FCC Issues Advisory Warning Not to Use Radio Services to Commit or Facilitate Criminal Acts

From the FCC website:

The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued today an advisory to remind licensees and operators in the Amateur and Personal Radio Services that they may not use radio equipment to commit or facilitate crimes.

Amateur & Personal Radio Users Reminded Not to Use Radios in Crimes | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

From the advisory (emphasis in original):

"The Bureau has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities. The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes."

Specifically, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.”...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.



[1] 47 CFR § 97.113(a)(4).

[2] 47 CFR § 95.333(a).

[3] 47 U.S.C. §§ 401, 501, 503, 510.