[KYHAM] A Brief Reminder to All

[Ron Dodson]

There has been some off list discussion these last few days
regarding what would happen if the President declared a state of
war and the effect it might have on amateur radio. Now that the
Homeland Security Threat Level has again been raised to HIGH or
Orange, I thought it might be a good time to mention this again
for everyone's reference ON the lists to head off any rumors
later on.

FACT:
In 1991, the regulation (�214.4(b)(4)) of Title 47 of the Code of
Federal Regulations) which made it possible for amateur radio to
be shut down in a time of war (remember WWII?) was deleted from
the War Powers Act. 

This is no longer a possible occurrence as it was in earlier
decades and yet many seem to have missed this significant
change.  ARRL most recently revisited this at the start of the
Middle East Crisis. 

http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/03/0314/

Therefore, amateur radio will not be automatically and totally
shut off in any general war crisis situation.
We may be asked to stay off of certain frequencies, but you will
not likely be told to "burn your license or destroy or disable
your equipment"! Please make sure that all clubs and ARES groups
are reminded of this.

73, 
Ron Dodson, KA4MAP
Ky SEC