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 Previous: FCC Making Headway with Vanity Backlog |  Next: In Brief |
 (L-R) ARRL Hudson Director Frank Fallon, N2FF; Rep Steve Israel; ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Mar 12, 2002--ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says Amateur Radio got a positive reception during his fourth visit to Washington, DC, to visit with regulators and lawmakers. Haynie headed a contingent of ARRL officials and staff members February 26 to March 1 on visits to the FCC and Capitol Hill among other stops.
"In my mind, it was the best trip we ever had," Haynie said. "This was more of a working trip than any of the previous. We had a hard, busy, full week, and we took advantage of every bit of it." Haynie's entourage included ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD; Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF; Legislative and Public Affairs Manager Steve Mansfield, N1MZA; and Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, of the ARRL's Washington office.
Haynie and Imlay met with staff members in the Office of Engineering and Technology and new OET Chief Edmond J. Thomas. The FCC stop included a second ex parte presentation by Haynie and Imlay to OET staff members on a proposal by SAVI Technology to deploy Part 15 RF identification tags in the vicinity of 433 MHz at much greater field strengths and duty cycles than those now permitted for such devices. Other topics of discussion included the ARRL's pending petitions for low-frequency allocations at 136 kHz and 160-190 kHz, and for a new, domestic allocation in the vicinity of 5 MHz.
 President Haynie meets with Rep Pete Sessions (center). ARRL Hudson Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, is on the right. |
The centerpiece of the series of Washington visits was ARRL's participation in a National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) brainstorming session, chaired informally by Gene McGahey, AL7GQ, of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center. The February 27 session considered improved means to incorporate Amateur Radio into public safety and homeland security planning. Participants also looked at the possibilities of increasing the role of ham volunteers in public safety and emergency communication.
Among other topics, discussion focused on improving recognition by public safety agencies of Amateur Radio as a resource and further upgrading the level of professionalism among Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) volunteers through enhanced accreditation and training. The session also touched on the need for a universally recognized identification card or credentials for amateur volunteers.
Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the FCC and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) were among those on hand for the session.
 President Haynie and Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE. [Photos courtesy of Frank Fallon, N2FF] |
Haynie told the gathering that amateurs are looking for opportunities to participate in disaster relief, that they are typically resourceful and that they have an innate curiosity about solving technical issues. Ham volunteers not only can bridge a communication gap when conventional means fail, Haynie suggested, but could be recruited to help restore service or offer on-site guidance to resolving technical and communications problems.
Other discussion centered on the possibility of forming a highly trained first-response cadre of Amateur Radio volunteers who would undergo ongoing training and accreditation plus periodic credentialing. "We will be going to ARES and RACES to recruit the best and the brightest," Haynie said.
A follow-up meeting will be held this spring at ARRL Headquarters. "I think you'll see a lot of positive results and concrete ideas from the next meeting," Haynie predicted. "The next meeting will have a more detailed agenda."
While in Washington, Haynie also met with a representative of the US Department of Transportation concerning ham radio's potential role in homeland security. A meeting will be set to discuss ideas in greater depth, he said.
The ARRL party also touched bases with several members of Congress or their staffers to explore the possibilities of legislation concerning private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions--CC&Rs--as they affect the ability of radio amateurs to erect outdoor antennas. Haynie and ARRL officials also discussed Amateur Radio's role in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. On the list were meetings with Rep Steve Israel on New York, whose father, Howard, is K2JCC; Mike Iger, legislative assistant to Rep Maurice Hinchey of New York; Sharon Tucker, legislative assistant to Rep Jerry Kleczka of Wisconsin; Rep Greg Walden, WB7OCE, of Oregon; and Rep Pete Sessions of Texas and Jeff Koch, NU5Z, his legislative assistant.
 FEMA Chief Information Officer Ronald E. Miller (left) and President Haynie sign respective copies of the updated Memorandum of Understanding between ARRL and FEMA. |
"I was encouraged," Haynie said after the round of meetings. "Since September 11, people have begun thinking in greater depth about what role Amateur Radio can play." He said some congressional staffers talked about how telephone service was out or intermittent following the attack on the Pentagon.
Especially since September 11, Haynie said, he has perceived "a greater level of awareness" on Capitol Hill and in Washington as to what Amateur Radio might be able to bring to the table "The reception we got was extremely cooperative and very friendly," he said.
During the Washington trip, the ARRL renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with FEMA, which sponsors RACES. The MOU calls on FEMA to encourage state and local emergency management officials to establish cooperative relationships with ARRL field volunteers. Under the agreement, FEMA and ARRL will "encourage the use of Amateur Radio resources in the development of state and local emergency operating plans and the use of those plans to support exercises."
"It became especially important after
September 11," Haynie said of the updated MOU. "The sense of urgency was magnified."
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