On Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:33:31 EDT, wrote:

AMENDMENT OF PART 97 OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES REGARDING AMATEUR RADIO
SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS. Amended the
rules in this proceeding.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-10-124A1.pdf


The rule change is:
§ 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 yea
r,
they may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours.


I am happy to see this. Several members of our ARES/RACES
organization also work for the county Emergency Services Department.
In addition, our local Search & Rescue is a division of the Sheriff's
office and maany of them are hams. We have been encouraging all of
these people to get ham licenses, and we give them license study
classes. Now they will be able to practice in drills along with the
rest of us, without the complication of having to get a waiver each
time.

73 de Dick AC7EL