http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2009/icom_ic706.htm

73'

Bob
WB3DYE

--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, "kj4mem" <kj4mem@...> wrote:
>
>
> The following are excerpts from "Commercialization of Amateur

Thanks for sharing this.  It is a well-written valuable document, which came at
a very good time, except someone at the Federal Communications Commission said
something that called the hand of leadership at FCC.  As a result, we now have
waivers.

Now, let me rant a little.

I resent the implication that I personally am doing something wrong.  The
pecuniary interest issue ONLY impacts paid folks (like me) who use amateur radio
(like Skywarn).

I have been at this duty station 28 months.  In 28 months, I have used amateur
radio in drills exactly ZERO times.

On my volunteer roster, about a third are licensed amateur radio operators. 
These volunteers operate the radios in the Emergency Operations Center, both
commercial and amateur with a sure rule of guidance that amateur radio operators
are at the amateur radio stations.

BUT ... your colleagues have emailed me and posted on QRZ that, in which I
consider to be anti-government rants that:

1.  I should give up my license(s).  Won't happen.  I have been a ham too long
and enjoy the hobby too much to do that.  Do the math.  If I am a member of
Quarter Century Wireless Association and been a full time paid emergency manager
for about 10 years, which came first?

2.  I should remove the amateur radios from the EOC.  Won't happen.  My
volunteers are able to get hands on some pretty decent modern gear that
otherwise they could not afford.  Personally, I enjoy the hobby and want to talk
to my amateur radio friends on amateur radio frequencies, rather than cell
phone, which, of late, I find myself using more because my friends can't get the
reason for pecuniary interest, ex. asking me why the City sirens are going off,
after it was announced, IN PERSON, that they would be sounded at a specific time
and date.

3.  I could give up my job.  Won't happen.  Next to Jesus, my job is my passion.
In so many ways, I view it as just as important mission at introducing a soul to
the Savior.  Yet again, I could give up my job and live in poverty.    :)

Some of the anti-government comments have come to me in meetings where an
otherwise helpful volunteer stated that there was no interest in their heart to
serve the City or National Weather Service.  The desire was to serve the PUBLIC.

Then folks want to beat their underpaid, under-appreciated public servants with
pecuniary interest and expand that beating to include amateur radios that have
been modified to transmit in public safety bands, clearly OFF-topic to the
pecuniary interest issue.

Yet, the modified radios are legal, if you are in the Military Affiliate Radio
System.  I am and they are.

The MARS program is so much more appealing because some of your colleagues don't
have to worry about pecuniary interest issue on those frequencies.

In MARS, there's NO concern about serving the government.  After all, in one
service, the motto is "Proudly serving those who serve".

In the latest ARES (I know, off topic for RACES) list, did you see this?

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2009-11-18

"Not surprisingly, many emergency management staff are Amateur Radio licensees"

IF these colleagues do ANYTHING wrong, ex. police using ham channels as an
adjunct to Part 90 operations, they expose their jurisdiction to the potential
of, not only a fine for the Part 97 violation, but also loss of their Part 90
license(s).  How long do you think I would have a job, if I get ALL the Part 90
equipment in MY jurisdiction made useless by something I did on amateur radio?

Bottom line to that, give your folks some measure of credit for the lump between
the shoulders.  The majority of my colleagues know the rules and follow them.  I
can't say they ALL do because I've not visited every EOC in the USA.

Please accept my apologies for the long rant.  Of all the lists I monitor, I
would have expected this list to be one where the pecuniary interest issue would
be of, perhaps, MOST interest, yet LEAST debated.  While it is MORE debated on
QRZ, many of the same arguments from the anti-government crowd seem to spill
over here.

Thank you to those who ARE serving your local jurisdiction.

In the mean time, if you want to talk to me, use amateur radio, if you have a
license.  If you want to talk to me about City business, use the phone.  Should
not have had to say that.  People on this list have brains.

73



--
Lloyd Colston   director
Altus Emergency Management
Altus, OK      http://www.cityofaltus.org
Phone:  580.482.8333
Fax:  580.482.4738

http://twitter.com/altusem
http://altusem.blogspot.com

---

Lloyd Colston KC5FM
Altus, OK USA http://wx5em.us
Straight Key Century Club #5676
Croatian Telegraphy Club CTC # 1.931
CARF #294 Ten-Ten #10231
http://www.carf.net http://www.ten-ten.org
http://kc5fm.blogspot.com

The following are excerpts from "Commercialization of Amateur Radio: The Rules,
The Risks, The Issues" published 09/2009 that I mentioned in an earlier post.

Disclaimer: I have tried not to take them out of context and chose these
passages only to illustrate current concerns. I encourage all HAMS to read the
article and subsequent editorials pertaining to this issue.

"This document is not intended to discourage anyone from becoming an Amateur or
to discourage any organization from promoting an interest in Amateur Radio among
its employees and volunteers. Nor does it signal any change in the League's
long-standing devotion to public service and emergency communications. Its
objective is to educate both Amateurs and the organizations we serve about what
is permitted under the FCC's current Rules and to assist Amateurs in making
reasoned decisions about the appropriateness of services we may offer to
organizations in our communities. "
...

"It is a narrow path between (1) utilizing beneficial opportunities for public
service communications and showcasing the continued relevance and importance of
Amateur Radio communications to the public; and (2) allowing organizations to
exploit Amateur Radio as a cheap and flexible alternative to the Land Mobile
Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service, or Commercial Mobile Radio Service
facilities."
...

"Enterprises that become accustomed to using Amateur frequencies for
interoperability, continuity of operations, and to avoid the expense and
complications related to other radio services may, at some time in the future,
decide to petition to have certain Amateur frequencies allocated to them
outright. The belief that these are "our bands" in perpetuity and not subject to
reallocation is mistaken. Our access to spectrum is a privilege, not a right,
and something that is continuously under re-evaluation.

Reasonable people with well-developed ethical senses and long experience in
public service may come to different conclusions about the appropriateness of
providing legal volunteer communications on behalf of particular enterprises.
Discussion and debate about ethical issues can be constructive rather than
divisive and can lead to better decision-making by Amateurs involved in public
service. One thing is certain: Our portions of the spectrum are, in commercial
terms, of extraordinarily high monetary value to others. How we use them
regularly determines our continued tenure. "
...

"The ARRL has been informed that enterprises as diverse as insurance companies,
federal agencies not engaged in emergency preparedness, city government, state
government, and businesses offering continuity of operations services to clients
may be using or may be planning to have employees use Amateur Radio. Some of
these entities have even questioned the necessity for their employees to have
licenses in order to use Amateur Radio frequencies. "
...

"...they are intended to remind us that our obligation to abide by the FCC's
Rules applies as much to public service and emergency communications activity as
to any other kind of Amateur Radio operation. They are also intended to
challenge us to consider the
appropriateness of using Amateur Radio to serve the needs of particular
enterprises in our communities, even if the FCC's Rules may not be an issue.
Finally, they are intended to suggest positive actions the ARRL can take to
improve awareness of the FCC's Rules as
they pertain to public service and emergency communications.




--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, NNN7DXB@... wrote:
>
>
>
> I must have missed something in these posts. Hadn't heard anything
> about anyone using ham freqs if they weren't hams. What gives??
>
> Dave
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I must have missed something in these posts. Hadn't heard anything
about anyone using ham freqs if they weren't hams. What gives??

Dave


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

if they're not hams, they can't use the freqs. period



   I'm confused.

   "Nothing says anyone "must" use hams if they don't want to."

   I agree. But if they're using Amateur Radio frequencies, shouldn't they be
HAMS? Or are the frequencies going to be open to everyone?

   I really am confused.

   --- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, NNN7DXB@... wrote:
   >
   >
   > Agree. Forcing only makes for more "bad blood"....
   >
   > Nothing says anyone "must" use hams if they don't want to.
   >
   > In any event, it's the EOC Directors' CHOICE to use hams, and NOT the
   > ham community's choice. Ham radio is an "option" available to the EOC
   > staff. The last time I checked, there was no "requirement" to use hams
   > or any other volunteer group, particularly if they were not needed or
   > wanted.
   >
   > One should not force or make unreasonable demands to be included
   > if one is not wanted. That is the BEST and QUICKEST way to wear out your
   > welcome and destroy any good will that might have been engendered during
   > previous activities.
   >
   > Dave
   >
   >
   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
   >





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maybe I made an incorrect assumption. I was thinking of the issues brought forth
in "Commercialization of Amateur Radio: The Rules, The Risks, The Issues" in the
ARRL news files. So, I'll duck back out to the sidelines. Thanks.



--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel@...> wrote:
>
> Who said they were using amateur radio frequencies?
>
> kj4mem wrote:
>
> > I agree. But if they're using Amateur Radio frequencies, shouldn't they be
HAMS? Or are the frequencies going to be open to everyone?
>

Who said they were using amateur radio frequencies?

kj4mem wrote:

> I agree. But if they're using Amateur Radio frequencies, shouldn't they be
HAMS? Or are the frequencies going to be open to everyone?

I'm confused.

"Nothing says anyone "must" use hams if they don't want to."

I agree. But if they're using Amateur Radio frequencies, shouldn't they be HAMS?
Or are the frequencies going to be open to everyone?

I really am confused.

--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, NNN7DXB@... wrote:
>
>
> Agree. Forcing only makes for more "bad blood"....
>
> Nothing says anyone "must" use hams if they don't want to.
>
> In any event, it's the EOC Directors' CHOICE to use hams, and NOT the
> ham community's choice. Ham radio is an "option" available to the EOC
> staff. The last time I checked, there was no "requirement" to use hams
> or any other volunteer group, particularly if they were not needed or
> wanted.
>
> One should not force or make unreasonable demands to be included
> if one is not wanted. That is the BEST and QUICKEST way to wear out your
> welcome and destroy any good will that might have been engendered during
> previous activities.
>
> Dave
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Howdy,

    Hmmm...This is cross-posted.  I see a "Dan" in ARRL Regulatory,
but no "Don".  You really need a full name when quoting ARRL policy.

Sorry to be picayune, but it makes a difference...

TIA.

73,
Guy - W6MSU
San Joaquin Co. OES RACES 1


--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, "Elden P. Laffoon, Sr." <wa9iql@...> wrote:
>
> Why am I NOT surprised!!!!!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Illinois_ARES@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Illinois_ARES@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of crawford46@...
> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 6:33 PM
> To: Illinois_ARES@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Illinois_ARES] Exercise
>
> Chuck asked an interesting question at breakfast this morning.  He said that
> at last weeks meeting at the State EOC he was asked if he was using Hams in
> the exercise.  He told the State guy that he was and the State guy asked if
> Chuck turned in for WC when we were used and Chuck told him he did.  The
> State guy then told Chuck that it was illegal for us to participate in
> exercises as we would be considered an employee and cannot use ham radio for
> you employer's business.  It was okay in diseasters because most rules are
> off then.  Chuck told him the Hams would be used anyway.  It bothered me, so
> I called and emailed the ARRL and talked to Don, who is in the regulations
> area.  I received an email back telling us the since no w-3 or 1099 isn't
> given, we are not considered employees and therefore there is no violation
> of rule 97 with us participating in any exercise.   It appears to me that
> the State is looking for any reason to keep Hams out of activities involving
> EMA's and the State EOC.  They have not updated their manuels to use Ham
> Radio as have other states and have told Chuck they are just too busy to
> consider it at this time.  It may be time to contact our Congressmen and try
> to force the issur.  I have kept his email for our records.   Greg

Agree. Forcing only makes for more "bad blood"....

Nothing says anyone "must" use hams if they don't want to.

In any event, it's the EOC Directors' CHOICE to use hams, and NOT the
ham community's choice. Ham radio is an "option" available to the EOC
staff. The last time I checked, there was no "requirement" to use hams
or any other volunteer group, particularly if they were not needed or
wanted.

One should not force or make unreasonable demands to be included
if one is not wanted. That is the BEST and QUICKEST way to wear out your
welcome and destroy any good will that might have been engendered during
previous activities.

Dave


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Why try to force them to use hams? If they can do without, let them.

Sarge



   Why am I NOT surprised!!!!!



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In RACES@yahoogroups.com, RACES@yahoogroups.com wrote:


> POLL QUESTION: Should the FCC Rules be amended with an exception to
> radio amateurs who are employees of a government agency to
> participate in disaster drills conducted by that agency with
> its volunteers on amateur radio frequencies?  (According to

I found the poll results interesting.  Thanks for setting up the poll.

Now, that the NPR has been filed regarding this very subject, will we see the
Federal Communications Commission act on it, examine it, turn it around, turn it
over, and then declare "NO!  The Waiver process has been shown to timely work." 
Electric buzzer sound and trapdoor opens.   :)

IF you care about the success of the NPR, perhaps you should learn how to engage
your elected officials in D.C.  The number for U.S. Capitol Switchboard at
(202)224-3121.

While you are asking them to influence the Commission on this issue, perhaps you
could also address them about some other important issues, ex. the legality of a
certain elected official to serve, the budget deficit, the healthcare issue, the
coming inflation, the growing number of seniors who have not enough taxpayer
base to pay for their social security.

Can you see the result?  Congressman asks Commission "what's the deal with the
NPR regarding paid folks talking on ham radio?" with the response being
"Congressman, we have the NPR and we are working on it".

End of story.

I can hope for a different outcome.  I'll see what the outcome may be.

73

Lloyd, KC5FM