[BARC-List] Fw: [emergcomm] Info from Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1755 – April 1, 2011

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In the world of ham radio today. 
73, Arthur N1NHZ
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-----Original Message-----
From: "Rick" <radio62 at bell.net>
Sender: emergcomm at yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:41:59 
To: <emergcomm at yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: emergcomm at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [emergcomm] Info from Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1755 – April 1, 2011

RESCUE RADIO: OPPOSITION GROWS TO SELLOFF OF 420 TO 440 MHZ

AN article in USA Today about the concern by radio amateurs and others involved in rescue radio over aspects of House of Representatives measure H R 607 is sweeping the nation and its emergency preparedness community. And it turns out that there is growing opposition to a part of the bill that affects the 420 to 440 MHz band. 

ACCORDING to the U-S-A Today article, those lining up in opposition to a provision in H-R 607 that would sell off 420 to 440 MHz as a way off offsetting part of the cost of establishing a new nationwide interoperable emergency system is growing. In fact, its starting to read like a whose who in emergency communications. This includes such notables as the National Weather Service, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council to name only a few.

AS most of you are aware, Representative Peter King, of New York who is the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, introduced legislation last month. Its purpose is to enhance emergency communications for first responders by providing them with exclusive bansdspace for public safety use. 

NOBODY opposes that idea. What is controversial is a provision of the measure that would allow the auctioning off of 420 to 440 MHz. Those who oppose that provision say that the spectrum in question is not just for radio hobbyists. Rather, it is also used by hundreds of thousands of Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers and severe-weather spotters working with National Weather Service and other agencies. 

AND among those speaking out is Harlin McEwen. McEwen s the chairman of a technology committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a spokesman for the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council. Hes on record as saying that the reallocation of 420 to 440 MHz is a bad idea and one that's not good for public safety.

BUT the USA Today article is not the only one noting that emergency responders are taking issue with Representative King's band sell-off approach. Another in-depth piece the Great Falls Montana Tribune goes into even greater detail than USA Today. Among other things, the Tribune article states that there are nearly 5,000 amateur radio volunteers in Montana, and many of them provide a backup communication system that emergency responders state wide and across the country depend on. This, when cellular telephones, satellite phones or other radio systems don't work.

RYAN Nicholls, the Director of the Office of Emergency Management in Springfield, Missouri takes it even a bit further. He notes that use of ham radio volunteers is the way in which that state plans to communicate between hospitals and the Red Cross in the event of an emergency. Nicholls notes that this is even written into that city's emergency operations plan. 

BOTH articles do a good job of pointing out the false economy of selling off the 420 to 440 MHz band. 

AND all this negative publicity may be taking its toll on at least one of those backing H R 607. Representative Billy Long of Missouri who is a co-sponsor of the bill is quoted in USA Today as saying that he will work to ensure that we are not cutting any vital emergency services and not adversely affecting ham radio operations. 

YOU can read the entire USA Today article at tinyurl.com/4tvz4br. The Great Falls Tribune piece is at tinyurl.com/4typ6bg. (USA Today, Great Falls Tribune, N6ZXJ, W6RH, others) 

RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO SUPPORT CONTINUES FOLLOWING MARCH 11TH QUAKE

HAM radio remains an important part of recovery and relief efforts in Japan. This following the earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11th that was followed by the still ongoing problems at the Fukushima nuclear electric generating plant. 

ACCORDING to Steve Herman, W7VOA, the Japan Amateur Radio League or JARL has been involved in emergency communications support from the beginning of the triple pronged tragedy. Steve, who spent a week in Japan reporting for the Voice of America says that the initial traffic involved finding routes for those first and second responders trying reach the disaster areas. That was mainly done by JA3RL as control station. JA1RL took its place in the later stage in forming the network for communications to and between disaster scenes.

SINCE then, volunteer medical staff who are hams have been to disaster areas. They have been supported by both the JARL and the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Additionally, hand-held transceivers have now been supplied to evacuation centers. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has provided special call signs for each HT so that unlicensed people can use them.

AS to use of the Internet by hams, Steve tells Newsline that there has been some traffic passed between Japan and Europe through WIRES chat room 0522. WIRES is Yaesu based radio to Internet connection system similar to Echolink. Details of the traffic is viewable in the Japanese language at twitter.com/#!/JARL_ARESC 

AND this late word from Jim Linton, VK3PC. He reports that a small amount of internal High Frequency communications for disaster relief is still being operated occasionally by some volunteer radio amateurs. But says Linton, the Japan Amateur Radio League Headquarters stations were off the air by Friday, March 25th, their local time. VHF and UHF operations are likely ongoing.

IN his note to us, W7VOA did include a ray of hope for some. He says that he spotted a number of High Frequency yagi antennas in Sendai at some houses close to where the tsunami struck. The good news is that those were intact. (W7VOA, VK3PC, JARL, others)

RESCUE RADIO: NEW JERSEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB PROVIDES RED CROSS COMMMS DURING RECENT FLOODING

THE rains came to New Jersey and ham radio was ready. 

HAM radio was an essential communications tool during the recent heavy flooding in Northern New Jersey. That's where the New Providence Amateur Radio Club in the Watchung Hills area was asked to set up amateur radio stations in Red Cross vehicles which were operating in four counties heavily affected by the deluge.

THE club members were tasked with supplying communications for Red Cross cars and vans which were performing damage assessment in the affected areas. Communications between these vehicles and a central Command Post at the Chapter House in Ridgewood, kept track of the progress of the appraisal process. 

THREE members of the NPARC Emergency Team responded on Monday March 14, and two members were present during the rest of the week. These included David Berkley, K2MUN, of Westfield, Vince Lobosco, KC2IZK, of Fanwood, Barry Cohen, K2JV of Berkeley Heights, Barb Flynn, KC2YJB of Summit, Tony Izzo, K2AMI of River Edge and Hillary Zaenchik, KC2HLA, of Basking Ridge. 

WHILE some operators spent their time in the field with Red Cross personnel, others were stationed in the control center with two of the relief agency's officials. (eHam, others)







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