Family Radio Service (FRS) is used by family, friends and associates to communicate within a neighborhood and has a communications range of less than one mile. You can not make a telephone call with an FRS unit. You may even use an FRS unit for business-related communications and there are no monthly fees or service contracts. You are not required to have a license. FRS radios have a maximum power of ½ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power.

You may have seen these small radios in the electronics section of local stores. For communities such as ours these inexpensive devices are very useful for Neighborhood Watch functions. By leaving one of these devices in a monitoring state, Country Club Oaks residents can immediately be made aware of situations that affect our neighborhood. While there is absolutely no requirement for ownership of one or more of these "walkie-talkies"  it is something every homeowner may want to consider.

Family Readiness Kit

(with excellent links)