[Ares-races] RE: ARES-RACES Digest, Vol 14, Issue 3

[Jerry Reimer]

Simply monitoring a radio does not require a license.  There is not a clear 
cut answer on employees who are Amateur Radio licensees being paid by their 
employer, and their intermittent use of Amateur Radio for the benefit of 
that employer.  Part-time or full-time does not matter; an employee is an 
employee.  A contractor is not an employee.  Even the FCC is of two minds 
on the subject of employees using their Amateur Radio for their employer.

William Cross, one of the FCC guys who writes the regulations, says such is 
prohibited under all circumstances, except the usual immediate threat to 
life and property.

Riley Hollingsworth, one of the FCC guys who enforces the regulations, said 
that is one that he will find it difficult to enforce.

The only person at risk of any enforcement action is the employee who 
actually has the Amateur Radio license.  The regulations say what is 
written.  Both houses of the FCC have spoken on this subject.  It is 
incumbent upon all of us that have a license to understand the regulations, 
inform our employer, accept the risk (or not), and act according to the 
circumstances.

Jerry Reimer, KK5CA