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Subj: ARES E-Letter April 18, 2012
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The ARES E-Letter April 18, 2012
Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE
In This Issue:
FCC Seeks Public Comments on Emergency Communications by Amateur Radio
and Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications
North Texas ARES/RACES Ops Respond to Tornados
ARRL EPM Mike Corey, KI1U: Put Your Emergency Operations Center on the
Air
Amateur Radio in Tsunami Exercise: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Storm Operator Jennifer Melfi, KC2TMA, Receives Special Service Citation
California Emergency Preparedness Expo Showcases Amateur Radio EmComm
Letters: More on GPS
Letters: IS-201
Malaysia to Host Eighth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Conference
Letters: Training -- Too Much of a Good Thing?
Letters: Best Digital Mode?
K1CE For a Final
FCC Seeks Public Comments on Emergency Communications by Amateur Radio and
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impediments to Amateur Radio Communications
-------------------------------------------
In response to the Congressional directive to prepare a study to assess
Amateur Radio's role in emergency and disaster communications and the impact
of private land use regulations on the amateur community's ability to
provide such communications, the FCC issued DA 12-523 soliciting comments
from the public. The period for public comment runs until May 17, 2012.
"As part of the study contained in Public Law No. 112-96, the Commission has
opened a 45 day period for comments to be filed on the issue," said ARRL
Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "Because of the short
deadline for the study to be completed and presented to Congress -- before
the end of August -- the ARRL and the amateur community must quickly
mobilize their response."
The FCC Public Notice focuses on two specific areas for comments. The first
is the role that Amateur Radio has played and continues to play to support
emergency and disaster relief organizations, such as FEMA and local/state
emergency management agencies. The second is to determine impediments to
enhanced Amateur Radio communications. This would include the impact that
private land-use regulations -- such as deed restrictions and homeowner
association covenants -- have on the ability of licensed amateurs to fully
participate in providing support communications to the served agencies.
"This study is not about zoning ordinances or regulations adopted by the
local or state governments," Henderson explained. "Amateurs already have the
limited protection of PRB-1 to assist them with those situations. The areas
of concern here are the limitations that are placed on a property when it is
purchased, either as part of the deed of sale or by restrictions imposed by
the neighborhood/homeowner's association. Those restrictions -- sometimes
referred to as CC&Rs -- are not currently covered by the FCC's PRB-1
decision from 1985."
To allow the ARRL to quickly collect and collate relevant information from
the amateur community to help support the filing it will make with the FCC
on this issue, a website has been setup. The site --
www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information -- provides details about what kind of
information is needed by the ARRL.
Also on the site, you will find links to two online data collection forms.
The first form allows you to provide information about specific emergency
communications in which Amateur Radio has played a role since January 2000.
The second form asks for specific information on the CC&Rs/deed restrictions
that control your property. It also asks you to provide information on how
those restrictions have impacted your ability to fully support emergency
communications.
"Whether you are an ARRL member or not, your information and situation are
important to helping us make the case for all amateurs," Henderson said.
"Whether your support communications are with ARES©, RACES, SKYWARN, CERT or
other emergency and disaster groups, your voice should be heard. If you
cannot operate effectively from home during an emergency because CC&Rs
prohibit adequate antennas on your property, that is important to document
and quantify. This issue affects all of Amateur Radio, not just ARRL members."
Henderson said that due to the short timeframe that the FCC has allotted for
public comment, time is of the essence. In order to allow the ARRL to
develop its comments, the ARRL asks that all information sent by the amateur
community be received at the ARRL no later than April 25, 2012: "We realize
this is a very short turnaround asking for your response, but this is based
on the time provided by the Commission for the comment window."
It is important that when you provide specifics of your CC&R, you also
provide the ARRL with a copy of its actual wording. If you have the CC&R in
a digital format (or you can scan the document into a file), it can either
be uploaded through the website above or it can be sent via an e-mail to
CCRinfo@arrl.org . If you do not have an electronic format, a hard copy may
be sent via US mail to: CCR Study Information, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington,
CT 06111.
"We need factual, specific details," Henderson said. "The more accurate
information we have -- including copies of the CC&R language -- the stronger
case we can make. Having copies of the exact CC&Rs is important. It allows
us to demonstrate the wide variation of restrictions. Including the specific
text is as important as any other piece of information you provide."
If you have questions about what is being requested, you may contact the
ARRL Regulatory Information Office via e-mail. "Again, time is of the
essence in this matter," Henderson said. "This is the best opportunity that
amateurs have had to address the impact of overly burdensome private land
use restrictions. If Amateur Radio is to succeed in this effort, it is going
to take all of us working together."
North Texas ARES/RACES Ops Respond to Tornados
----------------------------------------------
On April 3, perfect conditions conducive to tornado activity converged on
North Texas. A slow moving front, combined with abnormally warm temperatures
and moist air coming in from the south, produced large hail, numerous funnel
clouds and tornados. As the weather worsened, hams in North Texas activated
ARES© and RACES nets. Spotters reported their observations to their local
Emergency Operations Center, which acted on that information in a timely
manner to inform the public of the approaching storms, giving them time to
get to safety. A total of 21 confirmed tornados -- including one EF3 and two
EF2 twisters -- swept through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex during the
seven hour storm. More here. -- ARRL Letter
ARRL EPM Mike Corey, KI1U: Put Your Emergency Operations Center on the Air
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
How often is the Amateur Radio station at your local emergency operations
center on the air? Only during emergencies? For nets? For training? In many
cases the EOC Amateur Radio station may only see activity when it's needed,
but this really shouldn't be the case. This Amateur Radio station plays two
critical roles. First it is the station you will rely on during an
emergency. Not just for the operator at the EOC, but all those communicating
with your EOC via Amateur Radio. Second, it is your Amateur Radio showcase
to your served agencies.
Putting this station on the air, not just regularly but as often as
possible, accomplishes several things. Each time you are on the air you are
training. You are learning about propagation, band conditions, and improving
your operating skills. In doing this you also learn more about your station.
You learn its strengths and weaknesses, its capabilities, and you become
more familiar with the equipment. Finally, you learn to identify problems in
the station. Through regular activity you develop a baseline of how the
station should perform. When something goes wrong you will know it quickly
and be better prepared to fix the problem.
This on the air activity also has other potential benefits. As you and your
group spend more time exercising the station your served agency will take
notice. They will see that this station has value. They may even take
interest in how well it is performing. And don't forget that through
activity you are given the chance to promote the Amateur Radio Service.
Remember there's more to it than emergencies and public service, don't miss
an opportunity to show off the other facets of our great service.
The opportunities to get on the air are diverse. Your group could make it a
goal to add an operating achievement to the wall such as DXCC or Worked All
States. Participating in a contest is a great way to hone your operating and
traffic handling skills (a contest exchange is traffic!). It also provides a
great way to test your station's capabilities. You can also design a
friendly in-house competition between operators, and see who can make the
most QSO's each month or log check ins to HF nets.
Never forget what truly makes Amateur Radio a great asset, the spectrum to
provide communications. We have this spectrum because we use it, not because
we talk about using it. As an Amateur Radio operator you should get on the
air as much as possible and so should your EOC station. -- Mike Corey, KI1U,
ARRL HQ
Amateur Radio in Tsunami Exercise: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in San Juan, in coordination
with the Puerto Rico Seismic Network and the Caribbean Tsunami Center
prepared the exercise called LANTEX12. The purpose of this exercise, held on
March 28 at precisely 9:04 am AST, was to support tsunami preparedness
efforts throughout Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The exercise tested sirens, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and how well
messages get on the air on local radio, TV, cable and other outlets. Also
tested were evacuation procedures in public schools around the island. The
drill scenario was an earthquake off the shores of South Carolina, and the
Tsunami wave it would create.
Angel Santana, WP3GW, reported that he was present at the Agencia Estatal de
Manejo de Emergencias y Administraci¢n de Desastres- AEMEAD (Puerto Rico
Emergency Management Agency - PREMA) central offices, and served as Net
Control using the KP4CVR call of the Cuerpo de Voluntarios Radioaficionados
team, for which he is a volunteer. Santana was on the KP4CAR - 147.210 Mhz
repeater system taking reports from all eleven Zones in which rhe agency
divides the island. [The KP4CAR repeater is sponsored by Carlos A. Rosado,
KP4CAR, the owner and trustee, and is one of the best situated on the island
-- during Hurricane Irene it was one of the few on the air.] The agency
wanted to know how Amateur Radio operators learned of the activation to have
an idea of which communication systems worked best. Amateurs from Mayagüez
up to the island of Vieques reported in. There were several others on other
repeater systems and on HF participating in the drill.
Here is a TV report about the exercise. Satellite telephones were also used,
and the KP4 Amateur Radio operators net was activated. As an aside, AEMEAD
Director Heriberto Sauri lamented that only one cellular company
participated in the exercise -- some cell phone companies were under fire
last year for not sending any test messages as planned.
This is the third year in a row that Amateur Radio has participated in this
exercise. -- Angel Santana, WP3GW, ARRL Puerto Rico Section Public
Information Officer
Storm Operator Jennifer Melfi, KC2TMA, Receives Special Service Citation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 27 and 28, 2011, for 28 hours during Tropical Storm Irene, 13 year
old Jennifer Melfi, KC2TMA, assisted the Town of Babylon (New York)
Emergency Operations Center by calling for volunteers on the radio several
hours before the storm struck. She tirelessly provided emergency
communications, relaying information about shelters and highways to Town of
Babylon officials, Red Cross shelters and other nets throughout Long Island.
In January, Senator Owen H. Johnson (D-4), presented her with a much
deserved Citation at the Ham Radio University event at Briarcliff College in
Bethpage, New York. The citation states, in part, "Age does not play a
factor in one's ability to volunteer their time to serve one's community.
This citation recognizes your outstanding community service to the residents
of the Town of Babylon, may you be an inspiration to others who follow in
your footsteps." - Peter Portanova, WB2OQQ
California Emergency Preparedness Expo Showcases Amateur Radio EmComm
---------------------------------------------------------------------
March 23, 2012 was the date of the Outdoor Resort Palm Springs (ORPS)
Emergency Preparedness Expo. Local Palm Springs KESQ channel 3 TV reporter
Bianca Rae interviewed Coachella Valley EC John Polak, NF6N, which made the
evening news broadcast.
In addition to RACES, the Cathedral City Fire Department, Riverside County
Emergency Services, American Red Cross, FEMA, Costco, Palm Springs Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the ORPS Safety & Security Committee also
participated.
Outdoor Resort Palm Springs is an RV community of 1213 individually owned
lots. Most of the owners are snowbirds from western Canada and Northwest US.
-- Jim Koski, KT6W
Letters: More on GPS
--------------------
It is my experience and that of friends too, that GPS decisions about what
turns to make to get to the desired destinations are often wrong. After all,
the GPS has an internal decision making program that may have flaws or wrong
logic in its design created by each GPS manufacturer. So to depend on this
in a critical situation is a naive and foolish belief in the infallibility
of the device. Yet, so many people have this trust. I have found that a
majority of drivers have little or no map reading skills. That may be why
they have to depend on GPS devices to find their way around when traveling.
Poor map skills trap them into depending on the fallible substitute of the
GPS device, sometimes leading to dangerous, even near tragic situations.
Perhaps map reading skills should be tought to everyone in ARES and
emergency sevices in general. --Murray Goldberg, KD2IN, Toms River, New Jersey
Letters: IS-201
---------------
In re the last issue's item on FEMA course IS-201, it is really based on the
forms used in the ICS's Planning Section. That doesn't mean that the other
sections are not involved but it does work mostly with planning forms to
make it around what is called the "Planning P" to put a "Plan" in the
Incident Commander's hands at the proper time. The Plans folks live in the
future and not so much in the "now" or "past." They take what the Incident
Commander wants to do in the NEXT period and put it on paper. If he wants to
be in front of the fire with ten fire trucks and 100 people and planning
finds out that there are only 5 fire trucks and 50 people on hand, they will
contact Logistics to make sure that the additional supplies will be on hand
BEFORE that next period begins. They will determine from the Operations
folks what they will need to make all of this happen. They may need more
food, water and porta-potties. As soon as this "new plan" is put into place
at 0600 (or whatever time the Incident Commander says it will happen),
Planning moves on to the NEXT operation period.
So again, they live at least 12 hours into the future. There is a saying
that if the Planning section has nothing to do for that next operational
period, then their job is to "plan the demobilization." If there is nothing
to do, you don't need that many people or that much equipment.
So IS-201 is directed towards those Planning types but we as amateurs need
to be headed in that direction also. If I am one of the amateurs operating
in the field, I want to know that my ARES staff is "planning" for my relief
at such and such a time. They might need to be planning to make sure I am
counted for lunch and water. If operations are expanding in the next
operational period, the ARES staff might be planning on new nets (or another
net) to handle the increased traffic. If the ARES staff is slowly sinking
then they might want come up with their own planning guy who has been
trained to handle amateur planning. Anyway, just another person's 1-cent
(after taxes). -- Edward Tune (Otto), KV7J, Carson City, Nevada
Malaysia to Host Eighth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
----------
The Eighth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference (GAREC)
-- called MyGAREC 2012 -- will be held November 12-14 in the Malaysian state
of Negeri Sembilan at the Thistle Port Dickson Resort.
GAREC -- which began in 2005 in Tampere, Finland -- attracts radio amateurs
who have an interest in providing emergency communications in response to
disasters or during training exercises. MyGAREC 2012 has been timed to
immediately follow the IARU Region 3 Conference in Vietnam (scheduled for
November 5-9) with its theme of disaster relief communications.
General information for MyGAREC 2012 -- including information on the venue,
registration fees the tentative agenda and registration forms -- has been
posted on the MyGAREC website. According to organizers, the website will be
updated weekly with the latest news and program changes. Among the topics to
be discussed include the HF emergency operating procedure and the future of
GAREC, as well as presentations from the three IARU regions. Presentations
from various IARU Member-Societies regarding recent disaster relief
communications operations will also be scheduled.
Previous GARECs have been held in Finland (2005 and 2006), the USA (2007),
Germany (2008), Japan (2009), Cura‡ao (2010) and South Africa (2011). --
ARRL Letter
Letters: Training -- Too Much of a Good Thing?
----------------------------------------------
In March QST you wrote about ICS, CPR and AED training for volunteers. I
spent 16 years as a volunteer in Emergency Management and I am an instructor
for NIMS and when I read your write up I could not believe what you are
asking volunteers to do. Yes, they need IS courses 100, 700 and 800 but
unless they are going to be a leader and have the full knowledge of
Emergency Management I don't see that the volunteers need courses 230, 250,
288 and the others that deal with the EOC.
If you are in a rural area your EOC could be out of your house or work for
an Emergency Manager who doesn't even have the ICS training. As a volunteer
I feel -- along with our club -- that the other classes are not necessary.
You have to realize that the rural areas don't have DSL, and dial up
Internet won't let you take some of these classes online. I feel that if
ARES volunteers take IS courses 100, 200 and 700 then they have the
knowledge to assist in an emergency. Remember, they are volunteers and have
regular jobs, families and other commitments.
So I hope your recommendations do not become requirements because you will
lose a lot of great volunteers in the process. Rural fire departments are
getting smaller and smaller because of the requirements that are put on
them. I was an Assistant EMD for 16 years and was in charge of our
volunteers so I know how hard it is to get them to take these classes.
Please consider talking with rural ARES groups and learn how hard it is to
get and keep volunteers. --Teresa Tost, KC0OKP, President, Douglas County
Amateur Radio Club, Ava, Missouri
Letters: Best Digital Mode?
---------------------------
I read your column on digital methods in the current QST. I am an active
member of Army MARS and operate on a 4 MHz Digital Net at least one hour
daily six days a week. Our experience shows OLIVIA works very well in noisy
conditions, much faster then PSK31 and can get through as well as CW. MT63
is faster when signals are good. EASYPAL can send pictures (very useful in
disaster conditions) and large text files error free. There are several
programs that can connect for ARQ transmissions including WINMOR, FLDIGI and
V4CHAT. All of these methods use freeware programs and have been used on HF
and VHF. There is no "best" method any more than there is a best tool. To be
a competent digital operator requires practice with several methods to be
able to pick the optimum solution in a given situation. -- Scott McCann,
W3MEO/AAR3FK
K1CE For a Final
----------------
Below are the actual questions posed by the FCC to the public in its Public
Notice referenced at the outset of this issue:
The FCC said "We pose specific questions below to provide structure for
commenters. Commenters may also address questions not set forth below that
relate to the topics of the study to be submitted to Congress. Commenters
should not, however, view this Public Notice as an opportunity to seek
Commission rulings regarding specific situations."
1. Importance of emergency Amateur Radio Service communications.
As noted above, the statute requires a review of the importance of emergency
Amateur Radio Service communications relating to disasters, severe weather,
and other threats to lives and property.
a. What are examples of disasters, severe weather, and other threats to life
and property in which the Amateur Radio Service provided communications
services that were important to emergency response or disaster relief?
Provide examples of the important benefits of these services.
b. Under what circumstances does the Amateur Radio Service provide
advantages over other communications systems in supporting emergency
response or disaster relief activities? Under what circumstances does the
Amateur Radio Service complement other forms of communications systems for
emergency response or disaster relief?
c. What Federal Government plans, policies, and training programs involving
emergency response and disaster relief currently include use of the Amateur
Radio Service? What additional plans, policies, and training programs would
benefit from the inclusion of Amateur Radio Service operations? How would
Amateur Radio Service operations fit into these plans and programs?
d. What State, tribal, and local government plans, policies, and training
programs involving emergency response and disaster relief currently include
use of the Amateur Radio Service? What additional plans and programs would
benefit from the inclusion of Amateur Radio Service operations? How would
Amateur Radio Service operations fit into these plans and programs?
e. What changes to the Commission's emergency communications rules for the
Amateur Radio Service (Part 97, Subpart E) would enhance the ability of
amateur operators to support emergency and disaster response? In addition,
are there any specific changes that could be made to the technical and
operational rules for the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97, Subparts B, C, and
D) that would enhance the ability of amateur operators to support emergency
and disaster response? What other steps could be taken to enhance the
voluntary deployment and effectiveness of Amateur Radio Service operators
during disasters and
emergencies?
f. What training from government or other sources is available for Amateur
Radio Service operators for emergency and disaster relief communications?
How could this training be enhanced? Should national training standards be
developed for emergency communications response?
g. What communications capabilities, e.g., voice, video, or data, are
available from Amateur Radio Service operators during emergencies and
disasters? Are there any future technical innovations that might further
improve the Amateur Radio Service?
h. Are national standards in data transmission needed to enhance the ability
of Amateur Radio Service operators to respond to emergencies and disasters?
Are there restrictions with regard to transmission speeds that, if removed,
would increase the ability of operators to support emergency/disaster
response? If so, what issues could arise from removing these restrictions?
i. Would it enhance emergency response and disaster relief activities if
Amateur Radio Service operators were able to interconnect with public safety
land mobile radio systems or hospital and health care communications
systems? What could be done to enable or enhance such interconnections? What
issues could arise from permitting such interconnections?
j. Should there be national certification programs to standardize amateur
radio emergency communications training, mobilization, and operations? How
would such programs improve emergency communications?
2. Impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications. The statute
also requires that the study identify impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio
Service communications andrecommendations regarding the removal of such
impediments.
a. What private land use restrictions on residential antenna installations
have amateur radio operators encountered? What information is available
regarding the prevalence of such restrictions? What are the effects of
unreasonable and unnecessary restrictions on the amateur radio community's
ability to use the Amateur Radio Service? Specifically, do these
restrictions affect the amateur radio community's ability to respond to
disasters, severe weather, and other threats to lives and property in the
United States? What actions can be taken to
minimize the effects of these restrictions?
b. What criteria distinguish "unreasonable or unnecessary" private land
use restrictions from reasonable and necessary restrictions? How do local
circumstances, such as neighborhood density or historic significance, affect
whether a private land use restriction is reasonable or necessary? How does
the availability of alternative transmitting locations or power sources
affect the reasonableness of a particular private land use restriction?
c. What steps can amateur radio operators take to minimize the risk that an
antenna installation will encounter unreasonable or unnecessary private land
use restrictions? For example, what obstacles exist to using a transmitter
at a location not subject to such restrictions, or placing an antenna on a
structure used by commercial mobile radio service providers or government
entities?
d. Do any Commission rules create impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio
Service communications? What are the effects of these rules on the amateur
radio community's ability to use the Amateur Radio Service? Do disaster
and/or severe weather situations present any special circumstances wherein
Commission rules may create impediments that would not otherwise exist in
non-disaster situations? What actions can be taken to minimize the effects
of these rules?
e. What other impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications
have amateur radio operators encountered? What are the effects of these
impediments on the amateur radio community's ability to use the Amateur
Radio Service? Specifically, do these impediments affect the amateur radio
community's ability to respond to disasters, severe weather, and other
threats to lives and property in the United States? What actions can be
taken to minimize the effect of these impediments?
f. The legislation requires the Commission to identify "impediments to
enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications."7 What specific
"enhance[ments]" to Amateur Radio Service communications have been
obstructed by theimpediments discussed above?
__________
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