eBay Exempts Ham-Band Gear from Radio Restrictions
Original: eBay Restricts Listings of Radio Equipment, but Exempts Ham-Band-Only Gear
Why This Matters
eBay is a primary secondhand market for amateur radio gear; restrictions affect hobbyist access.
eBay has restricted listings of radio equipment on its platform but carved out an exemption for ham-band-only gear, according to the ARRL Letter published October 15, 2026. Details on scope and enforcement remain limited.
eBay has moved to restrict the sale of certain radio equipment on its marketplace, but amateur radio operators got a notable carve-out: gear that operates exclusively on ham bands is exempt from the new policy. The ARRL Letter flagged the development in its October 15, 2026 issue, though the newsletter provides limited detail on the full scope of the restrictions or which specific equipment categories are affected beyond that exemption.
The move likely reflects ongoing pressure from regulators and law enforcement around the sale of illegally modified or out-of-band radios — particularly cheap Chinese-made handhelds that can be programmed to transmit on frequencies outside their certified range. The FCC has escalated enforcement against such devices in recent years. By exempting ham-band-only equipment, eBay appears to be drawing a line between gear intended for licensed amateur use and radios that could be used to interfere with public safety or commercial frequencies.
No official statement from eBay was included in the available excerpt, and ARRL has not yet published a full response.