 citizens band radio (often shortened to cb radio) is a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-mhz (11 m) band. in the united kingdom, c.b. radio was first legally introduced in 1981, but had been used illegally for some years prior. in december 2006, c.b. radio was deregulated by ofcom and is now licence free. although the use of c.b. radios in the uk has declined from its peak, it is still popular, especially with the farming community, land rover owners and mini-cab services. it is also fitted as standard to 'street glide' and 'electra glide' models of harley davidson touring motorcycles sold in the uk.touring street glideÂ® | motorcycle touring | harley-davidson uk ==history== c.b. radio was first introduced into the united kingdom around 1972. early use was known around the airports in the uk, particularly stansted in 1973. as citizens band radio has been advertised in the u.s. since before 1962,american radio relay league, qst, volume xlv, 1961, february, p111. it is possible that a number of these radios were brought into the u.k. and used illegally.norman mcleod mps put a final-twenty on cb, new scientist, july 12, 1979 pages 92-95 in 1978, c.b. radio in britain was much popularized by its use in the film convoy and the usage of illegal c.b. radio peaked in 1980. companies in britain sold u.s. equipment quite openly, and equipment was readily available in car accessory shops. during this time, a great many c.b. clubs emerged in the uk and they became centres of protest in the march towards legalisation, in the hope that existing equipment could be used legally. in response to this, the government commissioned a white paper proposing a c.b. service called "open channel" around 860&nbsp;mhz. the u.k. government eventually legalised c.b. radio, and on 2 november 1981 a c.b. service was introduced on a frequency band and offset that is incompatible with the imported american radios. at the same time the ownership of non-uk approved 27&nbsp;mhz transceivers was made illegal except for those obtained by uk radio amateurs holding a uk "a" (hf) licence, for conversion to the 28&nbsp;mhz (10 metre) amateur allocation. given that virtually all illegal c.b. radios were contraband, this concession required the licensed amateur to pay outstanding import duty and vat. a licence to operate these new radios became compulsory, and this could be purchased from most post office counters for Â£15. unlike that required to qualify for a radio amateur licence, no proof of technical competence was 
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