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DA 09-2259                                         Released: October 20, 2009

AMATEUR SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS

DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS

Transmissions by amateur stations participating in government disaster drills must comply with

all applicable amateur service rules. While the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary

noncommercial communications service, particularly with respect to providing emergency

emergency radio service. Rather, it is a voluntary, non-commercial communication service authorized for

the purpose of self-training, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by licensed

State and local government public safety agencies occasionally conduct emergency preparedness

or disaster drills that include amateur operations. Some entities, such as hospitals, emergency operations

centers, and police, fire, and emergency medical service stations, have expressed interest in having their

employees who are amateur station operators participate in these drills by transmitting messages on the

entity’s behalf. The Commission’s Rules, however, specifically prohibit amateur stations from

transmitting communications “in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest,

Given the public interest in facilitating government-sponsored emergency preparedness and

disaster drills, we take this opportunity to provide a clear process for requesting a waiver, and the

submitted to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau by the government entity conducting the drill, and

must provide the following information: (1) when and where the drill will take place; (2) identification of

the amateur licensees expected to transmit amateur communications on behalf of their employers; (3)

identification of the employers on whose behalf they will be transmitting; and (4) a brief description of

the drill. We emphasize that the filing of a waiver request does not excuse compliance with the rules

while that request is pending. The waiver must be requested prior to the drill, and employees may not

transmit amateur communications on their employer’s behalf unless the waiver request has been granted.

In an actual emergency, the Commission’s Rules provide that an amateur station may use any

means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection

Cross of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, at (202) 418-0680,

By the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security

Bureau; and Chief, Enforcement Bureau.

Notes:

1 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.1(a). See also Recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane

Katrina on Communications Networks, Order, EB Docket No. 06-119; WC Docket No. 06-63, 22 FCC Rcd 10541,

 2 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.3(a)(4).

3 See 47 C.F.R. § 97.113(a)(3) (emphasis added).

4 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.925.

radio operators who are emergency personnel may use their amateur radio stations while in paid duty status, but not

addressing the prohibition against transmitting messages on behalf of an employer).

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