729,155
active U.S. amateur radio licenses
The national count reflects FCC public license data through October 28, 2026.
Source: ARRL FCC License Counts ↗Data date: October 28, 2026Central NC Radio Sales / radio reference
CB & 10 meter
radio facts.
Clear, citable U.S. facts for operators, writers and anyone sorting out the line between CB and amateur radio. Every figure below points to a named source and date.
Read the numbers correctly
Different bands.
Different rules.
CB and 10 meter equipment often appear in the same conversations, but they are not interchangeable services. CB is licensed by rule, which means an individual CB license is not required. The 10 meter band is part of the Amateur Radio Service, where operating privileges depend on the operator’s license class.
These facts are a reference, not operating instructions. Check the current FCC rules and the documentation for your equipment before transmitting.
Current U.S. reference figures
Six facts worth keeping straight.
23,183
active amateur radio licenses in North Carolina
North Carolina’s total includes 10,686 Technician, 6,196 General and 5,405 Amateur Extra licenses, plus legacy classes.
Source: ARRL FCC License Counts ↗Data date: October 28, 202640
authorized CB radio channels
The CB Radio Service channel table runs from 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz.
Source: 47 CFR § 95.407 ↗Data date: Current eCFR edition checked October 30, 2026440 kHz
span of the CB channel plan
That is the difference between the lowest authorized CB channel frequency, 26.965 MHz, and the highest, 27.405 MHz.
Source: 47 CFR § 95.407 ↗Data date: Current eCFR edition checked October 30, 20264 W
maximum CB AM carrier power
For single-sideband emissions, the listed limit is 12 watts PEP, or peak envelope power.
Source: 47 CFR § 95.410 ↗Data date: Current eCFR edition checked October 30, 20261.7 MHz
span of the 10 meter amateur band
The U.S. allocation runs from 28.000 MHz to 29.700 MHz. Operating privileges within it depend on license class.
Source: 47 CFR § 97.301 ↗Data date: Current eCFR edition checked October 30, 2026At a glance
CB and 10 meter, side by side.
| Service | Frequency range | License | Power fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB Radio Service | 26.965 to 27.405 MHz | Individual license not required | 4 W AM carrier, 12 W PEP SSB |
| 10 meter Amateur Radio | 28.000 to 29.700 MHz | Amateur license required, privileges vary by class | Rules vary by license class and emission |
Frequency, licensing and CB power figures come from FCC Part 95 and FCC Part 97, current eCFR editions checked October 30, 2026.
Methodology and sources
Built to be checked.
This page uses current FCC regulations for band, channel and power figures. Active amateur license counts come from ARRL’s state-by-state report, which states that it is based on FCC public data. Calculated spans are shown as the difference between the published band endpoints.
- FCC Part 95, Personal Radio Services, current eCFR edition checked October 30, 2026.
- FCC Part 97, Amateur Radio Service, current eCFR edition checked October 30, 2026.
- ARRL FCC License Counts, report through October 28, 2026.
Cite this page
Central NC Radio Sales. “CB & 10 Meter Radio Facts.” Updated October 30, 2026. https://centralncradiosales.com/radio-statistics
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