Discussion on FCC Public Notice - EmergencyCommunications Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : EmergencyCommunications : Discussion on FCC Public Notice

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Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by KD0EBT on October 31, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I've been reading about the clarification of Amateur Radio Operators participation during drills. So if I am reading it correctly then, I have a scenario to present for discussion. In light of the FCC clarification then, wouldn't the ARRL have to apply for a wavier for it's staff (for example Dennis Dura K2DCD) to participate in the annual ARRL ARES SET? Your thoughts.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by K7VV on October 31, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Nope, the notice applies to "Government Disaster Drills", and ARRL ain't the Government.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by KD0EBT on October 31, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Thank you for that clarification. So is it the sponsoring entity then that validates or makes null the ruling.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by K7VV on October 31, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Don't know what that means. If a 'government agency' wants to sponsor an exercise using amateur radio, AND, it wants hams who are government employees to use their radios duirng that exercise, THEN all of the govermental agencies must file for a waiver for those employees. Just to be on the safe side, I'd say that EACH agency that wants its employees to participate should file for a waiver.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by AA4PB on November 1, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I think its ANY EMPLOYER who wants their ham employees to participate in a *Government sponsored* drill on their behalf that has to apply for the waver. If ARRL wanted their employee to represent them on the air during a Homeland Security drill then I expect they would need a waver. I think the FCC's concern is things like local hospitals and EOCs setting up an amateur station and having their employees get amateur licenses to operate it for them during drills (or even for more routing operations). The FCC doesn't want amateur radio to become a "cheap alternative" to purchasing a commercial communications system.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by KD0EBT on November 1, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
So restrict the information that can be transmitted and recieved and not the person. We already have many rulings in place that address it. Make rules and guidelines that move organizations and business to utilize business communications. Also on a side note, there are many radio clubs that have working relationships, Medical communications groups with hospitals, and private search and rescue, etc, does this mean many of them are probably in violation of these rulings??

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by KD0EBT on November 1, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
So restrict the information that can be transmitted and recieved and not the person. We already have many rulings in place that address it. Make rules and guidelines that move organizations and business to utilize business communications. Also on a side note, there are many radio clubs that have working relationships, Medical communications groups with hospitals, and private search and rescue, etc, does this mean many of them are probably in violation of these rulings??

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by AA4PB on November 1, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Your local radio club can have volunteer operators operate a radio station located at the local hospital. The problem arises when hospital employees who happen to be licensed hams operate the radio to conduct "hospital communications" on behalf of their employer. As the FCC indicated, even that is automatically permitted in an actual emergency where life and property are at risk. If the hospital wants their employees to operate the station for a drill they have to submit a specific request to do so. Organizations like hospitals do have commercial communications options available to them for routine and emergency work. What the FCC is trying to do is to impress upon them that amateur radio is not a cheap alternative to those commercial options. They don't want businesses running amateur radio classes to get employees licensed so that they can operate amateur stations for the business, thereby avoiding the higher cost of commercial equipment.

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by K7VV on November 1, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
So, during an exercise NOT sponsored by a 'governmental entity', like the ARRL's SET, government employees CAN participate without the 'entity' filing for a waiver?

RE: Discussion on FCC Public Notice	Reply
by KD0EBT on November 2, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Then every disaster drill should apply for the wavier, because there is always that potential for "pecuniary interest" Another example would be a ham operator that is assigned to shadow a school bus transporting drill victims and also he/she is an employee of the public school system. While I understand the importance of avoiding the "picunary interest", drills are ment to practice like the real thing and operators should have some familiarity of their potential assignments (i.e. where to report, who to report to, facility layout, etc etc etc). Thougts??

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