Bid : $RACESBUL.349
Subject: Is it true what they say? 349


From: W6WWW@KD6XZ.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM
To  : RACES@ALLUS

TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:    ALL AMATEURS U.S     (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS.
FROM:    CA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
    (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)  PH: 916-262-1600, 2800 Meadowview Rd.,
    Sacramento, CA  95832. Landline BBS, 916-262-1657 (Open
    to all). Internet crm@oes.ca.gov or seh@oes.ca.gov

BULLETIN 349   OPS: Is it true what they say?
Release Date:  October 24, l994

    Question: Is it true, as some publications say, that
"....RACES operation is authorized by the FCC at the request of a
state or federal official, and this operation is strictly limited
to official civil preparedness activity in the event of an
emergency communications situation." ?

    Response. No. Neither state or federal officials request
the FCC to authorize the use of the RACES; and the operation is
not so limited as implied.

     RACES operation is authorized any time activation is
requested by the local or state official with that authority as
specified in the jurisdiction's RACES plan.

    The FCC regulations authorize the RACES as a service for
state and local government, but beyond that no other action is
required. RACES is for their needs, and they determine its use
and need, not the FCC or FEMA. They do not request that the FCC
authorize its use. The only time that a local or state request
might be made to the FCC is in the very isolated instance asking
for a declaration to RESTRICT AMATEURS FROM NORMAL OPERATIONS
during a specific emergency. This is so rare that the FCC
routinely turns down the sporadic requests.

    As to being "limited to official civil preparedness
activity....", such statements seem to echo words in Part
97.407(e) and do convey the idea that RACES activities are much
more limited that some other service supposedly without
limitation. However, in the real world, a government emergency
communications unit can do most activities any other unit can do
if (repeat IF) so authorized and properly handled, by its
sponsoring government civil defense agency for training and
familiarization purposes in preparation for emergency
communications. The key is how the situation is handled and
structured. For more information on how RACES units do utilize
the broad flexibility they possess it is suggested that you
review the bulletins issued over the past year or so.

Remember, however,  that the RACES prime mission is emergency
Public Safety Communications support for and on behalf of the
local or state government civil defense program. In today's world
that includes many activities that do not involve operation on
Amateur Radio frequencies.

Cary Mangum, W6WWW, LL.B., JD.,
California OES Chief State Radio Officer
EOM.