FCC Order Adopted Regarding Utilization of Amateur Radio During Disaster Drills
By: American Hospital Association & N7LYEThe FCC just released an Order revising Part 97 of its rules to permit use of the Amateur Radio Service during emergency preparedness drills consistent with the blanket waiver request submitted by AHA and advocated for by several organizations and individuals. The Commission determined that, because amateur operations play an essential role in protecting the public during emergency and disaster situations, the rules should be amended to permit amateur radio operators to participate in emergency and disaster preparedness drills and tests, regardless of whether the operators are employees of the entities participating in the drill or test. Order at ¶ 11. Although this paragraph ties relief to government-sponsored drills (likely due to an editorial oversight), the Order (and the adopted rule) makes clear that “the public interest would be served by permitting amateur radio operators to participate in non-government sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness drills and tests, regardless of whether the operators are employees of the entities participating in the drill or test.” Order at ¶ 19 (emphasis added).
The Commission adopted different requirements depending upon whether the drills are government sponsored. If government-sponsored, the authority to use amateur radio is limited to the duration and scope of the drill being conducted, and operational testing immediately prior to the drill. For non-government-sponsored drills, the Commission imposed the following additional limitations: (i) non-government sponsored drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours twice annually; (ii) in addition, non-government drills and testing may be conducted weekly, provided such tests do not exceed one hour per week. Order at ¶ 20.
The text of the new rule is set forth below:
§ 97.113 Prohibited transmissions.
(a) * * *
(3) Communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer, with the following exceptions:
(i) A station licensee or control station operator may participate on behalf of an employer in an emergency preparedness or disaster readiness test or drill, limited to the duration and scope of such test or drill, and operational testing immediately prior to such test or drill. Tests or drills that are not government-sponsored are limited to a total time of one hour per week; except that no more than twice in any calendar year, they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours. The complete order as a PDF is available - please follow this link. Amateur radio order.
