united-states privacy encryption radio fcc
Encryption over handheld transceiver
<p>I'm aware that encryption of amateur radio communications is prohibited (or rather, any technique to make the message unreadable is). Does this apply to handheld transceivers (&quot;Walkie-Talkies&quot;)?</p>

<p>Handheld transceivers are usually operated under some portion of <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/part-95" rel="nofollow noreferrer">47 CFR 95 (Personal Radio Services)</a>.  Typically, this is <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/part-95/subpart-B" rel="nofollow noreferrer">subpart B (Family Radio Service)</a> or <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/part-95/subpart-D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">subpart D (CB Radio Service)</a>; occasionally it's <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/part-95/subpart-E" rel="nofollow noreferrer">subpart E (General Mobile Radio Service</a>.</p>
<p>CB Radio Service <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.931" rel="nofollow noreferrer">only permits plain-language voice communication</a>.  Not only is encryption prohibited, using coded language is also forbidden (eg. the Navajo code talkers would be forbidden to communicate over CB radio).</p>
<p>Family Radio Service is slightly more permissive, <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.531" rel="nofollow noreferrer">permitting certain data transmissions in addition to voice</a>, and it doesn't have the requirement of plain language.  However, encryption is forbidden under the general <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.381" rel="nofollow noreferrer">prohibition of voice-obscuring features</a> for Part 95 operation.</p>
<p>General Mobile Radio Service <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/95.1733" rel="nofollow noreferrer">has a general prohibition on coded messages or messages with hidden meanings</a>, making it possibly even more restrictive than CB radio's &quot;plain language&quot; requirement.</p>
