[CQ-Contest] Real emergencies

[Bob Naumann]

Joe,

You need to re-think that one.

"However, it does not permit an amateur to intentionally ignore (fail to own and/or deploy) normal commercial communications services.  "

Say what?

Where do you see the implication that I need to purchase something in order to remain legal in an emergency?

I really didn't want to get into this, but the fundamental of being capable of communicating is so that in the case of an emergency, we as amateurs can provide help!  What's so difficult to understand?  The FCC has made statements in numerous rule clarifications over the years that in an emergency, providing aid comes first - worrying about rules comes second.  

In our litigious society it has to.  Can you imagine this in an ARRL bulletin?:

Dateline Newington CT:

A licensed amateur was sued by the family of a deceased trucker because the ham refused to communicate with the him because he was unlicensed.  Joe Ham said: "I didn't want to risk a citation, so I told him I could not communicate with him further as it was illegal for me to do so."  What did the trucker say back?  "He said he was bleeding to death in his crashed truck on route 80 in Western Pennsylvania but I ignored him because to do otherwise would jeopardize my license."

If anyone thinks helping someone like this is wrong under any circumstances, I think you need to change your perspective on life.

73,
N5NJ


=====================
From: "Joe Subich, K4IK" <k4ik at subich.com>
Date: Wed Mar 30 14:11:24 CST 2005
To: 'Tom McAlee' <tom at klient.com>, cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Real emergencies



> NI1N writes: 
> 
> Last time I read the rules, anyone is allowed to use any means 
> of radiocommunication at their disposal when life or property 
> is at risk and other communication systems are not available.

That allows an amateur to use any means of communications "when 
normal means of communications are not available."  However, it 
does not permit an amateur to intentionally ignore (fail to own 
and/or deploy) normal commercial communications services.  To 
use amateur communications as a first line substitute for the 
prescribed commercial marine and satellite communications is 
simply illegal. 

Similarly, 97.403 does not permit a non-amateur to use amateur 
facilities - it speaks only to an "amateur station" (defined 
97.3(a)).

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK 
 


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