SISKIYOU COUNTY RACES/ACS, Siskiyou County Amateur Radio, N6MRX

FCC Announces New Universal Licensing System Interface

| FCC Announces New Universal Licensing System Interface
|
| NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 12, 2003--The FCC on December 14 will unveil a new
| on-line filing interface for its Universal Licensing System (ULS),
| which includes the Amateur Service. In order to implement the
| changes, the ULS on-line filing system will be down from 12 AM EST
| Saturday, December 13, until 10 AM EST Sunday, December 14. Among
| other features, the ULS's new look will include updated, easier-to-
| read on-screen forms that guide users through filing processes and
| simplify such routine tasks as applying for license renewal, address
| change or vanity call sign. Screens also will offer context-sensitive
| help and a list of "common questions" for a given application
| process. The FCC says the introduction of its new system, called "ULS
| License Manager," is part of an ongoing ULS overhaul.
|
| "As part of a continuing effort to improve the Universal Licensing
| System, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) announces the
| end of phase one of a multi-phased process to extensively redesign
| ULS online filing," the FCC said in a news release. ULS License
| Manager also will incorporate a new filing "wizard" for anyone using
| FCC Form 605 for any purpose. Form 605 is the primary ULS application
| form that amateurs and four other WTB-administered services use. The
| FCC says there has been no change to the data applicants will have to
| supply for Form 605.
|
| Perhaps more important to amateurs is that ULS License Manager will
| be compatible with most, if not all, major Web browsers and computer
| platforms and no longer will require downloading Java and Java Script
| files. Screens also will be compliant with Web screen-to-voice reader
| software.
|
| An FCC staffer involved with implementing ULS License Manager notes
| that all features may not be in place when the system debuts.
|
| The ULS will require all filers to log into the system using an FCC
| Registration Number (FRN) and Commission Registration System (CORES)
| password. "Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) will no longer be
| accepted for login purposes," the FCC said.
|
| There's more information on FRN/CORES on the FCC Web site. Those who
| already have registered a Taxpayer Identification Number with the FCC-
| -a Social Security number for most individuals--do not have to
| register again.
|
| Along with the on-line ULS changes comes a new paper version of FCC
| Form 605, dated December 2003. The new paper form contains few
| differences from the one most new amateur applicants now complete.
| One change is that it no longer requests a date of birth and will
| only accept an FRN and CORES password. There are no Amateur Service-
| related changes to any Form 605 schedules.
|
| The FCC says Amateur Service applicants may continue to use the March
| 2001 (or later) edition of Form 605, although it encourages use of
| the new version. The new December 2003 edition of FCC Form 605 now is
| available via the FCC Web site or through the FCC's Right Fax
| service, 202-418-0177.
|
| To assist with any ULS issues after the changeover, the Technical
| Support Hotline staff will be available Sunday, December 14, from 10
| AM until 6 PM EST. Normal hours are weekdays (except holidays) from 8
| AM until 6 PM Eastern Time. Technical Support is available via the
| FCC Web site or telephone 877-480-3201 (TTY 202-414-1255).
|
| ULS licensing support and forms information is available weekdays
| (except holidays) from 8 AM until 5:30 PM Eastern Time via e-mail or
| telephone 888-CALLFCC (225-5322), Option 2 (users also may call 717-
| 338-2888).
|
| Once the new system is up and running, the FCC says, all licenses and
| applications in the ULS database will be converted to the new ULS
| License Manager filing environment.

WHY HAMS ARE NOT USED

I think the thing that we've all got to remember is, more importantly than the fact that we're Communicators, is the fact that we are ALL a part of the Emergency Management TEAM. Us, Fire, Law Enforcement, Search & Rescue, all of us... we've got different roles that we play in an incident, but we're all a part of the same team, working toward the same goal... Minimizing the chaos, and restoring order. Whether that means answering a phone, helping pull a hose line, shadowing a white helmet, running messages back and forth in the EOC, Running a radio, making coffee, directing traffic, or whatever needs to be done.

For whomever has the attitude that some of this "isn't my job" or is "beneath them"... let me just remind you, just like with any job, it's very simple. Ya do what needs to be done, or next time, they'll just find someone else to do it.

Brian Eller, AE6FJ
Emergency Communications Coordinator
Inland Empire Chapter (California) - American Red Cross

THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING DISCUSSION OF HAMS INVOLVED
IN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

"Jeff E" wrote:

Well, this is news to me....please share! What bad experiences have EMs
had, and are they real, or just rumors and exaggerations from people who
don't really know ARES and RACES?

----------------------------

You need to get out more. The "powers that be" in amateur radio seem
to be on a quest to keep all bad news from the amateur community. In
other words, you won't be reading this in "Q-S-T" anytime soon.

Here are some of the complaints I've heard. Keep in mind that no one
EM will have all (or even most) of these, only that these are the
common ones I run into.

1) Lack of standardized training: This does not mean "national
training." This means training in the sense that emergency
professionals are used to dealing with - like law enforcement or fire
service programs. This means that the training is relevant to local
needs, held regularly, has demonstrable standards, and that those
standards are tested. The results of training and testing are
documented, and the individual is retested and requalified at regular
intervals.

2) Ignorance of ICS and chain-of-command: most amateurs don't
recognize that when they are activated for an emergency, their boss
is no longer the EC - that person may or may not be their Team
Leader, but their boss is the IC, through the LSC and the COML.
Thorough ICS training (NIIMS standard, not the bastardized version
being taught at our national level) is a necessity, not an option.

3) Insistance on "the ham way": Amateurs tend to be inflexible; they
take the attitude that "this is the way WE do it, so this is the way
you have to do it." Refer back to #2 - a good example is the
Radiogram form. I've heard from more than a few EM's that they don't
want to see, hear, or deal with the Radiogram. They use ICS-213's,
and are very annoyed when the amateurs with whom they deal either
don't understand or simply refuse to use it. As someone recently told
me, "you'd think the Radiogram was handed to Marconi by God himself!"

4) Overinflated egos: amateur radio operators aren't "partners", they
are "resources"- but even (especially?) at the national level, this
is not understood. EMs want trained, capable, reliable RESOURCES.
They want to know that when they have a problem, the folks that they
call can deal with that problem, rather than trying to inject
themselves into the management and/or policy decisions. In other
words, they want us to be just like EVERY SINGLE OTHER PROFESSIONAL
RESOURCE they have at their disposal, and too often we're not.

5) Unprofessionalism: EMs want resources to look and act like other
resources; they want them to "fit in." This sounds petty, but is up
with #3 as the most common complaint I hear: hams don't dress
appropriately! From their complaints, the "average" amateur
responder would appear to be overweight, sloppy, wearing a hat
fronted by a bunch of strange numbers and festooned with hamfest
pins, and wearing a stained and untucked t-shirt proclaiming "CW
Forever!" How many folks do you know that fit this picture to one
degree or another? EMs don't want to see your callsign on your name
badge - they want to see YOUR NAME. Petty? Prejudicial? Yep - but
that's the perception, and perceptions become reality.

6) Political infighting: Amateur radio's purges, power grabs,
revolts, pressure tactics, and smear campaigns are infamous in the EM
community. Those who have the resources have bypassed the problems by
implementing their own RACES or ACS programs; those who don't, live
with the fear that their programs will fall victim to our "lack of
adult supervision."

Your comment regarding "people who don't really know ARES and RACES"
is a function of complaints #3, #4, and #6. It's not the EM's job to
become an expert on the nuances of the relationship between ARES and
RACES - it's our job as a resource to fit into their program and to
address their needs to the very best of our ability. Evidence would
indicate that we don't always do a very good job.

-=[ grant ]=- KD7JNW

Yes, our attitude as RACES members should be TO SERVE (and to enjoy
serving). Several years ago we had a severe fire storm in Orange
County (California), and County of Orange RACES requested mutual aid
from city RACES groups. Some of the county and city RACES members
were assigned to rumor control at the EOC. Members of one city RACES
group who responded became angry when they received their assignments
to rumor control (which involved answering telephone calls from the
public to provide information on the situation, mostly to alleviate
their fears). Rumor control was "beneath them," and they threatened
to leave the EOC if we did not assign them to operating positions on
RACES amateur radios. We took them up on their "offer," and let them
leave! The county's EM officials were certainly not impressed with
that city's RACES group! Fortunately, other cities responded with
RACES members who were eager to work in any assignment.

In OCRACES we have a philosophy that all RACES members are reserve
communicators. They are trained not only to utilize amateur radio
equipment in a professional manner in full support of the Orange
County Sheriff's Department/Communications, but also to use the
sheriff's public-safety radios and other communications equipment
(including telephones). They are also trained to respond to other
agencies to which the Sheriff's Department deploys them.

RACES members should be treated as unpaid staff, with the same
respect as paid staff. In order to have that respect, it is
necessary that RACES members be willing to accept the same
assignments as paid staff, such as answering telephones, faxing
documents, transporting equipment, etc. Being hams does not make us
"special," but our knowledge of radio communications gives us special
opportunities to serve our agencies on frequencies (and modes, such
as ATV, APRS, etc.) that would not normally be available to those
agencies. If our agency does not want us to use amateur radio
(RACES) frequencies during a particular incident, but rather assigns
us to a different duty, we should respond to that duty with
enthusiasm, as (unpaid) agency staff members. Showing a negative
attitude in such a circumstance will only harm the reputation of
RACES and amateur radio, and will destroy our future opportunities to
serve.

Ken Bourne, W6HK
Radio Officer
County of Orange (California) RACES
Orange County Sheriff's Department/Communications

On 31 May 2003 at 17:17, Duane Whittingham wrote:

I agree, we ARE communicators, whether by radio, telephone, a message
pad or smoke signals. We also support EOCs, Police, Fire, EMA and such
and i consider it a privilege to be able to help and be trusted to be
"inside" EOCs, PSAPs, or at a closed "scene".

To gain that trust they have to be able to see you work, and depend on
you, ive done radio, but also direct traffic, light crime scenes or
fire scenes, pull hose. And all because I was a HAM. ;)

And paperwork, fones, copying papers and stuff is part of the job.

My .02 also. Duane Whittingham - N9SSN.

NEDROG wrote:

What are RACES OPERATORS supposed to act like?

Are we not communicators?

When an EOC has been activated for whatever reason, we should be
able to communicate by: Using our radios when appropriate, By
answering the phones while in the EOC if asked, By running the
copier in the EOC if asked, By running messages back-n-forth between
the EOC radio room and EOC operations center if asked,

These are all methods of communications that a lot of "HAMS" feel
are beneath them, especially when not on the radio.

If the incident commander asks a "HAM" to act as a victim in an
exercise: we don't do that, we also don't direct traffic on the road
as we are not cops. So is this why some of the EM folks don't like
the "HAMS"?

Who are the people that the EM's are going to use in their RACES
programs if not the "HAMS"? I think that some of the EM's think
that since they are "government," that they can just get on the "HAM
FREQUENCIES" and start talking, without being FCC licensed. I
believe that, that privilege is reserved for the armed forces alone.

How many of the EM's hold regularly scheduled classes for their
RACES MEMBERS, to teach them what is really needed by the individual
EOC??

My $0.02

73's

Howard W3CQH
EC/RO Montgomery County, MD

Hello Grant and All -

Ken's point about attitude really sums everything up into one
word. You can treat it like manual, hard labor in a harsh place
with a lot of stress and be anxious for a chance to leave. Or,
you can see it as a new opportunity for service. For those who
seem to be unable to do more than sit and talk on a radio, they
are not only taking up space and using oxygen, their un-willingness
to work outside of their "radio only" attitude does reflect on those
of us who are willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I will
say that there have been and still are groups that will do no more
than operate their radios. They are fearful of operating anything
that is not ham radio and if you don't have an assignment for that
specific purpose, they are not willing to serve. These same groups
do little else for anyone and are really only about 15% useful.

I've used this since to indoctrinate new folks who may be getting
into EMCOMM under a misconception about the job. I think it goes
a long way in fostering the proper attitude to serve.

I agree 100%, Grant. Attitude *IS* everything. I become frustrated
with I hear from other hams that claim that I am degrading our
service by recommending they expand their work into whatever
they are needed to do to get the job done. I can understand that
they want to operate radios and I also understand that trained
radio operators should not be assigned to drive a truck moving
supplies or file records or fill sand bags. But, a trained resource
should be applied where the talents are utilized properly. You
really can help with directing traffic if needed and there are no
reserve officers or other emergency people available. You will
in all likelihood have to use your radio at some time during that
process as well. There may be enough operators at that time
being utilized but, in order to help with the problem of the emer-
gency at hand, you would do well to put in a couple of hours at
directing traffic if it keeps from complicating a bad situation by
preventing accidents at an uncontrolled intersection. It's really
up to you - do you want to help and be part of the solution? Or,
sit back and refuse to do anything because it may not be radio?
It may not be your thing at all and you have every right to refuse
to do that task. If nothing else, maybe you can help finding a
volunteer who is willing to direct traffic for a couple of hours if
needed.

There is an unlimited list of other things than talking on a radio
that we can most certainly perform if it helps our EM's accomplish
the much greater task of managing an emergency. And that is
what ALL volunteers are about, regardless of their specialty. We
just happen to be hams and fill a unique place when needed.

Now that I've given everyone my two cents on the subject, I would
like to throw this item in as food for thought. We have not limited
our membership to licensed amateurs only. Our local ARES/
RACES group is open to those with an interest in emergency
communications. We have a handful of members who are not
licensed but, they come with their spouse and help out where
they are needed, doing various things that allow their other half
or friend to concentrate on doing 'radio'. Many have even been
taken to other locations to help with telephone calls and to do
issuing of emergency supplies, etc. But, we have earned a
place as a "value added" resource because we can do more
than just the single task we have talents in.

Since 9/11 the need has never been greater for our talents and
for volunteers in all aspects associated with emergency man-
agement to help out. Our agencies must have help to do their
jobs well and they are limited unless they have volunteer staff
people who are willing to help, willing to learn and willing to
give their time to making it all come together. It is a "willing"
attitude that makes a "winning" attitude and produces a job
well done.

73, Paul Cavnar - NN7B
Washoe Co., NV. RACES Officer

He suggested that to foster the proper frame of mind we should adopt
the motto "Semper Gumby." I no doubt looked very confused, at which
point he smiled and said "Always Flexible." I think that pretty much
says it all!

I like Clint Eastwood's line from the movie "Heartbreak Ridge" where
he played Gunny Highway; "We can improvise, adapt and overcome"
and that's been one of our mottos for training.

73, Paul Cavnar - NN7B
Washoe Co., NV RACES Officer

Agencies rely on civilian radio operators in crises

Staff Report , © The Associated Press

03/19/2003

With the possibility of additional terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, emergency management coordinators and government agency personnel say amateur radio operators remain a vital part of the nation's homeland security network.

It's a familiar role for the operators, known as "hams," who have established backup radio communications during 9/11, severe weather and other emergencies.

Most recently, ham radio operators helped in the search for debris from the doomed space shuttle Columbia last month after it disintegrated over North Texas last month.

"On the surface, they may not seem important, but in my business, they're critical," Pat McMacken, Irving's emergency management coordinator, told The Dallas Morning News in Wednesday's editions. "I'd never go into an emergency without them. You never know what's going to happen."

Hams helped emergency officials in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As in other crises, the volunteers traveled to the scene, set up equipment and worked as couriers for rescue agencies, taking and transmitting messages. They are on agencies' lists for callout if terrorists decide to attack during American military forces' activities in the Middle East.

Disasters can strike in remote areas where electrical power is unavailable or unreliable. During crises, telephone lines quickly become jammed and computers crash. Hams serve as backups for emergency agencies when other communication lines fail. City officials and rescuers rely on hams because radio equipment is expensive and requires expertise to operate.

Hams, who must pass exams to become certified and operate on specific frequencies, keep track of communications technology that has not been outmoded by cellular phones and the Internet. Cities are encouraged by the federal government to use ham radio operators for support, said Don Jacks, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

Texas' Division of Emergency Management endorses hams as an official resource during emergencies. They are critical during a disaster because they're mobile, said Bill Gross, Dallas' coordinator of emergency preparedness.

"It's a good tool to have when all else fails," Gross said.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council is recommending that hospitals train employees to become hams. They would then help hospitals contact medical vendors to order supplies and communicate with other hospitals to determine patient flow, said Paulette Standefer, the council's executive vice president.

She said some hospitals are buying radio equipment and towers.

Scattered across rural East Texas, shuttle debris has been difficult to locate and hams have helped speed the recovery process, said Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss.

"They became a vital link in our operation," he said. "Without the ham radio operators, we simply would not have had communication capabilities in certain areas."

Charles Hargrove, New York City's district emergency coordinator for the American Radio Relay League, oversaw 275 hams who staffed shelters at city schools after the World Trade Center attack. Hams communicated with the Red Cross to request food, personnel, nurses and baby supplies.

"When (the twin towers) came down, the guts of the communications infrastructure of New York City was wiped out," he said. "It took something like this to prove that if you rely on an infrastructure that you have no way of controlling, then you're hostage."

About 835,000 hams live in the United States, the ARRL says. But the group's president, Jim Haynie, says hams need to attract young people into their hobby.

Rena Dulworth, 20, got hooked as a 12-year-old. The Irving resident tracks stormy weather and talks to hams from Europe.

"If I can go out and help the community by doing something I like, that's great," she said.

Information from: The Dallas Morning News