Both Mike Corey and I have received questions about the June 2014 QST Public Service column that Mike wrote.  We have been using the term “Public Service Communications” in QST and other publications for a couple of years now and, it appears that no one took close notice.   Perhaps, it would have been better to let this sleeping dog lie, but all we set out to do was to clarify the terminology.  As explained below, we are not changing any policies, renaming any programs or modifying any Field Organization titles.  

QST has a very engaged readership – this a good thing - and they let their voices be heard.  As QST Publisher, I am sorry if we created any confusion.

I asked Mike to clarify some of the points in the article and his response is below:

73,

Harold

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From Mike Corey

Based on the e-mails I have received regarding the June 2014 QST Public Service Column, I believe there may be some misunderstandings among the membership and the ARRL Field Organization concerning the message I was attempting to communicate. I would like to address some of these issues  in the hope that it will clarify the matter.

The ARRL Continues to Support Emergency Communications

The ARRL continues to support emergency communications through its involvement in the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council and relationships with multiple partners such as Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), FEMA, the Red Cross, and others.

The ARRL has also supported, and will continue to support, ARES. As mentioned in the article, this does not indicate a change to the name of the program, or to field organization titles. The ARRL Emergency Preparedness Program will continue to seek ways to provide tools and resources to ARES members and leadership and to make sure ARES has a strong national voice.

ARRL Recognizes Multiple facets of Amateur Radio Response

For many years we have considered “public service events“ to mean parades, marathons, races and other community events where amateurs provide communications support. Activities not considered public service were typically defined as “emergency communications.”

Arguably, this loose definition of “emergency communications” has created sharp divides in the Amateur Radio community. These divides do nothing to help us and much to hurt us.

According to the definition established by FEMA, an emergency is defined as an immediate threat to life and property. It is a term that should not be taken lightly. Instead, we should apply more appropriate terminology to the activities we conduct…

These terms are:

Community Event Communications: These are what we have traditionally referred to as “public service” and may consist of Amateur Radio support for parades, marathons and so on.

Disaster Communications: Amateur operations in support of communications in disaster situations, although not in direct response to an imminent threat to life or property. An Amateur Radio response to a disaster is not the same as our response to an emergency. The same can be said for the response by emergency management, public safety, and VOADs.

Emergency Communications: Emergency communications are still a key service of Amateur Radio. There is no doubt that Amateur Radio operators provide critical communications when lives and property are at immediate risk (an amateur coming upon the scene of a car accident, for example). Additionally, amateurs provide support to the three components of emergency communications: public safety answering points (911), the emergency alert system and broadcast media.

Public Service Communications is the umbrella term that includes all three of these Amateur Radio activities. It does not value one activity above another. In fact, each activity is a necessary component of the service we provide to our communities, state, and nation. Taken as a whole, Public Service Communications defines the “face” we present to the non-ham world.

By using precise, accurate terminology, we better illustrate the diversity of Amateur Radio activities in service to the public and various agencies. Not all communication needs are equal, but we let it be known that amateurs train and prepare for whatever need may arise.

ARRL is Committed to ARES and the Mission is Still the Same

The ARRL is committed to ARES and its mission. The “new Public Service direction” mentioned in the article is a reference to how we will use accurate terminology, going forward, to better define our mission to the public and served agencies. There is no change in policy or mission for ARES. We recognize the value of our field organization leadership in coordinating the ARES response at all levels and building the relationships with partners for the good of their communities.

ARRL Recognizes What our Partners Recognize: Not All Responses are Equal

The shift in terminology as it applies to Amateur Radio activities was not mandated by anyone outside the ARRL. Other organizations have long understood the difference between disasters and emergencies. This update in how we use these terms simply acknowledges a changing landscape, including language.

The ARRL Emergency Preparedness Program and ARES will continue to support all the work amateurs are doing to serve their communities. Our commitment is to continue to provide the tools, resources, and information to amateurs so they are better prepared to answer the call when needed. Diversity of communication skills has long been a hallmark of the Amateur Radio Service and it should be most apparent in the services we provide to those who entrust us with the spectrum we use.

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Harold Kramer, WJ1B

Chief Operating Officer

ARRL -the national association for Amateur Radio

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111

(860) 594 -0220

www.arrl.org