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ares news
4 August 2010: FCC to Allow Government Drills Without a Waiver as of September 3
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In July, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O) that amended Part 97 -- more specifically Section 97.113
-- stating that government entities sponsoring disaster and emergency
drills will no longer need to apply for a waiver to hold these drills.
Additionally, employees who wish to participate in
non-government-sponsored drills and exercises may do so under certain
conditions. Part 97 is the portion of the Commission’s rules that
govern the Amateur Radio Service. In the August 4th edition of the
Federal Register, the FCC issued a summary of the R&O entitled
Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Amateur Radio Service
Communications During Government Disaster Drills --noting that the effective date of these new rules will be September 3, 2010.
From the ARRL Website
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16
July 2010: FCC Modifies Amateur Rules to Allow Participation in
Disaster and Emergency Drills on Behalf of an Employer without a Waiver
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In a Report and Order (R&O)
released Wednesday, July 14, the FCC amended Part 97.113 to allow
amateurs to participate without an FCC waiver in government-sponsored
disaster preparedness drills on behalf of their employers participating
in the exercise. The FCC also has amended the rules to allow employees
to participate in non-government drills and exercises up to one hour
per week and up to two 72-hour periods during the year.
“Experience has shown that amateur operations can and have played an
essential role in protecting the safety of life and property during
emergency situations and disaster situations,” the FCC noted in the
R&O. “Moreover, the current Amateur Radio Service rules, which
permit participation in such drills and tests by volunteers (ie,
non-employees of participating entities), reflect the critical role
Amateur Radio serves in such situations. However, as evidenced by
recent waiver requests, state and local government public safety
agencies, hospitals and other entities concerned with the health and
safety of citizens appear to be limited in their ability to conduct
disaster and emergency preparedness drills, because of the employee
status of Amateur Radio licensees involved in the training exercises.
We therefore amend our rules to permit amateur radio operators to
participate in government-sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness
drills and tests, regardless of whether the operators are employees of
the entities participating in the drill or test. We find that extending
authority to operate amateur stations during such drills will enhance
emergency preparedness and response and thus serve the public interest.”
In order to allow participation in non-governmental disaster drills --
such as those sponsored by ARES® or private hospitals -- the FCC
will now allow amateurs employed by an agency participating in such a
drill to participate up to one hour per week. In addition, they may
also participate in up to two exercises in any calendar year, each for
a time period not to exceed 72 hours. “This time limitation, which is
consistent with the timeframes contained in the waiver requests filed
with the Commission, should serve to further ensure the use of Amateur
Radio for bona fide emergency testing,” the R&O stated. “We
emphasize that the purpose for any drills we authorize herein must be
related to emergency and disaster preparedness. By limiting the purpose
in this manner, we further ensure that such drills will be
appropriately limited.”
In amending the Amateur Radio rules, the FCC reiterated that it does
not intend to disturb the core principle of the Amateur Radio Service
“as a voluntary, non-commercial communication service carried out by
duly authorized persons interested in radio technique with a personal
aim and without pecuniary interest. Rather, we believe that the public
interest will be served by establishing a narrow exception to the
prohibition on transmitting amateur communications in which the station
control operator has a pecuniary interest or employment relationship,
and that such an exception is consistent with the intent of the Amateur
Radio Service rules.”
The effective date of the R&O is to be determined and will be at
some time after its publication in the Federal Register. A more
detailed story will be forthcoming from the ARRL.
From the ARRL Website
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26 May 2010: New ARES weekly Net rotation posted
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The latest Net Rotation for the West Cental Ohio District 3 ARES net has been posted. You can see it at the Net Rotation Page.
Please note how few Net Control Operators we currently have (5). Please
consider volunteering to be a Net Control Op, even if only for one
night. The Net Guidelines are posted online.
To volunteer, contact Keith, KB8GYB or Randy, KAØAZS by e-mail (callsign at arrl.net)
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5 May 2010: Greene County monthly EOC checks
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On
the first Wednesday evening of each month, we hold a Emergency
Operation Center (EOC) Check at multiple locations in Beavercreek and
in Xenia.
Operators meet at these EOC's at 7:15 and get prepared for a "Net" to
begin at 7:30. During the "Net" we have all EOC's and any other
stations wishing to participate to check-in, after which we move to
different repeaters to check both their functionality and the
capability of the radios to reach them.
EVERYONE is invited to participate, either from your location or
you are welcome to come out to one of the EOC's. Additionally, we would
welcome check-ins from ANY other EOC's in the Miami Valley Area that
would like to participate.
To assist you in following the "Net" I have copied below the list of area repeaters used for the Net.
XWARN 147.165 Pl 100
KETTERING 145.110 PL 67
XWARN 443.100
DARA 146.940 PL 123
FAIRBORN 145.410 PL 118.8
BELLBROOK 147.045
GCARES 146.910
HUBER HEIGHTS 442.925 PL 123
SPRINGFIELD 146.730 PL 77
WILMINGTON NWS 444.575
SKYWARN 146.640
CINCY SKYWARN 146.880 PL 123"
These Monthly Nets are very important as they give us an opportunity to
check out radios and repeaters, familiarize people with the operations
of the radios and where they are located in the EOC's, familiarize
operators with EOC personnel (police, fire, and administrative), and is
great practice for Net Operations. PLEASE consider either joining our
NET Control Crew or at least participating from your location.
Thanks!
Mike Crawford KC8GLE
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31 March 2010: ARRL, Red Cross Sign Memorandum of Understanding
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"On
Thursday, March 25, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed a new
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Red Cross (ARC) at
ARC National Headquarters in Washington, DC. The MoU, which replaces an
earlier Statement of Understanding that expired in 2007, provides a
"broad framework for cooperation" between the ARRL and the ARC "in
preparing for and responding to disaster relief situations at all
levels in rendering assistance and service to victims of disaster, as
well as other services for which cooperation may be mutually
beneficial." "
A key element of the new MOU is:
"In the case of ARRL volunteers, the Red Cross has agreed
to accept an alternative process: ARRL volunteers may arrange, at their
own initiative and expense, to have the criminal background check
performed by a state or local law enforcement agency.
The Red Cross also has agreed that ARRL volunteers shall not be asked
or required to consent to credit checks, mode of living investigations
or investigative consumer reports in order to provide a communications
function."
For full details, See ARLB012 on the ARRL Web site.
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| 20 January 2010: January ARES E-Letter
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The latest ARES
E-Letter
has been published. It is available on the
ARRL web site along with all back issues.
In This Issue:
* The View from Flagler County
* "Center of Activity" Frequencies for Disaster Communications
* NHC to Provide Greater Lead Time for Watches, Warnings
* Michigan EmComm Group Recognizes One of its Own
* North Florida Digital Group To Present D-STAR Academy
* Letters
* Ohio's Tenth District Forms EmComm Promotion Task Force
* Job Opening at HQ
* MARS Name Changes
* K1CE For a Final
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| 23 December 2009: December ARES E-Letter
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The latest ARES
E-Letter
has been published. It is available on the
ARRL web site along with all back issues.
In This Issue:
* The View from Flagler County
* 2010 National Hurricane Conference Set for Orlando
* 2010 Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference: Fort Lauderdale
* International Humanitarian Award Nominees Sought
* Letters
* EvComms Prepares Ops for EmComms: Check Out the SECM
* New ARRL Course on Digital Technology for EmComms
* EmPower: Q&A on Power for ARES Ops
* Tip: PowerPole Updates
* 20th World Conference on Disaster Management Slated for Toronto Next Year
* K1CE for a Final
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| 5 December 2009: Champaign County ARES Web Site
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| Champaign County ARES has a new website. It's located at http://www.champaign-ares.org/. Check it out. |
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| ARES Training Net |
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Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM on the 145.11 /224.16 MHz (67hz tone)
WCOARA repeater system.
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| District 3 EC Meeting |
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TBA
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| ARRL EmComm Courses |
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Course Listing
Level 1 (EC-001): Registration generally opens on the first Monday of
each month.
Level 2 (EC-002): Registration generally opens on the second Monday
of each month.
Level 3 (EC-003): Registration generally opens on the third Monday of
each month. |
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