[Ares-races] Where do we fit (paid or unpaid)

[Rick Hampton]

Howdy, Neighbor Jim!  (I'm in Londonderry.)

Rockingham Computer wrote:

> a) Exactly what is the original justification for amateur radio
> anyhow?  Is there something in that original justification that has
> somehow been lost over the years ?  Should we attempt to strengthen
> that justification and determine if there a growing or diminishing
> need to have a volunteer corps of trained operators with volunteer
> equipment.

The original justification was to provide a corps of trained radio operators
to help in times of need.  The "something" that has been lost over the years
is the rarity of two-way radios for communications.  Back when the rules were
written, it was basically us hams and the marine community as the only people
goofy enough to put money into such complicated devices.  Now every kid going
to school has one so his mom can keep tabs on him, and they can call around
the world and talk to nearly anyone they wish.  It's the glamor and novelty
of being able to pick up a microphone and talk with someone around the corner
or around the globe that has been lost.  Hams just aren't special in that
respect anymore.

> Some thgouths might include:
>
> i) adding to the list of specific clases of workers (like the
> teachers) that can operate, even when paid.

How about something like, "Any licensed amateur operator may act as the
control operator of any amateur station, regardless of employment or normal
pecuniary interest, so long as the operation of said station is recognized
and authorized by federal, state, or local officials as benefiting the public
during times of emergency, disaster, or other forms of civil strife.
Non-emergency operation of these stations, for a period not to exceed one
hour per month, is also permitted as part of an exercise recognized and
authorized by federal, state, or local officials for the express purpose of
training operators and testing equipment."

This essentially extends RACES-type operations to areas underserved by
RACES... non-governmental entities.  There is still some mechanism for
control and also some way to legitimately sidestep the normal concerns of
someone being an employee at a hospital, school (a potential shelter), a
trucking company (who may need to transport critical supplies), or any number
of other scenarios that could arise.

> iii) Look for ways to strengthen a relationship between Amateur radio
> ARES and whatever RACES has become. (I don't understand them myself).

In it's simplest form, RACES serves governmental agencies, ARES doesn't.  The
thing that seems to have divided ARES and RACES operators (when and where
that occurred), was the concept that in a REAL emergency RACES operators
continued operating while ARES operators had to pull the plug.  Maybe the
idea above would bridge that gap.

> c) Find someone elsewhere in government to help justify or sponsor a
> proposal.  Since we face such uncertain times (homeland security) and
> the possible repeat of the type of disaster seen on 9/11, the climate
> might be right for change and there might be an advocate out there to
> help make change to the current system in the direction you desire.

How about starting with Tom Ridge.  If anyone would stand a chance of seeing
the value of amateur radio in homeland security functions, it would surely be
him.

> d) Propose a new radio service, one in which amateurs are
> automatically cross licensed, thus putting some expertise behind
> establishing a volunteer core (and the equipment, like repeaters for
> that matter) and relieving the restrictions that we often find when we
> try to work with others like the red cross and public safety.  In this
> case we could both be licensed and own equipment for interoperatility.

Um, I believe this is exactly the reason for which RACES was designed, with
the equipment for interpretability being amateur radio equipment and the
license being an amateur radio license.  I don't think we need to reinvent
RACES.

> e) Establish a relationship with the equipment manufactures.  They
> might have expertise and lobbying power to offer.  They might like to
> sell analog/digital rigs/phones/gps and other highly integrated units
> that have the interoperability mentioned in (d) to both parties.  It
> would likely double or triple their market opportunities and create
> a better feedback path between amateurs and the manufacturers with
> respect to experimental projects in hardware and software.

I'm not sure where the incentive is here.  While amateur radio is one path to
inter-operability, it is only one path.  Go to this link to see another path:
http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/articles/signal_0602.pdf

> Submitted to stimulate your mind on the
> possibilities and / or for your entertaint
>
> /Jim /N1CRZ

Remember, it's not the radios that make us an asset, it's the knowledge on
how to use the radios that make us an asset.

Rick, WD8KEL