[arrl-odv:31625] IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest
I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait. We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios. We've been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing - absolutely nothing - was received on the frequencies monitored. Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands. The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty. I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests. Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC's or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned? Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities? Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas? Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position - and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots. Comments?
Hi David We should not encourage self deployment. If we are asked by local law enforcement then we should be engaged but otherwise it’s best to stay away. We should be actively asking ARES members to stay away unless officially deployed by local law enforcement (which is unlikely as this is not a communications emergency). Other than that, wideband monitoring and recording of FRS/GMRS comms would help. But I don’t really think we should go publicly asking our members to do this as it could encourage attacks against us. Actually this would be a perfect assignment for the volunteer monitors to do and coordinate through Riley Hollingsworth. They already have the tools and training. All they have to do is make recordings and keep them in case we are asked to help identify communications involved in this activity. 73 Ria N2RJ On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) < dminster@arrl.org> wrote:
I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait.
We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios.
We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored.
Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands.
The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty.
I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests.
Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned?
Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities?
Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas?
Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots.
Comments?
_______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
Dear ODV: Speaking as PRC board liaison, I will leave it up to others to decide plans for monitoring upcoming events. However, it is imperative that ARRL develop a media release ready to go that it actively opposes the use of frequencies assigned to federally licensed Amateur Radio operators by unlicensed individuals, and above all vigorously opposes the use of Amateur Radio frequencies for illegal activities. Moreover, frequencies are continually monitored, so responsible Amateur Radio operators can take measures to suspend or thwart illegal activities. Let’s face it, the body which regulates Amateur Radio has been less than favorable in its consideration of recent initiatives, lawmakers and other government officials view Amateur Radio with some skepticism, and the general pubic is increasingly unaware of what is Amateur Radio. Taking a strong stance, in my opinion, should only improve our public image. . 73 de Bill Morine, N2COP Vice Director – Roanoke Division Representing ARRL members in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia www.arrl-roanoke.org <http://www.arrl-roanoke.org/> Facebook Page: ARRL Roanoke Division ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> On Behalf Of rjairam@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:54 AM To: Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org> Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:31626] Re: IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest Hi David We should not encourage self deployment. If we are asked by local law enforcement then we should be engaged but otherwise it’s best to stay away. We should be actively asking ARES members to stay away unless officially deployed by local law enforcement (which is unlikely as this is not a communications emergency). Other than that, wideband monitoring and recording of FRS/GMRS comms would help. But I don’t really think we should go publicly asking our members to do this as it could encourage attacks against us. Actually this would be a perfect assignment for the volunteer monitors to do and coordinate through Riley Hollingsworth. They already have the tools and training. All they have to do is make recordings and keep them in case we are asked to help identify communications involved in this activity. 73 Ria N2RJ On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org <mailto:dminster@arrl.org> > wrote: I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait. We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios. We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored. Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands. The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty. I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests. Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned? Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities? Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas? Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots. Comments? _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org <mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
We all likely know the public associates most two-way radio devices, or “walkie-talkies” (if not characterized as police/fire/ems or business from the context) as “hams” or sometimes “CBs”, regardless of actual device. The one in the picture brings to mind the spread spectrum line of 900 MHz encrypted 1 watt license free radios sold by Motorola. They work great, are secure, and have surprising coverage. As Ria suggested, most of the subject activity occurs on FRS/GMRS but the rest is all over the spectrum. The most comms used in the riots, though, are cell phones. Just look at the videos. Text, one-to-many works great. What I have found over the last several years is lots of activity on the factory loaded test frequencies used by BaoFeng. Take a look at the factory frequencies for a $40 UV5-R, for example, and go listen there on a good, high discone antenna. Near population centers, you will find what likely is sporadic, unlicensed simplex activity- no part 90 call signs and clearly not legit business activity. The tell is when they are on the factory loaded ham frequencies like the CW portion of 2 meters. Load a scanner and let it run all day, particularly weekends, with an auto record function. It’s like fishing. The SDRPlay Duo I have does this out of the box. We have the University of Pennsylvania 20 repeater multistate system N3KZ shut down for the time being because of unlicensed use (preppers) not likely associated with the riots. It covers down to the Washington suburbs and up to NYC. The danger is that if unknowing news media takes a wrong turn in their reporting, imagine the false impression for “Hams Aid Insurrectionist in Riot”, even though no hams likely participated on a ham frequency. That thought is going to keep me up for a night. Ham bands are likely the most monitored because, well, we are hams. And of course the Feds have monitoring equipment we would all drool over anyway. We need to put water on any rumor hams are somehow providing communications. I also agree this is not a communications emergency. If it turns out to be, we are all in it deep. Are there any PR opportunities in favor of hams here, BTW? What we need to say, if anything, to ARES teams needs some thought, but they need to never self-deploy or take any action. When one only has a (communications) hammer, everything looks like a nail. Bob Famiglio, K3RF Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division 610-359-7300 www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF From: arrl-odv On Behalf Of rjairam@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:54 AM To: Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org> Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:31626] Re: IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest Hi David We should not encourage self deployment. If we are asked by local law enforcement then we should be engaged but otherwise it’s best to stay away. We should be actively asking ARES members to stay away unless officially deployed by local law enforcement (which is unlikely as this is not a communications emergency). Other than that, wideband monitoring and recording of FRS/GMRS comms would help. But I don’t really think we should go publicly asking our members to do this as it could encourage attacks against us. Actually this would be a perfect assignment for the volunteer monitors to do and coordinate through Riley Hollingsworth. They already have the tools and training. All they have to do is make recordings and keep them in case we are asked to help identify communications involved in this activity. 73 Ria N2RJ On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org <mailto:dminster@arrl.org> > wrote: I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait. We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios. We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored. Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands. The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty. I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests. Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned? Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities? Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas? Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots. Comments? _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org <mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
Vice Director Famiglio wrote, "Are there any PR opportunities in favor of hams here, BTW?" Our traditional ARES role is post-emergency relief. Police intelligence assistance, as suggested by Director Jairam is an excellent idea. Your average police department has very little insight as to how to monitor tactical frequencies. It is assumed that otherwise scofflaws are legally using FRMS/GRMS frequencies. Some are - but when people are carrying $2,000 worth of weapons and ammunition, a $200 HT is not a problem. An informative video would be to help law enforcement identify radio types and potential use. A "hear something, say something" notice might be helpful, with explicit instructions on how a listener - amateur or unlicensed hobbyist - can scan and listen for activity, then create a report that is valuable to law enforcement. We would need input from Homeland Security as to how they want this reported, and to whom. Finally, let's not forget that some of our members are a part of this movement and that they may be involved in subversive communications plans. Mickey Baker, N4MB Palm Beach Gardens, FL *“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." Robert K. Greenleaf* On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 11:40 AM Bob Famiglio, K3RF via arrl-odv < arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> wrote:
We all likely know the public associates most two-way radio devices, or “walkie-talkies” (if not characterized as police/fire/ems or business from the context) as “hams” or sometimes “CBs”, regardless of actual device. The one in the picture brings to mind the spread spectrum line of 900 MHz encrypted 1 watt license free radios sold by Motorola. They work great, are secure, and have surprising coverage. As Ria suggested, most of the subject activity occurs on FRS/GMRS but the rest is all over the spectrum. The most comms used in the riots, though, are cell phones. Just look at the videos. Text, one-to-many works great.
What I have found over the last several years is lots of activity on the factory loaded test frequencies used by BaoFeng. Take a look at the factory frequencies for a $40 UV5-R, for example, and go listen there on a good, high discone antenna. Near population centers, you will find what likely is sporadic, unlicensed simplex activity- no part 90 call signs and clearly not legit business activity. The tell is when they are on the factory loaded ham frequencies like the CW portion of 2 meters. Load a scanner and let it run all day, particularly weekends, with an auto record function. It’s like fishing. The SDRPlay Duo I have does this out of the box. We have the University of Pennsylvania 20 repeater multistate system N3KZ shut down for the time being because of unlicensed use (preppers) not likely associated with the riots. It covers down to the Washington suburbs and up to NYC.
The danger is that if unknowing news media takes a wrong turn in their reporting, imagine the false impression for “Hams Aid Insurrectionist in Riot”, even though no hams likely participated on a ham frequency. That thought is going to keep me up for a night.
Ham bands are likely the most monitored because, well, we are hams. And of course the Feds have monitoring equipment we would all drool over anyway. We need to put water on any rumor hams are somehow providing communications. I also agree this is not a communications emergency. If it turns out to be, we are all in it deep.
Are there any PR opportunities in favor of hams here, BTW? What we need to say, if anything, to ARES teams needs some thought, but they need to never self-deploy or take any action. When one only has a (communications) hammer, everything looks like a nail.
*Bob Famiglio, K3RF*
*Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division*
*610-359-7300*
www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF
*From:* arrl-odv *On Behalf Of *rjairam@gmail.com *Sent:* Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:54 AM *To:* Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org> *Cc:* arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> *Subject:* [arrl-odv:31626] Re: IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest
Hi David
We should not encourage self deployment. If we are asked by local law enforcement then we should be engaged but otherwise it’s best to stay away. We should be actively asking ARES members to stay away unless officially deployed by local law enforcement (which is unlikely as this is not a communications emergency).
Other than that, wideband monitoring and recording of FRS/GMRS comms would help. But I don’t really think we should go publicly asking our members to do this as it could encourage attacks against us.
Actually this would be a perfect assignment for the volunteer monitors to do and coordinate through Riley Hollingsworth. They already have the tools and training. All they have to do is make recordings and keep them in case we are asked to help identify communications involved in this activity.
73
Ria
N2RJ
On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) < dminster@arrl.org> wrote:
I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait.
We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios.
We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored.
Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands.
The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty.
I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests.
Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned?
Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities?
Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas?
Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots.
Comments?
_______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
_______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
“Finally, let's not forget that some of our members are a part of this movement and that they may be involved in subversive communications plans.” Too true. From: Mickey Baker <fishflorida@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 12:27 PM To: Famiglio, Bob, K3RF (VD, AD) <RBFamiglio@verizon.net> Cc: Jairam, Ria, N2RJ (Dir, HD) <rjairam@gmail.com>; Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org>; arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:31629] Re: IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest Vice Director Famiglio wrote, "Are there any PR opportunities in favor of hams here, BTW?" Our traditional ARES role is post-emergency relief. Police intelligence assistance, as suggested by Director Jairam is an excellent idea. Your average police department has very little insight as to how to monitor tactical frequencies. It is assumed that otherwise scofflaws are legally using FRMS/GRMS frequencies. Some are - but when people are carrying $2,000 worth of weapons and ammunition, a $200 HT is not a problem. An informative video would be to help law enforcement identify radio types and potential use. A "hear something, say something" notice might be helpful, with explicit instructions on how a listener - amateur or unlicensed hobbyist - can scan and listen for activity, then create a report that is valuable to law enforcement. We would need input from Homeland Security as to how they want this reported, and to whom. Finally, let's not forget that some of our members are a part of this movement and that they may be involved in subversive communications plans. Mickey Baker, N4MB Palm Beach Gardens, FL “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." Robert K. Greenleaf On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 11:40 AM Bob Famiglio, K3RF via arrl-odv <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org>> wrote: We all likely know the public associates most two-way radio devices, or “walkie-talkies” (if not characterized as police/fire/ems or business from the context) as “hams” or sometimes “CBs”, regardless of actual device. The one in the picture brings to mind the spread spectrum line of 900 MHz encrypted 1 watt license free radios sold by Motorola. They work great, are secure, and have surprising coverage. As Ria suggested, most of the subject activity occurs on FRS/GMRS but the rest is all over the spectrum. The most comms used in the riots, though, are cell phones. Just look at the videos. Text, one-to-many works great. What I have found over the last several years is lots of activity on the factory loaded test frequencies used by BaoFeng. Take a look at the factory frequencies for a $40 UV5-R, for example, and go listen there on a good, high discone antenna. Near population centers, you will find what likely is sporadic, unlicensed simplex activity- no part 90 call signs and clearly not legit business activity. The tell is when they are on the factory loaded ham frequencies like the CW portion of 2 meters. Load a scanner and let it run all day, particularly weekends, with an auto record function. It’s like fishing. The SDRPlay Duo I have does this out of the box. We have the University of Pennsylvania 20 repeater multistate system N3KZ shut down for the time being because of unlicensed use (preppers) not likely associated with the riots. It covers down to the Washington suburbs and up to NYC. The danger is that if unknowing news media takes a wrong turn in their reporting, imagine the false impression for “Hams Aid Insurrectionist in Riot”, even though no hams likely participated on a ham frequency. That thought is going to keep me up for a night. Ham bands are likely the most monitored because, well, we are hams. And of course the Feds have monitoring equipment we would all drool over anyway. We need to put water on any rumor hams are somehow providing communications. I also agree this is not a communications emergency. If it turns out to be, we are all in it deep. Are there any PR opportunities in favor of hams here, BTW? What we need to say, if anything, to ARES teams needs some thought, but they need to never self-deploy or take any action. When one only has a (communications) hammer, everything looks like a nail. Bob Famiglio, K3RF Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division 610-359-7300 [cid:image001.png@01D6E8E0.47C8AB20] www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF<http://www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF> From: arrl-odv On Behalf Of rjairam@gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:54 AM To: Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org<mailto:dminster@arrl.org>> Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@arrl.org>> Subject: [arrl-odv:31626] Re: IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest Hi David We should not encourage self deployment. If we are asked by local law enforcement then we should be engaged but otherwise it’s best to stay away. We should be actively asking ARES members to stay away unless officially deployed by local law enforcement (which is unlikely as this is not a communications emergency). Other than that, wideband monitoring and recording of FRS/GMRS comms would help. But I don’t really think we should go publicly asking our members to do this as it could encourage attacks against us. Actually this would be a perfect assignment for the volunteer monitors to do and coordinate through Riley Hollingsworth. They already have the tools and training. All they have to do is make recordings and keep them in case we are asked to help identify communications involved in this activity. 73 Ria N2RJ On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <dminster@arrl.org<mailto:dminster@arrl.org>> wrote: I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait. We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios. We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored. Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands. The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty. I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests. Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned? Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities? Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas? Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots. Comments? _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
Please carefully consider the below. Many of you may not know the history, but one of the messes we have today with certain FCC Part 97 rules resulted directly from the perceived use of amateur radios related to demonstrations here in Washington fifty years ago during the Nixon Administration. In the press I would want to stay as far away from any of this as possible. Having years of experience dealing with the national press here in Washington, in analogous situations I found that the best way to stay out of the press is to say nothing. No matter what you say and what is reported you said, even if perfectly accurate, some portion of readers will only remember that “amateur radio” was somehow connected with the event(s) -- even if the quote is that no ham radio was involved. This is just a fact of life. (Alternatively, one could EXPLICITLY go off-the-record on the basis that amateur radio is not mentioned in any fashion as the source, and tell the reporter(s) whatever. I have often done this and never been tripped up, but the understanding has to be explicit at the beginning of each conversation and understood by the reporter. “FCC source” becomes “knowledgeable source”, “ham radio operator” becomes “non-governmental radio expert” etc. For example, the right person might analyze the photos and be able to identify the radios as typical of those used in the FRS, MURS, or GMRS services -- which is what I suspect they were, but I have not seen a photo clear enough to be positive. A reporter might need a short tutorial on all the small handheld radios that are available to citizens today and available at Walmart, Amazon, etc. that have nothing to do with amateur radio.) With regard to the second portion of your email, it would seem to me that amateurs associated with agencies already would be guided by those agencies on a case-by-case basis if they are or are to be involved, which is up to the volunteer hams themselves and the entities they assist. I’m not sure what kind of national guidance is needed or why ARRL would offer any. Of course, I assume that ARRL’s people are helping members who may ask for advice or assistance, but that should not be news, that is what ARRL should be doing every day. In any event, if someone isn’t already trained and integrated, now is not the time to become involved. After the fact, of course we should promote any favorable activities or news stories, if there are any. But this is not the type of situation where I would be eager to be out there trying to “make” news or offering one-size-fits-all public guidance of any sort to the amateur community. Nor would I run any sort of news story, or be quoted, in anything about anything in this connection, including on social media by anyone identifiable as an ARRL official or staffer. Just my $.02. Dave Siddall K3ZJ David R. 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From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> on behalf of "Minster, David NA2AA (CEO)" <dminster@arrl.org> Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 10:31 AM To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:31625] IMPORTANT: Inauguration Week social unrest I know we are all busy preparing for the upcoming board meeting, but this cannot wait. We have been approached now 5 times by a reporter from CNN who is pushing the narrative that the protest turned violent at the Capitol building was well coordinated using radios, and wants to know if they were amateur radios. We’ve been in touch with the Maryland-DC Section Manager who has given Bob detailed feedback about how his team used their monitoring of simplex and repeater frequencies for situational awareness of the unrest. Nothing – absolutely nothing – was received on the frequencies monitored. Bob has provided the CNN reporter with precisely that information: hams were monitoring, situationally aware, and absolutely nothing heard on the amateur bands. The FBI has now issued warnings about expected protests and potential riots in DC as well as all 50 state capitals next week. Especially on Inauguration Day. Our EmComm served agencies are going to be on alert or on duty. I believe we have an obligation to give some kind of guidance to our members, especially given the potential widespread geographic impact of these protests. Would we encourage EmComm (ARES) members to coordinate with their local SEC’s or other leadership to know what local activity is being planned? Should we be giving guidelines with regard to what we view as being safe and acceptable situational awareness activities? Should we be encouraging members who are not ARES (or otherwise) trained to stay away from these areas? Given the high profile that handheld radios have received by the national press (including numerous images on the nightly news networks) over the past few days, I think we must take a proactive position – and keep amateur radio out of the dialog surrounding these protests or, worse, riots. Comments?
participants (6)
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Bob Famiglio, K3RF -
david davidsiddall-law.com -
Mickey Baker -
Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) -
n2cop＠ec.rr.com -
rjairam＠gmail.com