subject: A Brief Look At The Cb Radio [print this page] There was, and still is, another media which is making its rounds and has nothing to do with the Internet. The technology I am referring to is the CB radio.
Although the CB radio didn't really make its mark until the 70's, selling over 7 million units in one year, the CB (Citizens Band) radio service was started by the FCC as a personal radio service back in 1945. The first CB radios to appear on the scene were expensive, and functioned in the UHF range, that is to say the 460 to 470 MHz range.
By 1958 however, part of the CB radio service was moved out of the UHF range to 27 MHz, and the frequency was then dubbed "CB". The other CB services which still use the UHF bands were then separated into the General Mobile Radio Service and the Family Radio Service.
Shortly thereafter, businesses starting using the CB service for their communication needs; they found it extremely useful for making service calls such as calls to electrical and plumbing workers.
The FCC regulated the service, and everyone was required to have a license and a call sign to operate. As time went by, the technology advanced and became more affordable and less bulky. More and more CB sets were purchased, CB clubs began to take shape, and a new form of CB slang was created. This new slang consisted of an adapted form of the "10" codes used by emergency services.
The popularity of the CB really boomed in the 1970's after President Nixon signed the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act. This act forbid drivers to exceed a speed of 55 mph. Many drivers didn't take a shine to this Act and believed that they should have the right to go as fast as they darn well pleased. Enter the CB. The CB became a way for drivers to warn each other about speed traps, empty gas stations, and even organize protests.
The CB really gained popularity when films such as "Smokey and the Bandit, and TV shows like "The Dukes of Hazzard" hit the airwaves, making the CB an instant hit worldwide. Many people ignored the regulations set by the FCC, and they often operated not only without a license, but also without an authorized call sign. In effect, these "handles" allowed users to chat anonymously with one another, much like in internet chat rooms today.
Eventually the requirement to have a license for a CB was dropped, and in 1977 the number of channels available on the CB were extended from 23 to 40.
CB ultimately was a casualty of its own popularity. With thousands of users it meant that the frequencies were crowded, and communication became difficult at times. Eventually it got better, but many people had by then switched over to cell phones, and remained the choice for communication for many families, and the CB radio was dropped. However, for travelers and truck drivers, the CB is still the communication method of choice.
