Use of Ham Radio during emergencies and emergency practice drills

[Rob Seastrom]

Was that discussion perhaps somewhere else?  I don't remember it being
on this list.  Then again I'm relying on my memory rather than
consulting the source material... just as the people arguing op cit
did.

In recognition of the crummy cellular and public wifi coverage at
Tippy's, likewise anticipating future opportunities for pedantry, I
just downloaded a PDF of Part 97 to my iPad and encourage all my
esteemed colleagues here to do likewise.

-r


Terry McCarty <3t3 at comcast.net> writes:

> ALCON-
> This is an FYI / QST
> A few months ago, the topic of "could paid firemen, EMTs, or other 'first
> responders', who were also licensed hams, use Amateur Radios during an
> emergency or during an emergency preparedness practice drill ?".
> There was no concern for situations where a real emergency existed - everyone
> recognized that when all else fails anyone can use a ham radio to save lives
> or property when there is no other means of communication. 
> The point of contention related to the fact that when an emergency responder
> is 'on duty' and in need of communications in order to practice saving life or
> property, does the prohibition on accepting monetary compensation for using
> their radio operator's privileges, preclude them from practicing the use of
> ham radio equipment as a part of the practice drill.  During the period of
> time that they are 'on the air' using a ham radio, practicing for an
> emergency, they would in fact be being paid to do so.
> Also, up for discussion was the issue of the nature or authorization or
> certification of the training and drills - were they to be:
>
>           1) 'government sponsored' i.e. ARES
>         or
>      2) 'privately or non government sponsored' i.e. Prince William
>      Hospital or Potomac Hospital sponsored.
>      
>
>
> Well ... it turns out that those questions were answered in an FCC REPORT AND
> ORDER adopted: July 14, 2010 and released July 14, 2010 (see attached PDF)
> and/or at the WWW on:
> [[http://www.qsl.net/lmtdcs/FCC-10-124A.pdf]]
> That FCC order states:
>
>           "In this Report and Order, we amend the Commission's amateur
>      radio service rules.
>      
>
>
>
>                          1 Specifically, we amend the rules to
>           permit amateur radio operators to transmit messages, under
>           certain limited circumstances, during either government
>           sponsored or non government sponsored emergency and
>           disaster preparedness drills, regardless of whether the
>           operators are employees of entities participating in the
>           drill. Although public safety land mobile radio systems
>           are the primary means of radio-based communications for
>           emergency responders, experience has shown that amateur
>           radio has played an important role in preparation for,
>           during, and in the aftermath of, natural and man-made
>           emergencies and disasters.
>           
>           2. Current rules provide for amateur radio use during
>           emergencies.  At the same time, the rules prohibit
>           communications in which the station licensee or control
>           operator has a pecuniary interest, including
>           communications on behalf of an employer.  While there are
>           some exceptions to this prohibition, there is none that
>           would permit amateur station control operators who are
>           employees of public safety agencies and other entities,
>           such as hospitals, to participate in drills, tests, and
>           exercises in preparation for such emergency situations and
>           transmit messages on behalf of their employers during such
>           drills and tests.  Accordingly, we amend our rules to
>           provide that, under certain limited conditions, amateur
>           radio operators may transmit messages during emergency and
>           disaster preparedness drills and exercises, limited to the
>           duration of such drills and exercises, regardless of
>           whether the operators are employees of entities
>           participating in the drills or exercises."
>           
>
>
> Toward the end of the document you will also find the following:
>
>                          "97.113 Prohibited transmissions.
>           
>
>                               (a) * * *
>                
>
>                                         (3) Communications
>                     in which the station licensee or
>                     control operator has a pecuniary
>                     interest, including communications on
>                     behalf of an employer, with the
>                     following exceptions:
>                     
>                     
>
>                                                   (i)
>                          A station licensee or
>                          control station operator may
>                          participate on behalf of an
>                          employer in an emergency
>                          preparedness or disaster
>                          readiness test or drill,
>                          limited to the duration and
>                          scope of such test or drill,
>                          and operational testing
>                          immediately prior to such
>                          test or drill.  Tests or
>                          drills that are not
>                          government sponsored are
>                          limited to a total time of
>                          one hour per week ; except
>                          that no more than twice in
>                          any calendar year, they may
>                          be conducted for a period
>                          not to exceed 72 hours."
>                          
>
>
>
>
> End of FYI / QST
> -- 
>      Terry McCarty
>     [[3t3 at comcast.net]]
>         wa5nti