it was declassified and made public in 1976. Citizens' Band (CB) After the war the FCC allocated the first frequencies for personal radio services; the Citizens' Radio Service Frequency Band (1946). Gross formed Gross Electronics Co. to produce two-way communications system to utilize these frequencies, and his company was the first to receive FCC approval in 1948. He sold more than 100 thousand units of his system, mostly to farmers and the U.S. Coast Guard. Two-way radios Cartoonist Chester Gould asked if he could use Gross' concept of a miniaturized two-way radio in his Dick Tracy comic strip. The result was the Dick Tracy two-way wrist radio. Telephone pager Another breakthrough came in 1949 when he adapted his two-way radios to one-way for cordless remote telephonic signaling. He had effectively invented the first telephone pager system. His intention for this system was to be used by medical doctors, but was met with skepticism by doctors who were afraid the system would upset patients. This same technology is used in one-way radio signaling devices such as garage door openers. Later years In 1950 he tried in vain to interest telephone companies in mobile telephony. Bell Telephone was uninterested, and other companies were afraid of Bell's monopoly on transmission lines. Gross continued inventing, and began working as a specialist in microwave and other communications systems for companies such as Sperry Corporation and General Electric. He continued working until his death at age 82. Recognition Gross has received much recognition for his work, including, but not limited to: Awards 1992: Fred M. Link Award from the Radio Club of America 1984: IEEE Centennial Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, for his work in VHF and UHF mobile radio. 1997: Marconi Memorial Gold Medal of Achievement from the Veteran Wireless Operators Association 1998: Eta Kappa Nu's Vladimir Karapetoff Eminent Members' Award 1999: Edwin Howard Armstrong Achievement Award from the IEEE Communications Society 2000: IEEE Millennium Medal Honors 2000: Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award for Invention and Innovation See also Wireless communication Radio References External links In Memoriam, from IEEE (requires login) Al Gross Papers, Ms2001-011, at the Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives Digital images from the Al Gross Papers, Ms2001-011, and exhibits from Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives Inventor of the Week — Article on Al Gross from MIT Al Gross - father of Walkie Talkies — Short