FCC to allow employees to participate in emcomm training drills

The FCC has adopted a Report and Order on Docket RM 10-124 that contains new and less stringent rules regarding employee participation in emergency communications training drills.

Specifically, the FCC is to amend the Part 97.113 of its rules to permit amateur radio operators to transmit messages for their employers under certain limited circumstances. This includes both government or non-government sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness drills, regardless of whether the operators are employees of entities participating in an exercise.

Under the newly modified 97.113, the amount of time employees are now allowed to participate in government sponsored drills is essentially unlimited. In the case of non government sponsored drills the limitation is one hour a week and two drill sessions of up to 72 hours per year.

In making its decision, the FCC categorically refuted all comments against the rules modification. The FCC essentially stated that improvement in the public's welfare by allowing such participation in emergency training
outweighs any concern within the ham community that such a rules change would erode the non pecuniary interest and not for profit status of the amateur radio service.

The Report and order was released on July 14th. It should become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The full document is on the FCC website at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-124A1.pdf
or
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-124A1.doc

Source: ARNewsline, FCC, AH6RH