[SFDXA] ARLB020 Hurricane Idalia: FCC Approves ARRL Petition to Aid Emergency Communications

[Bill]

> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB020
> ARLB020 Hurricane Idalia: FCC Approves ARRL Petition to Aid
> Emergency Communications
> 
> ZCZC AG20
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 20  ARLB020
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  August 30, 2023
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB020
> ARLB020 Hurricane Idalia: FCC Approves ARRL Petition to Aid
> Emergency Communications
> 
> The ARRL has received approval from the Federal Communications
> Commission (FCC) for an emergency waiver to facilitate amateur radio
> emergency communications for hurricane relief.
> 
> The request, filed by the ARRL Washington DC Counsel on August 29,
> 2023, seeks a waiver of HF symbol rate restrictions.
> 
> Trained radio amateurs involved with the Amateur Radio Emergency
> Service (ARES) and other communications support groups are working
> with federal, state, and local emergency management officials and
> relief organizations to assist with disaster relief communications
> in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Idalia at the Florida
> coast. Their equipment includes radio modems and computers that are
> capable of data transmissions that exceed the regulatory baud symbol
> rate limit yet use the same or less bandwidth as slower-speed
> protocols that are permitted. 
> 
> The higher data rates are critical to sending the anticipated relief
> communications, including lists of needed and distributed supplies,
> etc. Many other amateur stations involved in disaster relief
> communications are able to use the higher-speed emissions from their
> stations inside and outside the anticipated landfall area or
> involved areas to assist in the communication efforts.
> 
> The waiver, which was granted August 30, is for a 60-day relief
> period from the rules, based upon the immediate need related to the
> threat of Hurricane Idalia. It would cover use directly related to
> any additional hurricanes that may develop within the 60-day period.
> Only messages related to these hurricanes would be permitted to be
> sent via the higher-speed modes, and only publicly documented modes
> would be allowed.
> 
> The waiver is available in PDF format at,
> https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1011A1.pdf .
> 
> ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, said
> the rate increase will help response abilities. "The increased
> symbol rate provides for faster more efficient message transmissions
> for digital communications. These modes such as WINLINK (WL2K) are
> used to send forms for served agencies and other data that can be
> vital during a disaster," he said.
> 
> Johnston and volunteers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
> (ARES) are closely coordinating with ARRL Sections in Florida. The
> ARRL Northern Florida Section is activated in preparation for
> Hurricane Idalia. ARES volunteers are staffing the auxiliary
> communications position at the Florida Emergency Operations Center,
> which was activated at 7:00 AM on August 29.
> 
> Several other hurricane-related amateur radio nets were active ahead
> of the storm. Hurricane Idalia strengthened into a Category 4 storm
> briefly in the overnight hours of Wednesday, August 30 before being
> downgraded to Category 3. The storm made landfall in the Great Bend
> region of Florida's Gulf Coast with sustained winds of 120 miles per
> hour.
> 
> Please see ARRL's previous news story for more details at,
> https://www.arrl.org/news/idalia-prompts-amateur-radio-activations .
> NNNN
> /EX