FCC EmComm page snubs amateurs

It just doesn't seem right. #The FCC put together a web page about "Communicating During Emergencies" and COMPLETELY ignores the contribution of amateurs and their organizations in an emergency. #Even email and cellphones get recognized. #

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/emergency/

Here is a quote from the page:
Quote[/b] ]There are three main components to emergency communications:

911 telephone call processing and delivery through the 911 emergency call center and wireless call dispatch;
the Emergency Alert System; and
local radio and broadcast or cable television station news and updates.

What are we, chopped liver?

[KB1GYQ]

We should be so lucky! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[k6pme]

Well, having not read anymore than what you posted I would say that they are addressing the general public. As in what means of emergency communication would the general public use RIGHT NOW.

Ham operators I would see as a SPECIALTY communication service and is generally not available RIGHT NOW to the average J.Q. Public.

Most people have a cell phone these days, just about everyone knows about the EBS and news media. Relatively speaking, how many know about ham radio?

[WA5KRP]

Boy, that got me HOT!!!! I sent the following email to the FCC:

Quote[/b] ]
At your website http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/emergency/, headed with Communicating During Emergencies, you make no mention whatsoever of the Amateur Radio Service. Have you ever noticed when power goes out, when the internet and telephone connections failed, and when police, fire, and ambulance central communications are knocked out (and that happens VERY regularly during severe weather), the ONE RESOURCE that comes through for city, county, and state agencies is the Amateur Radio Service.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS COME THROUGH WITH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

I want to know why this FCC website fails to acknowledge this public service that has been provided across the country and literally around the world for decades. And for FREE.



Danny McCarty
114 Oak Leaf
San Antonio, Texas 78209


I don't know what good it'll do, but I'll be damned if I ain't gonna let those bastards hear about it.



WA5KRP
Texas

[W5MEJ]

I just looked through that website, and I don't think it is anything to get upset about, folks.

It's obviously geared towards the average consumer. #It gives them good advise about what the systems available to them can provide. #The services that we as amateurs provide to the emergency agencies when their systems go down is several layers removed from the general public. #If we are doing it right, it should run seamlessly in the background.

73
Chuck

[k6pme]

Hmm...Ok, I read it and found the ARRL part.

Click on Public Safety Resources to CitizenCorp.gov to Programs and Partners to Affiliate Programs and Organizations. Scroll to the middle of the page and YUP, there is the ARRL banner and a brief paragraph.......


American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is a non-commercial membership association of radio amateurs organized for the promotion of interest in Amateur Radio communication and experimentation, for the establishment of networks to provide communications in the event of disasters or other emergencies, for the advancement of the public welfare, for the representation of the Radio Amateur in legislative and regulatory matters. ARRL is the principal organization representing the interests of the more than 650,000 U.S. Radio Amateurs. Because of its organized emergency communications capability, ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) can be of valuable assistance in providing critical and essential communications during emergencies and disasters when normal lines of communication are disrupted. ARRL conducts emergency communications training and certifies proficiency in emergency communications skills. Learn more by visiting

[ai4ep]

Maybe it shows that some of you are not as important as you think you are.

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Sep. 17 2004,17:05)]Maybe it shows that some of you are not as important as you think you are.
10-4

[WA5KRP]

Quote[/b] (W5MEJ @ Sep. 17 2004,18:14)]The services that we as amateurs provide to the emergency agencies when their systems go down is several layers removed from the general public. #If we are doing it right, it should run seamlessly in the background.
Your point is extremely well made. However, I feel the services provided by the amateur radio community should not be treated as merely a footnote you have to dig for on that website.

As far as feeling important...........yeah. Brilliant.




WA5KPR
Texas

[KC5SAS]

They didn't mention REACT either. What the Heck?!?

[ai4ep]

shucks ...some of you folks would really have a fit if C B ops got mentioned and AMATEURS did not ~~??

[KC5SAS]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Sep. 17 2004,20:28)]shucks ...some of you folks would really have a fit if C B ops got mentioned and AMATEURS did not ~~??
Little chance of that since there are probably few if any organizations using CB during disaster services. There's probably some use for CB to relay information to evacuees as they travel through certain areas but most roads around here have highway signs marking evacuation routes and AM/FM broadcast channels to tune to for info.
No, CB will probably never get much organised use or press.

[N2ACX]

looks like this, http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif is what the FCC thinks of amateur radio.
Do any of these people who 'run' the FCC know what amateur radio, ham radio is? It would appear, that they do not.
You would think that a 'slight slap' of an honorable mention, at the very least would have appeared there.
What amateur radio's exemplary response over the years has been in emergencies and local support for a number of projects, walks, drives and other activities in their towns and counties leaves me to wonder as to the reasoning behind the FCC's apparent disavowing the exisitance of amateur radio when people need assistance.
As W5MEJ posted, "It's obviously geared towards the average consumer..........." maybe we as amatuers have to let our presence be more known to the public.
THIS is where those amateur organizations who spend the monies collected for "dues" on producing magazines supporting web pages and other endevors should have also been spending monies on short clips showing what amateur radio is, and what many of us do for thier communites.
I just don't recall ever seeing anything about ham radio, in ads or other.I'm sure there would be no problem in getting radio manufacturers to support this through advertizing. I would bet that it would aid in attracting new hams.
In short, we need to educate the non-ham's of our presence through TV/Radio. Ask anyone on the street what a ham operator is....what do you think their replies would be?
73 Gary N2ACX

[KA3RFE]

This write-up is obviously for the general public and is explaining how to communicate in the event of an emergency. It's making a pass at amateur radio because the general public isn't going to encounter amateur radio as a first responder level. That's why the emphasis on 911-types of communications mentioned.

It's not a slight to hams. Hams are auxillary communications. If you are a general public sort of person and you see an accident, you're not going to look for an amateur radio operator to report it. And if you ARE a ham, what are you going to use to report it??? A repeater autopactch, right?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif? Gee, that's 911! Or if not an autopatch, another ham who will call 911!

Sheesh.

73, Pete KA3RFE

[KA3RFE]

PS: I didn't put that smiley in there. Something is screwing up my internet connection.

[k6pme]

RFE, It was the question marks that put it there. 3 question marks will make that icon. I looks like you used a total of 5.

[ai4ep]

yep the computer did not know you did NOT want a smiley

[K4KWH]

Quote[/b] (KC5SAS @ Sep. 17 2004,19:19)]They didn't mention REACT either. #What the Heck?!?

React? #"React" to what? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #During the day of 9/11/01 I was on the air (CAP and Amateur) until into the night. #When there came a lull in the traffic on HF, I got curious and flipped on my ole CB (which almost never gets turned on) to hear this exchange: "Tan Fer thar, we is a-standin' by thar on th' channel thar for 'ee-mer-gen-cee' traffic thar SQEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #
Wonder if he ever got any "ee-mer-gen-cee" traffic? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73 all

[ai4ep]

strange coincidence...heard almost the same type of transmission on a 2 meter repeater !

[KC5SAS]

Quote[/b] (K4KWH @ Sep. 18 2004,18:31)]React? #"React" to what? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #During the day of 9/11/01 I was on the air (CAP and Amateur) until into the night. #When there came a lull in the traffic on HF, I got curious and flipped on my ole CB (which almost never gets turned on) to hear this exchange: "Tan Fer thar, we is a-standin' by thar on th' channel thar for 'ee-mer-gen-cee' traffic thar SQEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif #
Wonder if he ever got any "ee-mer-gen-cee" traffic? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

73 all
What has what you heard on the CB during or after the 9/11 attacks have to do with REACT?
Most, if not all, of the volunteer EMCOMMs which assisted that day used amateur radio. I don't remember reading of any REACT Team using CB radio during that event. They used Amatuer and GMRS repeaters alongside ARES, RACES, SATERN and MARS responders.

[KG4CGC]

Quote[/b] (KG6QQL @ Sep. 17 2004,11:44)]Well, having not read anymore than what you posted I would say that they are addressing the general public. Relatively speaking, how many know about ham radio?
Ham? That's like CB, right? It's CB, isn't it?

[kj5t]

Amateur Radio is a great resource to communities, and therefore should have been mentioned. That page was talking about different ways to contact '911' well there is also autopatch on repeaters.

Personally the FCC failed to leave off Amateur Radio and CB, because they don't care anymore. If they cared they would be fighting on the side of the Amateurs to stop BPL.

What we have to to as Amateurs is invite people to join our hobby, and promote the hobby around the world and across the country.

"Things are getting better all the time" -The Beatles

[KC5SAS]

Can we have just One thread where nobody brings up CB? Please?