[ARRL-OK] National Communications System

[Lloyd A Colston]

I've just returned from the briefing in Dallas regarding the National
Communications System (http://www.ncs.gov).  Following is my mental notes
from the briefing:

The National Communications System is comprised of the following services
(comments noted in parentheses):

1)         SHARES = SHAred RESources

This is old-tech High Frequency radio system supporting the Federal
Government.  The Federal government has SHARES stations across the
Nation.  They communicate with one another directly or through relay.

(SHARES also can use Automatic Link Establishment (relatively new stuff).
 For the local emergency manager (and it was noted that ALL disasters are
local regularly during the briefing), SHARES may be cost-prohibitive. 
However, Civil Air Patrol and all three MARS (http://www.navymars.org)
services (CAP and at least two MARS programs were represented at the
briefing) participate in SHARES.  That fact was mentioned.  Also, during
the tabletop exercise (a hurricane in the Gulf), it was noted that
amateur radio operators stand ready with the Hurricane Watch Net
(http://www.hwn.org), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(http://www.races.net) and the American Radio Relay League Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (http://www.arrl.org) to assist.

For the local emergency manager with a very low budget, these resources
may very well be the key during a disaster.

2)        GETS (Government Emergency Telecommunications Service)

This is telephone service which routes calls (as a priority) over the
existing infrastructure using ATT, Sprint, and MCI services.  The calls
are automatically routed.  Calls are NOT preempted.  In other words, a
Citizen having the line is not bumped for the emergency.  They claim an
85% success rate in call completion.

(You have to have a dialtone before the calls can be made.  No dialtone;
no call.)

3)        WPS (Wireless Priority Service)

GETS is to wire as WPS is to wireless.  If you can't make a call because
of access, entering a special code at the beginning of your call gets you
in the que for the next available channel.  Then, you make your call. 
Can't get a wire line after you get access?  Use GETS to complete the
call.

4)        Satellite Phones

Mentioned.  No recommendations made (except to get one).  (Cost prohibits
many from getting them.)

During the tabletop, these conditions were made real (at least to me):

If there is a disaster in one region, and a disaster in another, the
communications infrastructure will likely be very slow in recovery (there
are still problems today in NC and VA).  The emergency manager needs to
be robust in their ability to communicate.

Communication using Cell and landline are, for the most part, reliable. 
GETS and WPS adds to that reliability.  Dialtones and Access are needed
for both however.  If the infrastructure is gone (four hour batteries
that won't be recharged in three days or cell sites leveled in the storm,
for example), then the EM needs to turn to amateur radio through ARES and
RACES and Military Affiliate Radio System to supplement the mission.

Overall, the mission of MARS and Amateur Radio were made known to those
assembled.  These events are scheduled around the Country.  I don't know
if the message will get out to the others (though I suspect the message
will).

Now from my side of the table, amateur radio operators AND MARS operators
need to be visible to the local Emergency Manager.  Find a way to get a
station in the EOC (let the EM buy it, if he can (and the better he can
buy the better with the goal being SHARES and coming down from there). 
Get involved in the local Citizen Corp Council.  Aggressively work in the
Community Emergency Response Team program.  Repeater owners need to draft
a Memorandum of Understanding with the local EM for repeater use during a
disaster (because external responders will be arriving and needing the
local frequencies preprogrammed in their radios (thus if the best
repeater does not have an MOU, then the channel with the MOU will be
used)).

Dial: 1-866-NCS-CALL (866-627-2255) or
(703) 676-2255
is the number for NCS or visit the web site (http://www.ncs.gov).

Let me know how more I can help.


Lloyd Colston             Mayes County Emergency Management
Pryor, OK USA           http://www.geocities.com/mccem
        Vigilance is the keystone to preparedness.

________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!