[FADCA] re: EComm Traffic to FDEM

[Paul J. Toth-NA4AR]

Doug and all....

While there is a great deal of worth to having a 'pure' Amateur Radio
Digital Network for EComm traffic in Florida, we need to take a pragmatic
approach to this subject.  The "Last Mile" (or depending on your point of
view, the "First Mile") is going to be paved with pothole, speed humps and a
number of other barriers to success.  Getting the message through quickly
and accurately is what is important.  If part of the digital network
patchwork has a piece of ESATCOM, the Internet, FDEM's toll-free 800 number,
so be it.  IMHO, we have to get passed this notion that Amateur Radio
operators can only use Amateur Radio to communicate.  Besides, it that was
really the case, why do so many Radio Amateurs have cell phones and Nextel?

In addition to each county being ESATCOM equipped, the National Weather
Service offices in Florida are also on the ESATCOM network.

73 de Paul-NA4AR
Regional Coordinator - WCF SKYWARN Group