[WARC] EComm is Changing

[Daniel L. Goltz]

The issue has huge implications for my participation in drills or  
emergency response.
Dan WK0w

Quoting Len Litvan <Litvan at acegroup.cc>:

> So I guess this interpretation means that (pertaining to  
> disaster/emergency communications):
>
> - A licensed amateur may not transmit on amateur frequencies via a  
> station located in a hospital or other place where she/he is  
> employed (incl. county EOC).
> - A licensed amateur may not transmit on amateur frequencies via a  
> station other than where she/he is employed while on the clock  
> (e.g., disaster site).  [see below]
> - A licensed amateur who is a paid person on the staff of a relief  
> agency may not transmit on amateur frequencies in relation to an  
> emergency or other relief service related to the agency's activities  
> even when not on the clock (e.g., Red Cross).
>
> So, if I am on an emcomm drill or emergency and shadowing a paid  
> person in a participating emergency (e.g., assistant Fire Chief), I  
> can pass my HT to the person and have him/her talk direct to a  
> counterpart in another agency if the person being shadowed by me is  
> not a licensed amateur, but I cannot do it if the person is a  
> licensed amateur?
>
> The reference to "station licensee" in the interpretation is also  
> interesting.  Who is the "station licensee" of the amateur  
> transmitters in the EOC and other spots around Winona?
>
> Do unpaid personnel (first responders, I guess) receive any funding  
> or property for personal use as a part of their volunteer work  
> (equipment, including personal protective equipment, or clothing )?   
> Is this pecuniary interest?
>
> Seems like it might be worth while to get a clarification of the  
> interpretation.  If you agree, let me know and I will start  
> something--probably through the ARRL (although I am sure they are  
> inundated with requests for clarification already).
>
> Thanks Jim, for alerting us on this interpretation.
>
> Sincerely & 73,
> Len  KC0RSX
> President
> Winona Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
>
> Jim Brown wrote:
>>
>> Below is from Amateur Radio Newsline.
>>
>> RENFORCEMENT: HAM EXPLAINS WHY HES QUITTING EMMCOMM AT WORK
>>
>> A ham who posted on an Internet website that he had assisted in an  
>> emergency communications drill at work has come forward to explain  
>> why he was contacted about his action by FCC ham radio rules  
>> enforcer Laura Smith. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP,  
>> has more:
>>
>> In his posting to the QRZ.com website, Jeffery Casselberry, W0WLS,  
>> says that last July he volunteered to take part in a state  
>> sanctioned communication drill which was backed by the Missouri  
>> Hospital Association. At that time he was the only licensed amateur  
>> in the facility so he said yes.
>>
>> According to Casselberry this drill took place during business  
>> hours while he was on the clock. He explained that he had built the  
>> amateur station for the hospital and with it the facility better  
>> than most in communicating locally and to the state capital.
>>
>> W0WLS went on to say that he was so thrilled about the drills  
>> success that what he made what he terms as the mistake of posting  
>> his excitement on the QRZ website. Someone who read it decided to  
>> cut and paste his comments and send them off to the FCC. As a  
>> result, W0WLS says that he received an informal email from the  
>> FCC's Smith acknowledging his violation and requesting a response.
>>
>> Casselberry says that he responded to Smith and explained in detail  
>> the events of his alleged violation. Smith responded with the  
>> following e-mail which reads as follows and we quote:
>>
>> "Jeff: Again, just so we are clear, Section 97.113 (a)(3) of the  
>> Commission's rules specifically states that "no amateur station  
>> shall transmit: communications in which the station licensee or  
>> control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications  
>> on behalf of an employer." This means that if you are an employee  
>> of the hospital you may not operate the amateur equipment on their  
>> behalf even after hours or while you are on a break. The operation  
>> of the amateur equipment must be conducted strictly by volunteers."  
>> -- end quote.
>>
>> Casselberry went on to say that he does not want to become a poster  
>> child for some emergency communications cause on QRZ.com. He says  
>> that he is done with this type of ham radio activity and it will  
>> never happen again. He's even gone so far as to tell his employer  
>> that he is done with this type of radio activity and will take no  
>> further part in it's emergency communications program.
>>
>> W0WLS ends by noting that he is a hobbyist and don't need this sort  
>> of turmoil in my life. As such, he will make no further comments on  
>> this issue.
>>
>>  /*/Jim Brown/*//*/ N0WE/*/
>>
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>>
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Daniel L. Goltz
274 E. 3rd St.
Winona, MN 55987