[NevadaARES] COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY DECLARED

[Matthew Parker]

FCC Declares Communications Emergency for Gulf Coast

WASHINGTON, DC, Sep 24, 2002--At the request of ARRL Mississippi Section=20
Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, the FCC has declared that a general=20
communications emergency exists for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama=
=20
and Florida. After striking the western tip of Cuba and the Yucatan
Peninsula of Mexico, Isidore--at present a tropical storm--is headed for=20
the US Gulf Coast. Forecasters believe that Isidore could regain hurricane=
=20
strength over the Gulf of Mexico and reach landfall Thursday morning (see=20
"Hurricane Watch Net, W4EHW, Stand Down, Maintain Vigilance" for
further details).

Invoking the authority of =A797.401 of the FCC's rules and regulations,=20
Technical and Public Safety Division Chief Joseph P. Casey of the=20
Enforcement Bureau issued a declaration that requires amateurs to refrain=20
from using 3873 kHz during hours of darkness and 7285 kHz during hours of
daylight effective immediately and until rescinded. The FCC said the=20
communications emergency could last as long as 14 days. Both frequencies=20
are to be protected plus or minus 3 kHz unless amateurs are taking part in=
=20
the handling of emergency traffic.

Matthew B. Parker, N7TOD
Chairman, Northern Nevada Amateur Radio Services
http://www.qsl.net/nnars
ARES Emergency Coordinator - Washoe County