[Fwd: Re: [Ares-races] Paid vs volunteer radio operators]

Wed, 12 Nov 2003 20:45:41 -0500

That's interesting Rick- thanks.  I'll forward both your and my comments to
the list...

I have to say I'm surprised and don't personally agree with the FCC
interpretation.  My first "knee-jerk" reaction is that they misinterpreted
the question and were assuming that the hospital employees were NOT licensed
ham operators, which of course would be a completely different story.

Heck, I've read where company employees utilized amateur radio after an
earthquake to get in touch with each other as part of their company's
disaster recovery plan!  It was merely a method to find out how they could
get in touch with each other to facilitate further communications (such as
"what phone number can I call you at" or "are you OK?").  While the non-hams
floundered and worked in isolation, the ham operators within the company
were communicating and effectively getting their job done because they knew
who, what, where, etc., but were careful not to use amateur radio for actual
business communications.

A "gray" interpretation of the rules, to be sure... but during a disaster
the rules do get bent a bit (although, that may not be right either- during
a disaster, one could argue that you need the rules more than ever).

Thanks for the info...

73,
Marlo
KA2IRQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Hampton [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 7:47 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: [Fwd: Re: [Ares-races] Paid vs volunteer radio operators]

Hi, Bill & Marlo.

I sent this to the list, but it was rejected because it can't find me
among the subscribers.  So, while I'm working on that issue, I thought
I'd pass this along to you.

73,

Rick

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Ares-races] Paid vs volunteer radio operators
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 17:37:11 -0500
From: Rick Hampton <[email protected]>
To: Jerry Reimer <[email protected]>
CC: [email protected]
References: <[email protected]>

Hi, Jerry.

As much as I hate to admit it, you are correct on all points as far as I
can
tell.

I'm the Wireless Communications Officer for a large group of hospitals
in the
Boston area.  I started here last fall, and as one of my many projects,
I was
asked to investigate the possibility of installing amateur equipment for
use
in a disaster.  With nearly 50 employees between them licensed as hams,
the
hospitals were interested in having the employees handle some of the
communications, especially until we could get ARES operators through the
"lockdown."

To make sure this was legal, I sent emails to both the ARRL and FCC.
The
response from ARRL was positive.  The response from FCC was emphatically
not
positive.  In short, hospital employees may not, under ANY
circumstances,
operate amateur radio equipment as part of the hospital's emergency
plan.
Our hospitals can utilize ARES volunteers all we want, provided of
course
they can actually get through the city's congestion and past security.
(To
manage our human resources and for crowd control, even our employees may
not
be able to get in until they are specifically requested.)

The good news is, this hasn't completely killed the idea.  The bad news
is,
it has severely wounded it.  Progress has come to a screeching halt, and
in
the meantime the budget has been slashed and political issues have come
to
the fore.  I'm confident the issue will get worked out and we'll
eventually
get some ARES system worked out, but it's not going to happen anytime
soon.

I just checked, and yes I still have the emails in my archive.  So, in
the
meantime, if someone wants to pick nits with these interpretations, I'll
be
glad to post the emails so you can complain to the FCC instead of
complaining
to me.  I think it's stupid, but I'm just the one living by the rules,
not
the one interpreting or enforcing them.  Some of the locals tell me they
contacted the ARRL, but I've not heard anything since.  Frankly, I
figure the
League has been spending their limited resources on the BPL issue and
I've
been bidding my time getting other projects finished.  Someday....

73,

Rick Hampton, WD8KEL
Wireless Communications Manager
Partners Healthcare System
Boston, MA

Office: 617-726-6633
Cell: 617-968-2262

Jerry Reimer wrote:

> I have noticed a recent trend where public safety agencies
> (law enforcement), and some hospitals, install amateur
> radio equipment in their facilities.  They all think that
> having amateur radio equipment is a "good idea."  Many of
> them buy and install this equipment, typically two meter
> FM transceivers, with the idea that some of their
> employees who are ham radio operators will use the radios
> "in an emergency."
>
> Based upon what I read, as an employee, expecting me to
> operate using my amateur radio license while I am getting
> paid is a major problem.  Also, as the EMS provider where
> I volunteer learned, it is very difficult for an employee
> to lawfully volunteer their time.
>

-------------------------------------------><% Snip ----------------

>
> Does anyone else see this occurring in their area, or have
> any comments on this topic?
>
> Jerry Reimer, KK5CA
> District Emergency Coordinator
> ARES District 14, Harris County
> ARRL South Texas Section