FCC 23CH. RADIO SALES BAN
(an excerpt from the book:
"CBdAZE: A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION ON THE HISTORY
OF CB RADIO", Copyright 2009 Brian Woodbury)
48 years ago, at this time of year, CB radio manufacturers were thrown into turmoil by the FCC’s decision to ban the sale of 23-channel transceivers.
The sudden shift came without prior consultation with industry leaders, leaving many manufacturers in the dark about how this would affect their existing products. While discussions had been circulating about the potential for a 40-channel CB spectrum, no one expected the FCC’s move to take place so quickly or so drastically.
What happened:
Without warning, the FCC expanded the CB radio spectrum by adding 17 new channels to the existing 23, creating a total of 40 channels. The decision caught the entire industry off guard, creating widespread chaos among manufacturers and consumers alike.
Why the furor?
For years leading up to the announcement, millions of 23-channel radios had been sold to consumers who relied on them for personal and business communication. These radios, once the pinnacle of CB technology, were suddenly outdated and rendered virtually obsolete by the FCC’s new mandate.
At the time, many companies had substantial inventory of the 23-channel radios—millions of dollars' worth—sitting in warehouses and stores across the world. These radios, which were now legally unsellable, left manufacturers facing serious financial losses and forced them to scramble for solutions.
What happened next:
It was a bloodbath. With the FCC’s cut-off for selling the 23-channel radios set for January 1, 1977, manufacturers found themselves in a race against time to redesign their radios. The shift from crystal-controlled frequency synthesis to PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) chips was a huge engineering challenge. To make matters worse, companies had to find ways to deal with the millions of unsold 23-channel radios that were now obsolete—putting them in a difficult financial position that would haunt the industry for years to come...
"The deadline was briefly extended, but the die had already been cast. Within approximately three years, industry leaders such as Pearce-Simpson, E.F. Johnson, Kraco, SBE, PACE, Royce, Regency, and several others withdrew from the CB radio market and ultimately ceased to exist."
For further context, please read the article below, published in January 1978, in the Birmingham news:
Article from 06 Jan 1978, Fri The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) Cb radio, 23ch., Fcc sales ban
**A short extension was granted, but it couldn't save the industry - no one wanted to buy a 23 channel CB radio when 40ch. radios were selling along side them.
I'll leave you pondering over this glimpse of CB radio history. So, 'Nuff Said, and see you next time!
73
