From the Ohio Section Notes, November 2011

Hello,

If you attended the Ohio ARES Management Meeting last spring in Mansfield, one thing rang LOUD and CLEAR, and that was training. After discussions with the Section Manager and our new ASM/Training John Frederick N8GOU, it was decided that before we establish training on a local/county level, ARES leadership will need to step up and fulfill some training minimums.

Effective December 31 2011, to be considered for appointment in the Ohio Section for the positions of District Emergency Coordinator, Assistant District Emergency Coordinator, or County Emergency Coordinator, the applicant must have taken and passed FEMA Courses IS-100, 200, 700 and 800.

Effective January 1, 2013 all holders of the positions of District Emergency Coordinator, Assistant District Emergency Coordinator, or County Emergency Coordinator the applicant must have taken and passed FEMA Courses IS-100, 200, 700 and 800. In my discussions around the Section, most of you, if not all have completed all or the majority of the above requirements, or will soon. Many DECs and ECs have mentioned that many of the County EMA offices ask IS-100, 200, 700, and 800 before they are issued credentials, or allowed into emergency facilities during an emergency. Remember these are MINIMUMS ONLY. There are many of the FEMA IS courses available on line at http://training.fema.gov/IS/ . Also remember that the ARRL offers the EMCOMM classes, and you can view that catalog at http://www.arrl.org/online-course-catalog.

So PLEASE take advantage of the educational resources available to you, and I am sure programs will become available as our new ASM John Fredrick, N8GOU talks to other ARES Leadership across the Section. If you have any questions on the topics above, please contact me.

73,

Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ

Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator

More discussion of the training requirements by John Frederick, N8GOU can be found on the Ohio Section News page

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

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