the FCC licencing, only allows those properly trained to use railroad radio's, the FRA has no real say over radio licencing it only has say over rules imposed by each railroad.
here for example the Norac part:
RADIOS, TELEPHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES Radio use must comply with regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The following rules are set forth to meet these regulations and to provide a safe and efficient operation.
700. Use and Care of Radios Company radios must be used exclusively for railroad operations. The use of radios other than those furnished by the Company for railroad operations is prohibited. Employees using radio equipment must exercise care to prevent damage to or loss of the equipment. Employees assigned a portable radio will be responsible for the proper care and protection of it. No technical adjustments may be made to a radio set, except by those employees specifically authorized.
701. Requirements for Trains Each train must have a working radio on the leading end of the controlling engine when it is dispatched from its initial terminal. Each train must also be equipped with a working redundant means for communicating with the Dispatcher, Operator or Yardmaster. The redundant means shall be a radio on another engine in consist, a portable radio, cellular phone, or other means of wireless two-way communication.
702. Requirements for Track Cars and Roadway Workers Track cars moving between work locations must have a working radio. When more than one track car is moving under the same authority, only one working radio is required. Each employee assigned to provide on-track safety for Roadway Workers and each lone worker must have immediate access to a working radio. When immediate access to a working radio is not available, the employee must be within hearing range of a radio capable of monitoring transmissions from train movements in the vicinity. These requirements do not apply when the work location is physically inaccessible to trains, or has no through traffic or traffic on adjacent tracks during the period when Roadway Workers are present.
703. Communications Device Testing, Failure, Interference Radio and other required communication devices must be tested as soon as practical to ensure that the equipment functions as intended, prior to commencement of the work assignment. The test of a radio shall consist of an exchange of voice transmissions with another radio. The employee receiving the transmission shall advise the employee conducting the test of the clarity of the transmission. Radios and other required communication devices that do not operate properly must be removed from service and the Dispatcher or Yardmaster notified promptly. In event of radio failure en route, the Dispatcher must be notified as soon as practical.
Radio interference from another radio station must also be reported to the Dispatcher or Yardmaster promptly with information as to location, time, and, if possible, the identity of the interfering station. If a radio fails on the controlling engine, the train may continue until the earlier of the next calendar day inspection or the next forward point where the radio can be repaired or replaced.
704. Radio Inspection Employees shall permit inspection of the radio equipment in their charge and all FCC documents pertaining thereto by a duly accredited representative of the FCC at any reasonable time.
705. Radio Transmission and Reception Procedures Before transmitting by radio, the employee must listen to ensure that the channel on which he intends to transmit is not in use. All transmissions must be repeated by the employee receiving them except: 1. Transmissions used in yard switching operations. 2. Those transmissions that do not contain any information, instruction or advice that could affect the safety of a railroad operation. Employees must ensure that radio contact with the proper persons has been made and must not take action until certain that all conversation with them has been heard, understood and acknowledged. Any radio communication that is not fully understood or completed in accordance with the requirements of these rules shall not be acted upon and shall be treated as though not sent. Emergency communications are an exception. An employee receiving a radio call must acknowledge the call immediately unless doing so would interfere with safety.
706. Radio Location and Monitoring When their duties involve the use of radio, employees must have the radio on and tuned to the proper channel at all times. The volume must be adjusted so that all transmissions can be heard. The Timetable designates fixed base stations, wayside stations, periods attended and assigned radio channels.
707. Emergency Communications All employees shall give absolute priority to emergency communications. Except in answering or aiding a station in distress, employees shall refrain from sending any communication until certain that no interference will result to the station in distress.
708. Radio Messages: Content and Code Words The following procedures will govern identification and content of messages when using radio: When originating or initially responding to a radio call, employees must: 1. Identify their employing railroad. 2. Identify their base station, wayside station or yard station by name or other designation of station and location. 3. Identify their mobile radio unit by: a. Schedule number if on a scheduled train. b. Symbol and engine number if on an extra train. If engine belongs to another company, that company’s initials must precede the engine number. c. TC followed by the number of the car if on a track car. d. Other appropriate mobile unit identification. Communication must be as brief as possible and must use these key words: “ROGER” . . . . tosignify that the message was received and understood. When required by Rule 705, “ROGER” also means that you have repeated instructions correctly.
“OVER” . . . . . at theclose of each transmission to which a response is expected.
“OUT” . . . . . . at theclose of each transmission to which a response is not necessary. “OUT” must be preceded by proper identification.
“EMERGENCY” . transmitted three times to obtain use of radio channels for initial report of conditions endangering train movements.
709. Prohibited Transmissions Employees shall not knowingly transmit: 1. Any false distress communication. 2. Any unnecessary, irrelevant, or unidentified communication. 3. Any obscene, indecent, or profane remark.
710. Radio Identification in the Yard When positive identification is achieved in connection with switching, classification, and similar operations wholly within a yard, fixed and mobile units may use short identification after the initial transmission and acknowledgement. Short identification must include engine or unit number, such as “Back up 8271” or “Go ahead 8271.” If an exchange of communications continues without substantial interruption, positive identification must be repeated every 15 minutes.
711. Radio Communication Instead of Hand Signals Employees must take the following actions when radio communication is used instead of hand signals to control a shoving, backing or pushing movement: 1. The employee directing the movement must specify a distance to be traveled. The distance specified must not exceed the distance known to be clear. 2. The movement must stop in one-half the specified distance, unless additional instructions are received. 3. The names of fixed signals affecting the movement must be communicated to the Engineer. If the instructions are not understood or radio contact is not maintained, the movement must be stopped immediately. If the means of communication is changed, no movement may be made until all crew members have been notified.
712. Signal Indications Dispatchers or Operators must not advise the aspect, name, or indication of any fixed signal, and crew members must not request this information. Crew members may use the radio to communicate a fixed signal to other members of the same crew. Except as provided in Rule 241, radio communication may not be used to convey instructions that would have the effect of overriding the indication of a fixed signal. Radio communication may only be used to impose a more restrictive action than the indication of a fixed signal.
713. Radio Communication Concerning Passing Trains A Dispatcher or Operator may accept information regarding the movement of a train from: 1. The Conductor or Engineer of another train. or 2. A Track Car Driver. or 3. Another qualified employee. When necessary to report the passage of a train prior to fouling or occupying a track, employees must identify the passing train by engine number and proper marker display. Dispatchers or Operators must not give permission for a train to foul or occupy a track until this information is received.
