The Federal Communications Commission has recently clarified that a license is required to use radios on the GMRS frequencies.


San Juan Islands Prepare strongly recommends that all households obtain Walkie-Talkie radios to use for communicating with family, neighbors, and neighborhood leads. In the event of a catastrophic emergency, a radio will help you stay connected to all emergency resources that are available. A good radio should have have ability to reach anyhere in the Islands, and we recommend that all home radio users get a GMRS License and call sign. A GMRS license is good for ten years, is valid for the licensee’s immediate family (even if they do not reside in the same household). The cost for licensing is $35.00.

San Juan Islands Prepare will be fundraising in hopes of providing assistance to any resident that does not have the means to purchase a radio for their home.


Here’s how to get yoru GMRS license:

  1. Go to the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/universal-licensing-system
    Then click on the “New User Registration” link under “Filing”.

You must first register for a FCC Registration Number (FRN) if you don’t already have one.
If you do have an FRN there is no need to obtain a new one! Click on the Register Button at the top.

  1. Complete the FRN Registration
    Make sure you choose “an individual”, and confirm your address. Fill out the form entirely, and make sure the info is correct. Click Submit.
  2. Apply for and purchase a GMRS License
    In the left menu at the top select Apply for a New License. Then in the dropdown list, at the very bottom, select ZA-General Mobile Radio Service and hit the blue Continue buttom.
  3. Complete your application and pay
  4. Save Your License
    Every individual is different in regards to how fast the FCC gets the application processed after payment. You can check your License Manager page to see if it has been issued. If you missed the option to save and download it when the payment cleared. You can choose to receive a copy of the license in the mail, or elect to download it and print it yourself.
  5. Check Your License. Now and in the future, you can log in to the FCC Universal Licensing System to view, modify, apply for a new license and download your existing ones.