[Ares-races] Paid vs volunteer radio operators

Thu, 13 Nov 2003 05:14:20 -0600

Rick's message was bounced by the server.

One critical definition may be what is an emergency.  Emergency messages 
are defined as containing information relating to an immediate threat to 
life or property.  For Skywarn, this could be initial reports of a 
tornado on the ground (redundant).  Within a hospital, cardiac or 
respiratory arrest, or uncontrolled hemorrhage would also fit.  For law 
enforcement, who knows?  It is my contention that during incidents and 
disasters, these sorts of messages are, fortunately, relatively rare. 
 All communications fall into one of two large categories:  information 
or requests for resources.  The overwhelming majority of the 
communications are not relating to any immediate threat to life or property.

Jerry
KK5CA

-------- 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. 
>
> Jerry Reimer, KK5CA
> District Emergency Coordinator
> ARES District 14, Harris County
> ARRL South Texas Section