Short answer: you do not need an FCC license to use a PoC radio, but the device needs FCC equipment authorization. These are two different things. Land mobile radios on your own frequencies need both, which is why people often mix them up.

PoC radio Part 90 business radio GMRS radio
Station license for the user No, covered by the carrier’s license Yes Yes, individual license
Who holds the spectrum The cellular carrier You, on assigned frequencies Shared GMRS channels
FCC equipment authorization Required Required Required
Range Wherever there is data coverage Radio range, more with repeaters Radio range, more with repeaters

Why a PoC radio needs no license

Under FCC rules, stations in the Wireless Radio Services need a valid authorization (47 CFR § 1.903(a)). For cellular service, the same rule says the authority for subscribers to operate mobile stations is included in the license held by the carrier serving them. Subscribers do not apply for, and the FCC does not accept, individual licenses for them (§ 1.903(c)).

A PoC radio is a cellular terminal with a push-to-talk button. The voice travels as data to a PoC platform’s server and from there to the group. To the FCC, you are a subscriber, just as with a phone. See what a PoC radio is.

Compare: Part 90 and GMRS

  • Part 90 business radio. A company that runs VHF or UHF two-way radios on its own frequencies, analog or DMR, holds an authorization in the Industrial/Business Pool, open to commercial activities, schools, hospitals and similar users (§ 90.35).
  • GMRS. A valid individual license is required to operate a GMRS station, and only individuals 18 or older are eligible (§ 95.1705). It suits families and small groups, not company fleets.

If you are weighing these options, PoC radio vs DMR, analog radio and PTT apps compares range, cost and working without a network.

The device still needs FCC authorization

No license for you does not mean no paperwork for the device. A PoC radio contains a cellular transmitter, so it must have FCC equipment authorization before it is marketed. The rule is broad: “marketing” includes selling, leasing, advertising and importing for sale (§ 2.803). Certified devices carry a label with the FCC ID, made of a grantee code and a product code (§ 2.925).

The manufacturer applies for the authorization. Your job as a buyer is to check that it exists.

How to check an FCC ID

  1. Find the FCC ID on the device label. The rules also allow an electronic label, shown on the screen (§ 2.925).
  2. Search it in the FCC ID Search tool. Enter the grantee code (the first three or five characters) and the product code.
  3. Use the directory. PTToC shows the FCC IDs found for each device in the catalog, with a link to the record. See devices approved in the United States.

A PoC radio with no FCC ID, or an ID that leads to a different product, is a red flag.

Importing a PoC radio without an FCC ID

Cheap PoC radios sold online often lack US authorization. Under the import rules, a radio device can enter the US only if it is authorized or fits an exception (§ 2.1204). One exception allows three or fewer devices for an individual’s personal use, not for sale, including cellular subscriber devices. A company buying a fleet does not fit that exception, and reselling unauthorized units is prohibited marketing.

The SIM and the data plan

The data plan comes from a carrier or a mobile virtual network operator, either directly or bundled by the PoC platform’s reseller. The monthly cost is the SIM plus the platform; PoC radio cost has price ranges.

UK, EU and other countries

The pattern is the same elsewhere: you use the carrier’s spectrum, but the device needs local approval.

  • European Union: radio equipment is placed on the market under the Radio Equipment Directive, and the CE marking can only be affixed after the conformity assessment. See devices approved in the EU.
  • United Kingdom: for Great Britain, manufacturers choose UKCA or CE marking; the UK extended recognition of CE-marked goods indefinitely. See devices approved in the UK.
  • Brazil: the law bans using radio equipment without a certificate issued or accepted by Anatel, while spectrum use depends on Anatel authorization held by the carrier. See devices approved in Brazil.

The full list is in approved devices by country.

See also: How to choose a PoC radio and SIM card for a PoC radio.