On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 5:32 PM, WA5AM <[email protected]> wrote: > I work from home 5 days a week, and talk on the radio from time > to time while sitting at my desk, but I don't do it to benefit my business.
And that is the key from my memory of the rules. The key being 'commercial/financial benefit'. My understanding is that you can operate a radio while being paid, but can't be paid for using amateur radio. I don't believe that applies to government entities due to their non-profit status, gov't [supposedly] being of/by/for the people and all. I had first hand experience with this for over a decade while in the employ of the gov't and also the state RACES director. Previous to becoming an employee I was reimbursed for mileage and long distance calls on behalf of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. When I later joined the ranks of gov't workers I was made the Qualified Rep of my agency which allowed my boss to lend me out to VEM for drills or real emergencies during work hours without loss of pay. I was never directly paid for using any radio and spent much of my time in meetings and administrative roles, but see no conflict in operating or coordinating radio comms since it was never for the benefit of any commercial venture, only the taxpayers. And yes - in the case of imminent threat to life and/or property, anyone can pick up a mic and call for help. In fact, you'd probably be held liable if you had training to do so and did not. Sounds like a good time to re-read the rules. ~ Todd, KA1KAQ/4 ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
