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FCC requiring that EBAY sellers submit FCC ID on any radios going up for sale????????

DelR​

FCC can pick them up, subpoena Ebay records, get the shipping addresses, and sit down your street and wait, especially during the winter season. Then come spring hit the yard sales and swap meets. Maybe even sell some things online, ship them, then meet them there a few days later to take them back. So, would this be considered a Felony?
Click to expand...

This is where the [47 U.S.C. § 302a] and 47 CFR Part 2, Market Restrictions) differs from ownership though as far as my understanding goes.

You as the private individual are doing nothing wrong by purchasing non-approved equipment, nothing at all, nothing to see here.

However, IF you stick a power lead in the back along with an antenna and transmit then you could be reasonably prosecuted under FCC statute IF "they" can prove you did it with that non-approved equipment. They'd literally have to catch you in the act or if determined enough, seize your equipment and fingerprint the transmission artifacts beyond doubt.

This is almost identical to OFCOM rules in the UK.

Simply owning, or purchasing is not a violation, as I understand it.

However, for the platform (eBay, Craiglist, FB marketplace etc. etc.) allowing the sale of on their platform is a violation.

Its not even the sellers problem in most cases unless that's also a commercial operation using eBay and the like, then they "might" go for you too.
 
Shadetree Mechanic said:
This is what the FCC has on their radar:

Click to expand...
The director of the FCC last year said
Delete Delete Delete
Too many rules
The director of the FCC this year says
More rules More rules More rules
More rules
This is the same scenario as when they pressured flea bay to stop selling Export radios and got stopped in court by Rangers lawyers......
And had to pay Rangers legal fees.
Lovely


73
Jeff
 
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I thought I'd dig a little deeper to see what Ranger Communications, Inc did to win this or at least throw it into the long grass.

Using the information a hand as it is from these posts I got the following cited information regarding a case from 1998 regarding Ranger and the FCC. I could not find anything more recent.

The crux of the outcome was Ranger won on blunder by the Federal prosecutor at the time, procedural as such so not a change to the understanding or implemenation of the FCC rules.

Posting what I found below via the following prompt for AI.

p.s. it even cited a WWRF forum post started in 2010... FOUND HERE

"Did Ranger Communications, Inc win a legal case over eBay and or the FCC over the sale of Export CB radios in the USA? if so can you cite the case and the outcome."

No, Ranger Communications, Inc. did not win a legal case that allows or legitimises the sale of unapproved export CB radios. However, there is a famous federal criminal case involving Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc. and the US Government (acting on FCC regulations) where the company did technically secure a major procedural and financial win against the prosecution, which often leads to confusion or rumors in the radio community. [1, 2]
There is no record of a successful civil lawsuit where Ranger won against eBay to force the listing of unapproved radios. [3]
The actual, landmark federal case regarding Ranger and the legality of importing these radios outlines what happened:

The Case:​

United States v. Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc.​

  • Citation: 22 F. Supp. 2d 667 (W.D. Mich. 1998), reversed in part on appeal in U.S. v. Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc., 210 F.3d 627 (6th Cir. 2000). [4]
  • The Dispute: In the late 1990s, the US government indicted Ranger Electronic Communications (the foreign manufacturing branch based in Taiwan, known in the case as "Ranger Taiwan"), along with 17 other individuals and companies (including a prominent Michigan distributor). [1, 4]
  • The Charges: The government charged Ranger under federal smuggling and customs laws (18 U.S.C. § 545), alleging they had illegally imported "modifiable" or "open" radios into the United States. The government argued these radios were intentionally designed to bypass FCC type-acceptance regulations and be operated illegally on the 11-meter Citizens Band (CB) rather than strictly being legitimate 10-meter Amateur (Ham) radios. [1, 2, 5]

The Outcome​

The outcome of the litigation was a split, complex legal result rather than a blanket victory for the legality of export radios:

  1. Dismissal of Charges against Ranger Taiwan: During the trial, the federal prosecution committed a major blunder by failing to hand over thousands of pages of internal FCC documents during discovery (a Brady violation). Because of this government misconduct, the district court dismissed the illegal importation charges with prejudice against Ranger Taiwan and its primary executive, Jim Peng. [2, 6, 7]
  2. Ranger Awarded Attorneys' Fees: The district court initially found the government's withholding of documents to be so vexatious and in bad faith that they awarded Ranger Taiwan its legal fees under the Hyde Amendment (though parts of this financial award were later litigated and restricted on appeal due to strict timelines regarding when a company must request Hyde fees). [2, 4]
  3. The Catch (Guilty Pleas from Sister Companies): While Ranger Taiwan got its charges dropped due to the prosecution's misconduct, its associated US-based subsidiary, Ranger USA, pled guilty to money laundering charges linked to the sale of the radios. Ranger USA agreed to a massive criminal forfeiture of $990,000. Another sister company, Ranger Shanghai, pled no contest to illegal importation. [2, 6]

The Reality on eBay and the FCC​

Because the case against the Taiwanese manufacturer was dismissed over a procedural violation rather than a ruling on the validity of FCC rules, the FCC regulations banning the marketing and importation of uncertified export CB radios remained completely intact. [1, 5]


  • The Rumour Mill: In radio forums, users sometimes misinterpret the dismissal of Ranger Taiwan's criminal smuggling charges as a ruling that "export radios are legal," which is untrue.
  • eBay's Policy: eBay acts strictly to protect itself from liability under FCC marketing rules (47 U.S.C. § 302a), which prohibit platforms from facilitating the sale of uncertified RF devices. eBay implements strict automated filters to block listings of unapproved export radios (like modified RCI-2950s or unauthorized Galaxy models). eBay's rigid enforcement is a protective compliance measure, and no court case has ever successfully forced eBay to host illegal radio equipment. [3, 8]


[1] https://law.justia.com
[2] https://www.casemine.com
[3] https://www.worldwidedx.com
[4] https://law.justia.com
[5] https://www.casemine.com
[6] https://caselaw.findlaw.com
[7] https://case-law.vlex.com
[8] https://www.youtube.com
 
Last edited:
TM007 said:
I thought I'd dig a little deeper to see what Ranger Communications, Inc did to win this or at least throw it into the long grass.

Using the information a hand as it is from these posts I got the following cited information regarding a case from 1998 regarding Ranger and the FCC. I could not find anything more recent.

The crux of the outcome was Ranger won on blunder by the Federal prosecutor at the time, procedural as such so not a change to the understanding or implemenation of the FCC rules.

Posting what I found below via the following prompt for AI.

p.s. it even cited a WWRF forum post started in 2010... FOUND HERE

"Did Ranger Communications, Inc win a legal case over eBay and or the FCC over the sale of Export CB radios in the USA? if so can you cite the case and the outcome."

No, Ranger Communications, Inc. did not win a legal case that allows or legitimises the sale of unapproved export CB radios. However, there is a famous federal criminal case involving Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc. and the US Government (acting on FCC regulations) where the company did technically secure a major procedural and financial win against the prosecution, which often leads to confusion or rumors in the radio community. [1, 2]
There is no record of a successful civil lawsuit where Ranger won against eBay to force the listing of unapproved radios. [3]
The actual, landmark federal case regarding Ranger and the legality of importing these radios outlines what happened:

The Case:​

United States v. Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc.​

  • Citation: 22 F. Supp. 2d 667 (W.D. Mich. 1998), reversed in part on appeal in U.S. v. Ranger Electronic Communications, Inc., 210 F.3d 627 (6th Cir. 2000). [4]
  • The Dispute: In the late 1990s, the US government indicted Ranger Electronic Communications (the foreign manufacturing branch based in Taiwan, known in the case as "Ranger Taiwan"), along with 17 other individuals and companies (including a prominent Michigan distributor). [1, 4]
  • The Charges: The government charged Ranger under federal smuggling and customs laws (18 U.S.C. § 545), alleging they had illegally imported "modifiable" or "open" radios into the United States. The government argued these radios were intentionally designed to bypass FCC type-acceptance regulations and be operated illegally on the 11-meter Citizens Band (CB) rather than strictly being legitimate 10-meter Amateur (Ham) radios. [1, 2, 5]

The Outcome​

The outcome of the litigation was a split, complex legal result rather than a blanket victory for the legality of export radios:

  1. Dismissal of Charges against Ranger Taiwan: During the trial, the federal prosecution committed a major blunder by failing to hand over thousands of pages of internal FCC documents during discovery (a Brady violation). Because of this government misconduct, the district court dismissed the illegal importation charges with prejudice against Ranger Taiwan and its primary executive, Jim Peng. [2, 6, 7]
  2. Ranger Awarded Attorneys' Fees: The district court initially found the government's withholding of documents to be so vexatious and in bad faith that they awarded Ranger Taiwan its legal fees under the Hyde Amendment (though parts of this financial award were later litigated and restricted on appeal due to strict timelines regarding when a company must request Hyde fees). [2, 4]
  3. The Catch (Guilty Pleas from Sister Companies): While Ranger Taiwan got its charges dropped due to the prosecution's misconduct, its associated US-based subsidiary, Ranger USA, pled guilty to money laundering charges linked to the sale of the radios. Ranger USA agreed to a massive criminal forfeiture of $990,000. Another sister company, Ranger Shanghai, pled no contest to illegal importation. [2, 6]

The Reality on eBay and the FCC​

Because the case against the Taiwanese manufacturer was dismissed over a procedural violation rather than a ruling on the validity of FCC rules, the FCC regulations banning the marketing and importation of uncertified export CB radios remained completely intact. [1, 5]


  • The Rumour Mill: In radio forums, users sometimes misinterpret the dismissal of Ranger Taiwan's criminal smuggling charges as a ruling that "export radios are legal," which is untrue.
  • eBay's Policy: eBay acts strictly to protect itself from liability under FCC marketing rules (47 U.S.C. § 302a), which prohibit platforms from facilitating the sale of uncertified RF devices. eBay implements strict automated filters to block listings of unapproved export radios (like modified RCI-2950s or unauthorized Galaxy models). eBay's rigid enforcement is a protective compliance measure, and no court case has ever successfully forced eBay to host illegal radio equipment. [3, 8]


[1] https://law.justia.com
[2] https://www.casemine.com
[3] https://www.worldwidedx.com
[4] https://law.justia.com
[5] https://www.casemine.com
[6] https://caselaw.findlaw.com
[7] https://case-law.vlex.com
[8] https://www.youtube.com
Click to expand...
The lawyer who represents Ranger in the case quoted above is a member here, I tagged him in hopes he would see this and respond.
He is also the same lawyer who represented Bill with they tried to remove his RCI 2970 from flea bay and the FCC lost again.
As far as export radios being illegal Ron, Son watcher called the FCC directly and asked the question
Can a Ham legally use a export radio on the bands that are authorized by their license.
The answer was
Yes
It's legal for a licensed ham to use "export" equipment as long as it's within the bands they are authorized for.
Again
The FCC talking out both sides of their mouths

73
Jeff
 
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Thanks @AudioShockwav for that background information. I think that's the important detail you have there and clearly you have lived this like many others here and in CA and UK for sure.

A licenced radio operator running a RCI 2970 wouldn't be an issue in the UK either on 10m or 12m. It wouldn't however have the same grace even being operated by a licenced operator outside authorized bands i.e. 11m or indeed even the CEPT or funky UK FM allocation for CB.

I'd love to know more (just interested) about Bill having his 2970 removed from eBay and then being allowed to list. A bit of leap but I suspect as it is a 2970 and is 10 & 12M there was no grounds for the eBay to remove the item as its not illegal to sell or own and the only requirement is the user must be a Licenced operator.

I have owned a 2970DX-150 since 2007, bought from a now long gone and very respected reseller here in the UK called Truck King.

I think the difficulty with equipment and therefore the interpretation of the Marketplaces is the spaghetti of contradictions and nuances to this whole area.

Those marketplaces want an easy life (more money, less humans) and it looks like algorithms and AI rule bases have been poorly implemented for the UK at least since April 2026 (As I said elsewhere eBay UK quoted FCC rules to UK eBay sellers!) :rolleyes: as reason for their listing being removed.

There is no wonder its a sh1t show but I have good memories of the vast majority of forum users back in the day selling their kit on forums. Yes there were more forums then but it worked, reputations were built and lasted.

I wonder at the end of the day the private enterprises that eBay, FB Marketplace etc. are can and will just draw a line and pull equipment for their own rules irrespective of any government "diktat" after all its their ball and they can take it away anytime they want.
 

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