Wednesday, October 21, 2009

AMATEUR SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS

AMATEUR SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2259A1.pdf>
(DA No. 09-2259). FCC/WTB

...Some entities, such as hospitals, emergency operations centers, and
police, fire, and emergency medical service stations, have expressed
interest in having their employees who are amateur station operators
participate in these drills by transmitting messages on the entity's behalf.
The Commission's Rules, however, specifically prohibit amateur stations from
transmitting communications "in which the station licensee or control
operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an
employer...

...we take this opportunity to provide a clear process for requesting a
waiver, and the information that we require in order to consider granting
such a request. ...

...In an actual emergency, the Commission's Rules provide that an amateur
station may use any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide
essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of
human life and the immediate protection of property when normal
communication systems are not available. In those circumstances, rule
waiver is not necessary.

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