at higher power than FRS and can use repeaters, but you need a GMRS license. At the time of writing the fee is $35 for a license that lasts 10 years. One license covers the license holder and immediate family members. It does not cover employees who are not family, so GMRS is a poor fit for a company crew.
Part 90 business radios
Commercial land mobile radios on the VHF and UHF business bands are licensed under Part 90 of the FCC rules, in the Industrial/Business Pool. These radios transmit at higher power than the license-free services, give you more range and more channels, and come with licensed frequencies that other users are not supposed to share with you. Models like the ICOM F5220D and F6220D, and the F1000D and F2000D series fall in this category.
The FCC says you are eligible if your activity is primarily commercial, or if you are an educational, philanthropic or religious institution, or a hospital, clinic or medical association. Government agencies and public safety departments generally license under separate rules. If that is you, start with our guide to two-way radios for government and municipal agencies.
Trunked and wide-area systems
Large fleets and regional systems run on a licensed frequency plan that has to be coordinated before it goes on the air. Whether you hold the license yourself or operate under a network operator’s authorization depends on how the system is set up, so ask before you buy. Our explainer on trunked radio systems shows how these networks work.
Why licensing matters
Transmitting on a licensed service without a license can bring FCC enforcement, and the business that owns the radios is usually the one answering for it. The practical benefit of licensing is just as important. Before a business license is granted, a frequency coordinator checks who is already licensed near your site and recommends a frequency that will not step on them. That means fewer dropped calls and less interference than you get on shared license-free channels. For a wider look at the rules behind this, read what the FCC regulations for two-way radio usage say.
How to get a Part 90 business radio license
The process takes a few steps and a few weeks, so it helps to start before the radios arrive. The full rules are on the FCC’s Industrial/Business licensing page.
Step 1: Decide what you need
Write down how many radios you need, where you work, whether you need to cover more than one site, and whether you need a repeater to reach across hills or buildings. These answers decide the band (VHF or UHF), the number of channels and what the coordinator has to check. If you are still choosing hardware, our guide to choosing the right two-way radio for your business can help.
Step 2: Get an FCC Registration Number
You need an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before you can file in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS). You get one by registering your business in the FCC’s CORES system. Registration is free.
Step 3: Go through frequency coordination
For a new system or a major change, such as a new frequency, more power, a taller antenna or a new location, the FCC requires coordination first. A certified frequency coordinator reviews your application, searches its database for conflicts with nearby systems and either confirms or recommends a frequency. Most bands require a specific coordinator, while the 470 to 512 MHz band can use any of them.
Coordinators set their own fees. As one published example, APCO’s fee schedule lists $210 per frequency for 30 to 174 MHz and $210 per pair for 450 to 470 MHz, and says an average application takes about a month. Fees can change, so confirm them with the coordinator you use.
Step 4: File Form 601 and pay the FCC fee
The license application is FCC Form 601, filed electronically through ULS. Applications that need coordination are normally filed through the coordinator. The FCC’s fee table in 47 CFR 1.1102 lists $105 for a new license and $35 for a renewal. As with any government fee, check the current amount before you file.
Step 5: Wait for the grant, then program the radios
Once the FCC grants the license, your radios are programmed to the assigned frequencies and the system can go live. Part 90 licenses run for up to 10 years under 47 CFR 90.149. Two dates matter after the grant. Construction of the system has to be completed and reported within 12 months or the license is automatically canceled, and renewals can be filed starting 90 days before the license expires. Put the expiration date on a calendar so you do not lose your channels.
What it costs and how long it takes
Using the published numbers above, a simple single-channel license with an APCO-style coordination fee comes to about $315 in combined FCC and coordinator fees, before radios and programming. Larger systems with several sites cost more. Plan on a month or more from the start of coordination to a granted license.
Does Washington add anything?
Radio licensing is handled by the FCC, not the state. Where location does matter is coordination. The coordinator looks at who is already licensed near your site, so the frequencies available in Pierce County can differ from those in rural Lewis or Grays Harbor County.
Quick answers
Do I need a license for walkie talkies?
It depends on the type. FRS and MURS walkie talkies need no license. GMRS radios do, and so do business radios on the VHF and UHF business bands.
Do I need an FRS license?
No. FRS radios used within the 2 watt limit on the shared channels need no FCC license.
Can my GMRS license cover my employees?
No. A GMRS license covers you and your immediate family. Employees who are not family members are not covered, so a business crew needs a business license instead.
How long does a business radio license last?
Part 90 licenses are issued for a term of up to 10 years. You renew through the FCC before the expiration date.
Do LTE radios need an FCC license?
You do not hold a radio license for them. They run on a carrier’s cellular network and you pay for service.
Not sure which one you need?
Whisler Communications has been a family-owned two-way radio dealer in Olympia since 1959, serving Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pierce, Kitsap and Clark counties. Tell us how many people need radios, where they work and how far apart they are, and we will tell you whether license-free radios will do the job or whether you need a licensed system. If you need a license, we can walk you through the steps above. Contact Whisler Communications to get started.
