WASHINGTON-A walkie talkie-like pocket phone developed by Tandy Corp. that would let family members or groups communicate with one another at shopping malls, sporting events, amusement parks and other outings is getting serious attention from federal regulators.
Unlike cellular or personal communications services phones, the devices would be unlicensed, transmit over very short distances and be prohibited from interconnecting with the public telephone network.
Two-way phones operating in the Family Radio Service would use 14 UHF channels, sharing seven of them with the General Radio Mobile Service and using another seven located between GMRS channels.
The FCC is seeking public comment on the proposal, including technical standards for the product.
The agency said, “The proposed rules will encourage rapid deployment and growth of inexpensive, low power communications equipment.”
