A back door assault on Preppers is in process at the FCC; they have passed regulations prohibiting the sale or advertising of radios commonly used for communication on the homestead. If You want good radio communications, you need to act today.
I have no ties to this company, this is just the ones I use. Here is their website:
2-Pack Amcrest ATR-22 UHF Portable Radio Walkie Talkie Frequency Range 400-470 MHz FM Transceiver 16 Programmable Channels High Power Flashlight Walkie-Talkie Two-Way Radio FCC Certified - Black
One recommended radio (NOT a specific endorsement) that I have no dealings with except as a customer.
https://baofengradio.us/walkie-talkies/2-pack-amcrest-atr-22-uhf-portable-radio-walkie-talkie-frequency-range-400-470-mhz-fm-transceiver-16-programmable-channels-high-power-flashlight-walkie-talkie-two-way-radio-fcc-certified.html
This is one radio pair that will only be available for one month longer. The FCC has passed regulations that will block the sale of these radios in one month. IF you still need homestead / prepper communications, grab these immediately as they are of limited time for availability! Get more than you think you will need, because in one month you will not be able to get more.
Two of these will give you a good basic communication system. Be sure to add spare batteries.
Here is the actual FCC ruling:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/08/29/2017-17395/personal-radio-service-reform
You will need to wade through a lot of nonsense here, but that is how they write. They always act like what they do is an improvement and for the public good, but this is strictly to limit public communications.
Here is another source:
https://survivalblog.com/baofeng-sales-ban-countdown-continues/
Here is a reminder on an upcoming rule change by the FCC: On September 30, 2019, it will become illegal to sell or “offer for sale” (advertise) radios like the popular Baofeng UV-5R that can operate in the FRS radio band (462.5625 – 462.7250 MHz) and any other licensed band in a single device. Manufacturers will have to either quit selling them or block out the FRS bands–like they already do for the current cellular bands. This is the relevant verbiage:
§ 95.591 Sales of FRS combination radios prohibited.
Effective September 30, 2019, no person shall sell or offer for sale hand-held portable radio equipment capable of operating under this subpart (FRS) and under any other licensed or licensed-by-rule radio services in this chapter (devices may be authorized under this subpart with part 15 unlicensed equipment authorizations).
This is just a distillation of the FCC site's publication (will help you find the relevant part).
This is just a heads up, I intended to add a few more myself so I will order them soon!
There is no restriction on Owning or on Using these radios, they are just cutting the source, as a limiting method. So if you still need communications, do this soon, or find another method to communicate!
So avoid this brick wall, and Happy prepping...and homesteading!