GMRS is completely different and separate from the amateur radio service. The FCC defines GMRS as follows:
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed radio service that uses channels around 462 MHz and 467 MHz. The most common use of GMRS channels is for short-distance, two-way voice communications using hand-held radios, mobile radios and repeater systems. In 2017, the FCC expanded GMRS to also allow short data messaging applications including text messaging and GPS location information.
Services that provide functionality similar to GMRS include the Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS).
The GMRS is available to an individual for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members. Each licensee manages a system consisting of one or more transmitting units (stations.) The rules for GMRS limit eligibility for new GMRS system licenses to individuals in order to make the service available to personal users. (Some previously licensed non-individual systems are allowed to continue using GMRS.)
In 2017, the FCC updated the GMRS by allotting additional interstitial channels in the 467 MHz band, increased the license term from 5 to 10 years, allowed transmission of limited data applications such as text messaging and GPS location information and made other updates to the GMRS rules to reflect modern application of the service.
To use GMRS, a GMRS license is required by the FCC, but unlike the amateur radio service, no testing is required. The procedure is to file an application for the ten year license by paying a $35 fee and filing through the FCC's online Universal License System (ULS).
Here's where it gets tricky. The FCC's online system has always been somewhat notorious in the amateur radio community for not being "user-friendly" and I've always been a little smug about what I thought was my ability to navigate around the ULS system. I always had no need to resort to filing assistance from private third parties (which basically exist to do the heavy lifting involving FCC filing, albeit for an additional fee).
Well, it appears that I've finally met my match and have been unable to accomplish the simple task of filing for a GMRS license. I've been dumped into an endless loop of password resets, FRN (FCC Registration Number associations, secret and temporary number codes, etc.) I'm so confused at this point that I'm not even sure that I can explain the myriad issues to the FCC Help Desk - which has promised to get back to me within about three days or so. To be fair, the FCC is itself still recovering from the recent government shutdown, and I've always heard that their Help Desk is just that, helpful to the typical FCC user. Still, I've got the nagging feeling that maybe I'm too dumb to have a GMRS license. I guess I'll find out...one of these days.