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<DIV><FONT face="Meta Correios Portugal" size=5><STRONG>FCC Amends Ham Radio
Emergency Communications Rules</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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size=6></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN id=ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblContentTop><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><STRONG><SPAN>WASHINGTON:
</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN>The Federal Communications Commission this week amended
its ham radio rules to allow users to transmit emergency messages on behalf of
employers.<BR><BR>“Many state and local governments, public safety agencies, and
hospitals incorporate amateur radio operators and the communication capabilities
of the amateur service into their emergency planning,” the FCC <A
href="http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db0714/FCC-10-124A1.pdf"><FONT
color=#0051a7>Report and Order</FONT></A> states. Land mobile radio is the
primary means of communications for emergency responders, it said, but
“experience has shown that amateur radio has played an important role in
preparation for, during, and in the aftermath of, natural and man-made
emergencies and disasters.”</SPAN> <SPAN
id=ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblContentBottom><BR><BR>Current rules allow hams
to operate during emergencies, but prohibit communications on behalf of
employers. There are some exceptions, though none that permit hams who work for
public safety agencies or hospitals, for example, to participate in drills,
tests and exercises. Nor are they allowed to transmit messages on behalf of
employers. The FCC ham rules were amended to allow such
participation.<BR><BR>“We amend the rules to permit amateur radio operators to
transmit messages, under certain limited circumstances, during either
government-sponsored or non-government sponsored emergency and disaster
preparedness drills, regardless of whether the operators are employees of
entities participating in the drill.”<BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN>-- <EM>Deborah D.
McAdams</EM> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>