AG07
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 7  ARLB007
>From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  February 24, 2022
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB007
ARLB007 FCC: Amateur Service Licensees May Not Use Radio Equipment
to Commit Criminal Acts

The FCC Enforcement Bureau has re-issued an earlier reminder that
licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as licensees and
operators in the Personal Radio Services are prohibited from using
radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The
FCC did not indicate what, if anything, prompted the renewed
Enforcement Advisory or if it was just a routine announcement.

The Enforcement Advisory can be found in PDF format online at,
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-181A1.pdf .

'The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide
range of permitted and socially beneficial purposes, including
emergency communications and speech that is protected under the
First Amendment of the US Constitution,' the FCC said. 'Amateur and
Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or
facilitate crimes.'

As it did in advisories in 2021, the Enforcement Bureau is reminding
amateur licensees that they may not transmit, 'communications
intended to facilitate a criminal act' or 'messages encoded for the
purpose of obscuring their meaning.'

'Likewise, individuals operating radios in the Personal Radio
Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios, Family
Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are
prohibited from using those radios 'in connection with any activity
which is against Federal, State or local law.

'Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services
in this manner may be subject to severe penalties, including
significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and, in some
cases, criminal prosecution.

'To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the
FBI,' the FCC advised.