[ARRL-OK] KOTV 3/14 6PM Ad Value: $2,152.50

[Craig Roszel]

This is a transcript of the most recent TV new coverage. To purchase this
much air time it would have cost $2,152.50 and we got it for free!

THEY'RE CALLED AMATEURS - BUT IN A CRISIS, THEY'RE THE PROFESSIONALS WHO
HELP CONVEY EMERGENCY MESSAGES.NEWS ON SIX REPORTER EMORY BRYAN HAS THE
STORY OF A GATHERING OF HAMS. ------------ >;>; A LOT OF AMATEUR RADIO
TECHNOLOGY IS OLD - SOME OF IT ANCIENT - BUT THAT'S PART OF THE REASON IT
WORKS TO WELL, WHEN NOTHING ELSE WILL. WILL.>;>; MARK CONKLIN, AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATOR:  "ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN A DISASTER IS REGULAR
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FAIL - OR CAN FAIL.  AND AMATEUR RADIO CAN BE EASILY
PUT IN PLACE AS A BACKUP OR IN PLACE OF OTHER COMMUNICATION NEEDS."
NEEDS.">;>; AMATEUR RADIO PROVIDES AN ALTERNATE BACKBONE OF COMMUNICATIONS
FOR EMERGENCIES.IT'S SO IMPORTANT IT'S A REGULAR PART OF TERRORISM DISASTER
DRILLS. DRILLS. >;>; THE POWER OF AMATEUR RADIO IS IT'S SIMPLICITY - EVEN A
SMALL HANDHELD RADIO CAN TRANSMIT OVER GREAT DISTANCES.AT DISASTER SCENES,
PORTABLE STATIONS LIKE THIS ONE CAN TALK TO OTHER HAM RADIOS ANYWHERE IN THE
WORLD. EVERY OPERATOR SEEMS TO HAVE A STORY OF AN IMPORTANT EMERGENCY
CONTACT. CONTACT.>;>; STEVE MILLER, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR: "I WAS ABLE TO
CONTACT ANOTHER HAM OPERATOR IN SAN FRANCISCO AND HE WAS ABLE TO TELEPHONE
BY MOBILE PHONE MY OWN KIN FOLKS WERE OK AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE."
EARTHQUAKE.">;>; HUNDREDS OF THESE AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE GATHERING IN
CLAREMORE FOR A WEEKEND CONVENTION - TO SHARE STORIES AND SWAP
EQUIPMENT.MANY OF THEM VOLUNTEER TO HANDLE COMMUNICATIONS IN EMERGENCIES -
ABOUT 300 LOCAL HAM OPERATORS SERVE AS STORM SPOTTERS DURING SEVERE WEATHER.
WEATHER.>;>; CONKLIN:  IT'S A UNIQUE SYSTEM THAT STARTED HERE IN TORNADO
ALLEY AND HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. COUNTRY.>;>;    WHEN CELL PHONES
AND PAGERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS WORKING - AMATEUR RADIO IS JUST A HOBBY -
BUT IN A DISASTER HAM OPERATORS SAY THEY'LL BE THERE TO PICK UP THE MIC -
AND TALK. EMORY BRYAN, THE NEWS ON SIX. >;>; THE HAMFEST STARTS TONIGHT AND
RUNS THROUGH TOMORROW AT THE CLAREMORE EXPO CENTER.


NEWSLINK of Oklahoma Inc.
www.oknews.cc
1-918-584-NEWS