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Warm weather is upon us, and the coming of the special event 
communications season. Bike-a-thons, marathons, mall displays and 
parades are but a few of the many events that we as amateur radio 
operators participate to sharpen our operating skills and perform 
a valuable public service. It is also a great public relations 
tool, and besides...it's just plain fun!

It's important for special event coordinators to remember that, 
while we would like to perform as many assignments as possible, 
our primary assignment is... communications. We are bound, as 
always, by Part 97 regulations administered by the Federal 
Communications Commission. They specify that amateur radio 
communications should serve the public interest and should be of 
an emergency nature, and should not duplicate traffic that could 
be handled by other means, such as Citizens Band, GMRS, business 
band, commercial rented radios, and cellular telephone systems. 
Special event communications should usually relate to emergency 
medical or tactical traffic that help protect the safety of the 
public. We have received numerous complaints in the last few weeks 
that amateurs are performing logistical traffic operations during 
special events such as requesting bicycle parts from event 
headquarters, ordering tables and chairs for a rest station, and 
requesting forms and paperwork. These practices and others 
endanger our being able to support these events. During the recent 
Iditirod sled dog race in Alaska, the FCC actually monitored the 
race communications after complaints (by amateurs) that packet 
radio communications were relating to non-emergency functions, 
such as the movement of officials (see QST magazine May 1991 page 
59). Representatives of the FCC Personal Radio Branch noted 
violations of the "no business traffic" rule.

Where does that leave us as special events communicators? The 
primary emphasis is...use common sense. Ask yourself the following 
questions before transmitting traffic:

> Does the traffic relate to the health and safety of the public?

> Could I use another medium to send the traffic?

> Does the traffic have an emergency or tactical nature, or is it 
logistical in nature?

> Could it be a violation of the FCC's "no business traffic" rule?

Make certain that you can justify your actions before accepting 
traffic. Traffic relating to injured runners or riders, informing 
other communicators of the location of the first few 
runners/riders in a race to prepare them for operations and being 
a communicator in a `SAG' vehicle are ways we can perform a 
valuable service without transmitting unauthorized radio traffic.

If you have questions/comments on special event communications, 
refer to either of the ARRL's publications `Special Event 
Communications' or the `Public Service Communications Manual' or 
ask your ARRL Leadership Official.
 
>>>>>DO's and DONT's for Special Event Communications<<<<<

DO use simplex if at all possible, with a repeater as a back-up 
and for talk-in. Clear the function with the repeater group in 
writing, and well in advance.

DO arrange for someone who knows the area to handle talk-in, or at 
least someone with a good map if no one else is available.

DO get a crystal-clear understanding of the needs of the group you 
are serving.

DO arrange for someone to be in charge as Net Control. Even small 
events can have messy communications without this. The group needs 
a leader. You are the best one for this in many cases.

DO arrange for relief operators. Everybody needs lunch or coffee 
breaks.

DO arrange for your people well in advance, but check on them the 
week before to make sure they are still available. If you can have 
extra people or standbys available, do so. Excuse people as soon 
as you can as long as their job is finished and all other 
positions still needed are covered.

DO have the NCS keep track of who is where so he knows whom to 
call when asked to contact a person or checkpoint.

DO keep your EC or DEC informed of what you are doing and who 
participates. He can help you arrange publicity. Public-relations 
releases before and after the event can help us all get our 
message across that we are here with the ability to serve. The EC 
or DEC can also help you get the operators you need.

DO tell your operators exactly what their assignments are and 
remind them of the general guidelines for public service events. 
Assignments and changes in these guidelines should be made known 
to the entire group before the event begins, or during its 
progress if the change occurs then.

DO thank your operators and share any feedback you get with them. 
Courtesy and thoughtfulness pay off.

DO have Amateur Radio operators working in teams of at least two 
people if possible. Make sure that at least one member of the team 
is monitoring the radio at all times.

DO identify vehicles as Amateur Radio Communications Vehicles. 
Operators should be identified, too. A call-letter badge or ARES 
or RACES patch is sufficient. Use baseball caps with an ARES patch 
or the group logo.

DO maintain a courteous, professional image. You may be working 
with several agencies including police, fire, first aid squads, 
National Guard, etc. Extend every possible courtesy to members of 
these groups. Make sure they know who you are and what your 
communications capabilities are.

DO use standard ARRL message forms when necessary for official 
requests and messages.

DON`T over identify! You must identify your station only at ten 
minute intervals during a series of transmissions. However, don`t 
jump into the net every ten minutes just to identify. For example, 
if you only engage in a short exchange of transmissions every half 
hour or so, you will fulfill the identification requirement if you 
ID at the end of each exchange.

DO use tactical call signs. Check-point or unit numbers or other 
special identifiers are legal, provided the station requirements 
are fulfilled. Use standard Amateur Radio operating procedures for 
all communications.

DO make certain the frequency is clear before making a call. The 
channel can get very busy during "tactical operations". When you 
complete an exchange with another station, use the prowords 
"clear" or "out" so other stations will know the frequency is now 
available to them. Keep transmissions as short as possible. Resist 
the tendency to ragchew or ramble.

DON`T apply first aid unless you are trained and certified to do 
so. Call for medical assistance and an ambulance or medical 
personnel will be dispatched to your location.

DON`T transport an ill or injured person in a private vehicle. 
This is the job of the medics and the police. An emergency vehicle 
is properly equipped, and can get through traffic much faster than 
a private car.

DON`T handle routine business or commercial communications. This 
includes communications regarding dollar amounts of walkathon 
pledges, etc. The press and broadcast stations may quote or 
rebroadcast amateur signals, provided the signals rebroadcast do 
not contain references to the broadcast.

DO enjoy yourself! Amateur Radio public service is fun!

DO prepare the night before. Make sure your batteries are charged 
and take spares if needed. Have a clipboard with paper and 
pencils, gas in the car, miscellaneous spare parts you may need 
and maps if available. Know where you are going and when you must 
be there.

DO arrive on time on the day of the event. If you are not familiar 
with the location allow extra time to get there. Checking the map 
the night before to plan your route will not guarantee that you 
make every turn correctly.

DO introduce yourself to the person or people you will be working 
with at your station. Let them know who you are and why you will 
be there. Stay at your post unless you are excused. Make sure both 
the Net Control Station (NCS) and the officials you are with know 
when you leave.

DON`T offer more than you can deliver. You are there to provide 
direct emergency assistance. You are there to communicate the need 
for such assistance to the proper authorities.

DON`T leave the frequency unless the NCS knows. If you must leave 
early, the more in advance this is known the better.

DO inform the event communications coordinator if you cannot make 
the event after agreeing to be there; the sooner this is relayed 
to the person in charge of amateur communications at the event, 
the better.

DO obey the instructions of the Net Control Station. The NCS is 
there to respond to general queries from the net or from other 
amateurs on the frequency. Even with only a few amateurs involved, 
the NCS is necessary for smooth functioning. Address requests to 
transmit to the NCS and obey his instructions just as on traffic 
nets.

DO transmit as little as possible. Silence is golden. Speak as 
little as possible. Avoid excessive use of call signs (once every 
10 minutes is all that is required). "Net from Checkpoint 1" 
conveys much more information.

DO memorize the main operations frequency and alternate 
frequencies.