Lots of good advise from the guys here ... For sure ones chances of achieving attachment rights and equipment colocation at local or county facilities improves significantly if there is a government executive who sponsors the relationship. A radio club or a Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) that is willing to support Public Safety is an ideal scenario that is promoted by DHS/FEMA and the FCC.
If your local jurisdiction has an Office of Emergency Management you are going to have a much easier time having this discussion because the chances will be good that the OEM director is aware of the value of ACS. If you get familiar with National Incident Management System (NIMS) you'll discover that amateur radio is actually noted and jurisdictions that want to be certified as FEMA NIMS compliant will want the additional point score that comes with having an ACS as part of their EMCOM back-up plan. It is a two-way street. The government wants something from you and you want something from them. If your club is willing to organize an ACS and let the jurisdiction sponsor and supervise the group as it relates to ACS the chances are good you'll have all the access to the needed facilities. DHS awareds grant funds to jurisdictions and to improve the chances to qualify certain DHS guidance must be met. Recommendations to fence and secure water supply and sewer facilities was one of the early guidances from DHS. Those guidances don't preclude volunteer amateur radio repeater systems. The jurisdiction has the ultimate authority and the FEDS actually do try not to cross that line. If someone is telling you that DHS doesn't allow the use of the water tower for a ham repeater they are just blowing you off. That type statement is just silly talk. NIMS is structured and it defines functions and relationships that help the jurisdiction organize emergency response. There are defined groups called Emergency Support Functions or ESFs. ESF # 2 is titled "Communications". ESF # 2 is responsible to provide voice, data, and video services to the Incident Command, EOC, and government agencies. Depending on the incident ESF # 2 would also be responsible to provide ACS, if needed. So, if you want access to those cherry government locations you might get up to speed on NIMS, ESF2, set-up an ACS team and then approach your local Fire, Police Chief or OEM director or coordinator... OH, it really really helps if you can find a ham or two that work for the local government; that have a good reputation within the government; are a member of your group, and are willing to make the introduction to the Chiefs and act as the liaison to your ACS. A prime example of a successful ACS is the ARPSC RACES team, Arlington County, VA. www.w4ava.org. 73, dave wa3gin ARLCO RACES Officer ----- Original Message ----- From: Chuck Kelsey To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 7:37 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeaters and Water Towers Then you need to educate that board member, maybe the entire board. This is a very common problem. Board members typically are not in tune with regulatory issues and operational requirements. And some board members can be very stubborn about their "authority." You might want to get in contact with your County or State health department for some additional educational assistance. Chuck WB2EDV ----- Original Message ----- From: "kc8fwd" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 3:17 AM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Repeaters and Water Towers > This is a two meter repeater.This town is so small the water board run by > the town has one employee to do all work.The County gave the club 14,000 > Dollars to buy everything new.We have everything new.One guy in the club > said he knew how to run and hook up a repeater and had everything all > messed up repeater was outputting 10 watts when it will do 50 watts > continuous it is a Icom FR-3000 said the controller was fried and all I > did was reset it and reprogram it a cat 1000.Antenna had over a 3:1 swr > and he said it was fine I took antenna down is a Hustler and he tightened > the clamp so tight the worm clamp busted.I fixed the antenna and all is > well.We went to a town council meeting and one council member brought up > the homeland security thing and that was all it took. 73 de Mike KC8FWD >
