Multi-Use Radio Service

Established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in the fall of 2000, MURS created a radio service allowing for licensed by rule (Part 95) operation in a narrow selection of the VHF band, with a power limit of 2 watts.

The FCC formally defines MURS as "a private, two-way, short-distance voice or data communications service for personal or business activities of the general public."

[8] Since MURS radios use frequencies in the VHF business band, they are subject to obstructions in line of sight, which includes the curvature of the Earth.

Most analog two-way radios utilize a technology called CTCSS or DCS that helps block out unwanted transmissions.

The goTenna, a digital radio product, operates on the MURS band and pairs with smartphones to enable users to send texts and share locations on a peer-to-peer basis.

goTenna is not interoperable with other MURS devices, even though they operate on the same spectrum, employing "listen-before-talk" to reduce interference in the band's five channels.