The FCC Rule Book, 13th edition, pages 2-24 and 2-25 covers compensation (for example, that it's OK to accept a T-shirt, cap, or other incidental identifying item for being part of a public service activity) but doesn't get into the question of reimbursement. I'd say that's because reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses is a non-issue. You all receive reimbursement (or are all eligible for reimbursement) of your out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of your service as an ARRL volunteer, but you do not receive material compensation from the ARRL. It's pretty much the same for communications volunteers. Looking at what's prohibited in 97.113(a)(2) and (3), it is "communications for hire or for material compensation, direct or indirect, paid or promised, except as otherwise provided in these rules;" and "communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer." Accepting gas money or other reimbursement of expenses ACTUALLY INCURRED does not cause any communications provided to the reimbursing entity to be "for hire or for material compensation." On the other hand, someone who did not incur $25 in out-of-pocket expenses should not accept $25. Dave K1ZZ -----Original Message----- From: Tom Frenaye [mailto:frenaye@pcnet.com] Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 10:18 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13512] payment for services One of the issues that I've heard about our HamAid program centers on the payment for services. Some hams (and some ARES volunteers) believe any reimbursement is not permitted. In thinking about it I can't put my finger on anything we have that gives volunteers guidance in this area. I looked through the Public Service Communications Manual and didn't find anything. I looked at the FCC rules and found rules permitting VEs/VECs to be reimbursed. I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking so I could have missed some key documents. I think we did the right thing with HamAid, and don't have a problem with the reimbursement program. What I do think is that we should probably have some clear information in our publications and web site helping volunteers understand where the line is between being reimbursed $25 for a days worth of volunteer operating, and a days pay for someone who works for a first responder or other non-profit and thinks ham radio can be used to help them do their job. Or have I missed something along the way? I got the sense (I was away and out of touch during the key 10-day period after Katrinia hit) that the HamAid program was necessarily implemented quickly and some key decisions made without a much policy input from the Board. Understandable under the circumstances, but I think it'd be useful to all come to some agreement on what guidance we want to give volunteers in the future. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki@arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444