This subpart contains rules that apply only to the Radio Control Radio Service (RCRS).

Model aircraft. A small imitation of an aircraft, such as an airplane or a helicopter.

Model surface craft. A small imitation of a boat, car, or other type of vehicle for carrying people or objects, other than an aircraft.

Radio Control Radio Service (RCRS). A non-commercial short-distance radio service for wirelessly controlling the operation of devices, including, but not limited to, model vehicles such as aircraft and surface craft.

RCRS transmitter. A transmitter that is used or intended to be used in the RCRS.

The operator of an RCRS transmitter may replace parts of an RCRS transmitter as indicated in this section. All other internal maintenance and repairs must be carried out in accordance with § 95.319.

(a) A damaged antenna may be replaced by another antenna of the same or a compatible similar type.

(b) Batteries in the RCRS transmitter may be replaced with batteries of a type specified by the manufacturer.

(c) To change plug-in modules which were certified as part of the RCRS transmitter.

RCRS operations must not cause interference to, and must accept interference from, certain other radio service operations, as follows:

(a) RCRS stations must not cause interference to:

(1) Authorized radio operations in the 72-76 MHz band, including radio remote control of industrial equipment on the same or adjacent channels; or,

(2) Broadcast television reception on TV Channels 4 or 5.

(b) RCRS operations are not afforded protection from interference caused by the operation of:

(1) Industrial, scientific or medical devices (see part 18 of this chapter) operating in the 26-28 MHz band; and,

(2) Fixed and mobile stations in other services operating on the same or adjacent channels.

RCRS transmitters may only be used to transmit one-way communications and only for the purposes set forth in this section. (One-way communications are transmissions which are not intended to establish communications with another station.)

(a) Control of model crafts and devices. When an RCRS transmitter is used to control a model craft or device, the RCRS channels in specific frequency bands must be used, based on the type of model craft or device being controlled, as follows:

(1) RCRS channels in the 72 MHz frequency band may be used only to control and operate model aircraft.

(2) RCRS channels in the 75 MHz frequency band may be used only to control and operate model surface craft.

(3) RCRS channels in the 26-28 MHz frequency band may be used to control or operate any kind of device.

(b) Telecommand. Any RCRS channel may be used by the operator to turn on and/or off a device at a remote location.

(c) Telemetry. Any RCRS channel in the 26-28 MHz frequency band may be used to transmit a signal from a sensor at a remote location that turns on and/or off an indicating device for the operator.

The rules in this section restrict certain uses of RCRS transmitters.

(a) Simultaneous use of multiple channels. An RCRS station must not transmit simultaneously on more than one RCRS channel in the 72-76 MHz band when such operation would cause harmful interference to other RCRS operations.

(b) Data transmission. No person shall use a RCRS transmitter to transmit data. Tones or other types of signal encoding are not considered to be data for the purposes of this paragraph, when used only for the purpose of identifying the specific device among multiple devices that the operator intends to turn on/off or the specific sensor among multiple sensors intended to turn on/off an indicating device for the operator.

(c) Pay for operation prohibited. RCRS stations must not be used for commercial purposes. An RCRS operator must not accept direct or indirect payment for operating an RCRS transmitter. An RCRS operator may use an RCRS transmitter to help him or her provide a service and be paid for rendering that service, provided that the payment is only for the service and not for operation of the RCRS transmitter.

(d) Limited transmission. No person shall use an RCRS station to transmit any message other than for the operation of devices at remote locations. Accordingly, the transmission of other messages by an RCRS operator, such as voice, telegraphy, etc. is prohibited.

Notwithstanding the general requirement of § 95.335, a non-certified RCRS transmitter that transmits only in the 26-28 MHz band and complies with the applicable technical requirements in this subpart may be operated in the RCRS for the purpose of controlling a remote device.

If the antenna of a RCRS station operating on a channel in the 26-28 MHz frequency band (whether receiving, transmitting) is installed at a fixed location, the highest point of the antenna must not be more than 6.10 meters (20 feet) higher than the highest point of the building or tree on which it is mounted; or 18.3 meters (60 feet) above the ground. RCRS station antennas must also meet the requirements in § 95.317 regarding menaces to air navigation. See 47 CFR 95.317 and consult part 17 of the FCC's Rules for more information (47 CFR part 17).

This section sets forth the conditions under which an RCRS station may be operated by remote control, pursuant to the exception in § 95.345.

(a) Wireless remote control. No person shall operate a RCRS station by wireless remote control.

(b) Wired remote control. Before operating an RCRS station by wired remote control, the operator must obtain specific approval from the FCC. To obtain FCC approval, the operator must explain why wired remote control is needed.

Communications on RCRS channels shall be limited to the minimum practicable time that is necessary.

(a) Except as provided in § 95.735, each RCRS transmitter (a transmitter that operates or is intended to operate as a station in the RCRS) must be certified in accordance with this subpart and part 2 of this chapter.

(b) A grant of equipment certification for the RCRS will not be issued for any RCRS transmitter type that fails to comply with all of the applicable rules in this subpart.

The channels listed in this section are allotted for shared use in the RCRS. Each RCRS channel is designated by its center frequency in megahertz.

(a) 26-28 MHz frequency band. The 26-28 MHz RCRS channel center frequencies are 26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.145, 27.195 and 27.255 MHz.

(b) 72 MHz frequency band. The 72 MHz RCRS channel center frequencies are 72.01, 72.03, 72.05, 72.07, 72.09, 72.11, 72.13, 72.15, 72.17, 72.19, 72.21, 72.23, 72.25, 72.27, 72.29, 72.31, 72.33, 72.35, 72.37, 72.39, 72.41, 72.43, 72.45, 72.47, 72.49, 72.51, 72.53, 72.55, 72.57, 72.59, 72.61, 72.63, 72.65, 72.67, 72.69, 72.71, 72.73, 72.75, 72.77, 72.79, 72.81, 72.83, 72.85, 72.87, 72.89, 72.91, 72.93, 72.95, 72.97, and 72.99 MHz.

(c) 75 MHz frequency band. The 75 MHz RCRS channel center frequencies are 75.41, 75.43, 75.45, 75.47, 75.49, 75.51, 75.53, 75.55, 75.57, 75.59, 75.61, 75.63, 75.65, 75.67, 75.69, 75.71, 75.73, 75.75, 75.77, 75.79, 75.81, 75.83, 75.85, 75.87, 75.89, 75.91, 75.93, 75.95, 75.97, and 75.99 MHz.

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the frequency accuracy requirements in this section.

(a) Each RCRS transmitter type capable of transmitting on channels in the 72 or 75 MHz frequency band must be designed such that the carrier frequencies remain within ±20 parts-per-million (ppm) of the channel center frequencies listed in § 95.763(b) and (c) during normal operating conditions.

(b) Except as allowed under paragraph (c) of this section, each RCRS transmitter type capable of transmitting in the 26-28 MHz frequency band must be designed such that the carrier frequencies remain within ±50 ppm of the channel center frequencies listed in § 95.763(a) during normal operating conditions.

(c) Each RCRS transmitter type that transmits in the 26-28 MHz frequency band with a mean transmitter power of 2.5 W or less and is used solely by the operator to turn on and/or off a device at a remote location, other than a device used solely to attract attention, must be designed such that the carrier frequencies remain within ±100 ppm of the channel center frequencies listed in § 95.763(a) during normal operating conditions.

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed such that the transmitter power does not exceed the limits in this section.

(a) 72 and 75 MHz frequency bands. For an RCRS transmitter operating in the 72 and/or 75 MHz frequency bands, the mean transmitter output power must not exceed 0.75 Watts.

(b) 26-28 MHz frequency band. For an RCRS transmitter operating on 27.255 MHz, the mean transmitter output power must not exceed 25 Watts. For an RCRS transmitter operating on 26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.145, or 27.195 MHz, the mean transmitter output power must not exceed 4 Watts.

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the emission limitations in this section.

(a) Permitted emission types. RCRS transmitter types may transmit any type of non-voice emission that is technically appropriate for radio control use.

(b) Voice emissions prohibited. RCRS transmitter types must be incapable of transmitting telephony (voice communications).

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed such that the occupied bandwidth does not exceed 8 kHz for any emission type.

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy the applicable unwanted emissions limits in this paragraph.

(a) 26-28 MHz frequency band. For an RCRS transmitter operating in the 26-28 MHz frequency band, the power of unwanted emissions must be attenuated below the transmitter output power in Watts (P) by at least:

(1) 25 dB (decibels) in the frequency band 4 kHz to 8 kHz removed from the channel center frequency;

(2) 35 dB in the frequency band 8 kHz to 20 kHz removed from the channel center frequency;

(3) 43 + 10 log (P) dB in any frequency band removed from the channel center frequency by more than 20 kHz.

(b) 72 and 75 MHz frequency bands. For an RCRS transmitter operating in the 72 and/or 75 MHz frequency bands, the power of unwanted emissions must be attenuated below the transmitter output power in Watts (P) by at least:

(1) 25 dB (decibels) in the frequency band 4 kHz to 8 kHz removed from the channel center frequency;

(2) 45 dB in the frequency band 8 kHz to 10 kHz removed from the channel center frequency;

(3) 55 dB in the frequency band 10 kHz to 20 kHz removed from the channel center frequency; and

(4) 56 + 10 log (P) dB in any frequency band removed from the channel center frequency by more than 20 kHz.

(c) Measurement bandwidths. The power of unwanted emissions in the frequency bands specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) and (b)(1) through (3) of this section is measured with a reference bandwidth of 300 Hz. The power of unwanted emissions in the frequency ranges specified in paragraphs (a)(3) and (b)(4) of this section is measured with a reference bandwidth of at least 30 kHz.

Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed to satisfy all of the following additional requirements:

(a) The antenna of an RCRS station transmitting in the 72 and/or 75 MHz frequency bands must meet the following requirements:

(1) The antenna must be an integral part of the transmitter;

(2) The gain of the antenna must not exceed that of a half-wave dipole; and

(3) The antenna must be designed such that the electric field of the emitted radio waves is vertically polarized when the transmitter is held in the normal orientation.

(b) Each RCRS transmitter type must be designed to transmit only on one or more of the channels listed in § 95.763.

(c) For RCRS transmitter types incorporating plug-in frequency-determining modules that are intended to be changed by the operator, the modules must be submitted for certification together with the transmitter type. Each module must contain all of the frequency determining circuitry including the oscillator. Plug-in crystals are not considered modules and must not be accessible to the user.