Batboard

So this past weekend I was helping at an event and we needed the usage of some rental radios (which I was not involved in setting up).

First, we found it strange that the rental company placed their company name sticker over the make and model name of the radio on the front of the radio. It was clear that it looked like an HT750 but where it said it on the front of the radio, as stated it had the rentals company name covering it all.

So later we had to change batteries, thank goodness they gave us spares, and when we did we saw that on the back where the radio tages were suppose to be at the company put stickers over that information. However, they did make a duplicate type sticker with the FCC ID # and place it on the back below the company sticker.

So here are the questions I have raised in my mind:

1.) What are the legal requirements for back tags on the radio? Is it OK as long as they have the FCC ID # showing?

2.) Do radio rental companies have to obtain auth. from radio makers (i.e. Motorola, Kenwood, Icom, etc...) to rent radios to the public for profit, or can they just buy radios and rent them out?

At this point in time I am not going to say the companies name because if this is ALL legal/OK I don't want to defame the company because I don't understand something.

Anyone know the answer?

Not a lawyer, but I think the info tag is like the tag on your mattress that says you cannot remove it under penalty of law etc etc etc. The original seller has to keep the tag attached. But, once it's your mattress, you can do what ever you want to the tag. As for authority to rent, if you own it, you can do what ever you want with it be it a jack hammer, garden tiller, limo, or radio.

If it helps, and sort of related to your question, the legalities of renting radios in the USA require that the renter have an FCC Private Carrier License, which is intended to convey the right to rent radios to people who are not part of your company but allows them to operate under your PC license. In practice this rule is often ignored, I've found.

First thing I thought of when you said their tags were covering the models were GP340 or similar non US radios, maybe not type accepted or legal in the states, so a 'counterfeit' fcc label was applied.

Possible? Maybe.

But correct if I am wrong I thought the labels had to be in tact on the back of the radio?

Also if for some reason they did cover the FCC ID # can they just make a new one and place it on the back?

This is what I found very strange, oh well no big deal just wondering as it seemed so weird. I will say this though on all accy that they provide they do have the company name covering the name of the equipment.