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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update | ![Next (later) Story](/images/sty-up.gif "Amateur Radio "Saved the Day" in Mississippi; Rita Recovery Continues in Texas"){kind=small} Next: Amateur Radio "Saved the Day" in Mississippi; Rita Recovery Continues in Texas |
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NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 7, 2005--The ARRL officially kicks off its 2006 Spectrum Defense Fund campaign Monday, October 10, by once again emphasizing that Amateur Radio spectrum is one of our nation's most valuable assets. Amateur Radio and everything it accomplishes during disasters and emergencies would cease to exist without access to the range and variety of frequency it enjoys, says ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH.
"Public service is number one on the FCC's §97.1 hit parade of reasons Amateur Radio exists," Hobart said. "The events of September 2005--like those of September 2001--demonstrate the power of Amateur Radio in spades." She says ham radio volunteers who've been taking part in the hurricane Katrina and Rita relief and recovery, whether on the Gulf Coast or from home, "testify to what hams have known for years--the value of Amateur Radio frequencies when disaster strikes."
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Christy Hardin, KB7BSA, just returned home to Alabama after two duty tours in southern Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. "This is the essence of why we need to fight for our frequencies and maintain what we have," she said, looking back on her experiences of the past several weeks. "This is what it's about."
Amateur Radio volunteers have employed a wide range of modes and capabilities to provide needed communication support following the Gulf Coast hurricanes, Hobart points out. The mix includes extensive use of HF, VHF and UHF as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems such as EchoLink and IRLP, and data modes--primarily Winlink 2000.
"At the risk of being melodramatic, the disastrous effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita were of epic proportion," Hobart said. "Our volunteers simply could not do what they've been doing without the radio spectrum allocated to the Amateur Service."
In a 2006 Spectrum Defense Fund appeal going out to ARRL members, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, calls the past month "a challenging one" for those directly affected by the twin Gulf Coast hurricanes. Amateur Radio was in the forefront of those responding to help, he said, from the time Amateur Radio nets began tracking Katrina's course as a tropical storm to the response on the ground in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. "Amateur Radio operators continue to do what no one else can do--provide reliable emergency communications."
"In recent weeks the demand for information about ham radio from the press, and the helping hands extended by official Washington and our Amateur Radio industry have validated what hams have been doing for decades," Sumner's appeal goes on to say, "using our treasured frequencies to save lives, move emergency resources and relay messages across the country."
Amateur Radio's spectrum is available because the League works hard every day to protect and enhance it, Sumner noted. "Each year ARRL expends thousands of staff hours and provides funding to work with agencies and organizations to protect Amateur Radio spectrum," he said. "Amateur Radio volunteer operators are always glad to help . . . to ensure that our frequencies are there for disasters, drills, nets and just plain fun, we must continue to protect them."
Donations to the League's Spectrum Defense Fund give the League the means to represent Amateur Radio at critical meetings in official Washington and at international conferences, prepare FCC filings and presentations and even to work to eliminate harmful interference from such sources as BPL and power line noise.
Hobart says every radio amateur has reason to feel proud of the service that ham radio volunteers have provided in the most recent disaster. "I hope that every ham, active or not, ARRL member or not, will translate that pride into a contribution to support defense of our frequencies," she said.
Giving is easy. Radio amateurs may contribute online via the ARRL's secure donor Web site. Those contributing $50 or more may request a gift as a token of the League's appreciation. A new donor pin and coffee mug have been designed, and other premiums are available for those contributing at higher levels.
The ARRL has been included in the 2005 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) National/International list. This means federal government civilian employees as well as postal and military donors can designate their CFC pledges to the ARRL during the campaign season, which ends December 15. The League's CFC donor code is 9872. Federal employees who participate in the CFC can donate all or part of their CFC contribution to the League to support ARRL's efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio. Some private-sector employers also match donations their employees make to ARRL, while others will donate to the League if you volunteer your time--as an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteer, for example.
For more information about the 2006 Spectrum Defense Fund
or to discuss other ways you can support the ARRL's continuing work on behalf
of Amateur Radio, contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH (860-594-0397).
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