Laws, Rules and Regulations

• Electronic Communications Privacy Act, full text. Revised 02/21/94
  
• 18 USC Chapter 119. Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception of Oral Communications
  
  • 18 USC Chapter 119, Sec. 2510. Definitions, Dated 01/03/95
    The exclusion of cordless telephones was struck in the definition of electronic communications:

    1994 - Par. (1). Pub. L. 103-414, Sec. 202(a)(1), struck out before semicolon at end '', but such term does not include the radio portion of a cordless telephone communication that is transmitted between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit''.

  • 18 USC Chapter 119, Sec. 2511 - Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications prohibited, Dated 01/03/95
    This section specifies what is illegal to listen to (you'll need the definitions in Sec. 2510).
  • 18 USC Chapter 119, Sec. 2512. Manufacture, distribution, possession, and advertising of wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepting devices prohibited
    This section specifies that it is illegal to manufacture, sell or possess a scanner modified to pick up excluded frequencies.
  • 18 USC Chapter 119, Sec. 2513. Confiscation of wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepting devices
    This section indicates any device in violation of Sec. 2511 or Sec. 2512 may be confiscated.
• CFR 47 Telecommunications
  
• California Penal Code Sec. 632.6. Intercepting or Receiving Cordless Telephone Communication; Penalty; Exceptions
  
• California Penal Code Section 636.5 Wrongful Interception and Divulgence of Police Radio Communication
• Fact Sheet #2: Cordless/Cellular Phones
  USD Center for Public Interest Law -- Wireless Communications: Cordless/Cellular Phones and Pagers.
• Scanner Laws
  List by state of scanner and radar detector laws
• Scanning Aboard Airliners
  The question of the use of scanning receivers aboard commercial airlines arises from time to time. This document is an extract from the FAA Regulations (FARs) and the stated positions of a number of major carriers.
• Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 91.21-1: Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft
  A publication from the FAA used by aircraft operators to help them set their policies. Remember that an AC in not regulatory in itself. It is to assist operators in comlying with federal aviation regulations. The airline and/or pilot in command can set a more strict policy on the use of PEDs at their discretion.

• 10-Codes
  There are 200 10-Codes in current usage, approximately 50 of these are used by the police, fire and other types of radio operators, while others have combined meanings depending on the service.
• Tigger's ACARS Page
  A.C.A.R.S. stands for Aircraft Communications Addressing And Reporting System. This is an air - ground - air radio data system, developed by Aeronautical Radio Inc. (ARINC) in the 1970's, for commercial aircraft. Data sensors on board the aircraft register "events" which are fed into a computer to be converted into data packets to be sent to ground stations via the aircrafts normal VHF voice radio. The receiving ground system routes the data packets, via ARINC's Electronic Switching System and central computer then to the relevant carrier.
• Bob Parnass, AJ9S Articles:
  
  • Introduction to Scanning
  • Buying a Used Scanner Radio
  • FCC License Data Sources
    
  • How Do You Find These Scanner Frequencies?
  • Improve the Squelch in Your Monitor Receiver
  • Repair Tips for Bearcat Scanner Radios
• G4NJH Shortwave Listeners' Page
  
• N2FG Homepage
  David Stark (N2FG) is the author of Scanner Master Upstate New York Guide. His page provides the latest scanning update and links to other scanning resources on the Internet.
• AM/FM Dxing
  Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about long-distance reception of local AM (medium wave) and FM stations.
• FM SCA Information
  Information and monitoring of Subsidiary Communications Authorization (SCA) subcarriers.
• Modulation
  Simon Collings, G4SGI provides useful information on modulation schemes used with radio systems -- It is a working aid to be used with your radio to enhance your listening on the bands.
• Peter Laws ScannerPage
  Contains a good collection of articles about Trunked Radio Systems.
• POCSAG Pager Signals
  A summary describing the coding used on POCSAG pager signals.
• Propagation
  An excellent article aby Simon Collings, G4SGI.
• Shortwave Radio Schedule Guide
  
• T.J. "Weasel" Harrell, KC5KTO's Radio Page
  Great site for scanning information!

• 800 Mhz and Trunking
  
• Private Mobile Radio - Technology and product overview
  From Ericsson -- EDACS digital trunked private mobile radio system overview.
• Trunked Radio Information
  From Peter Laws
  • Technical Overview - Curtis Wheeler, Usenet, 10/94
  • Semi-technical overview of Motorola systems - Brian Kantor, Usenet, 6/92
  • Another overview of trunking - Michael Mayer (date unknown - I deleted the header!)
  • Motorola SmartZone® - Robert Shepard, Usenet, 10/94
  • Motorola Sabre® portable radios - Dave Emery, SCAN-L, 5/95
  • A large compilation of posts, including the University of California's Request for Quotation - Brian Kantor, Usenet, 1/93

• SWL/Scanner Clubs
  Contains the name of the club, a contact with address and (possibly) phone number, E-mail address (if any), the area of interest and the name of their news letter, if any.
• Radio Communications Monitoring Association (RCMA)
  Established in 1975 as the "The First National and International Organization of Monitor Radio Listeners"
• The Worldwide Utility News Club
  An electronic club for sharing news and information about Utility (non-broadcast) transmissions on the radio spectrum.