Homeland Security Radio Communications Exercise

Since the end of the Cold War and the loss of FEMA funding for RACES programs, numerous State RACES programs have been in decline, including ours. Few have participated in a High Frequency (HF) emergency communications exercise over the past 15 years. Therefore, the following information is a reminder to State Directors about the requirements that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) places on the use of RACES in accordance with Part 97 of the FCC Rules.

1. RACES is a radio service using amateur stations for civil defense communications during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies. [97.3(a)(37)].

2. FCC rules permit two types of stations to operate as part of RACES; licensed RACES stations, and amateur stations that have been properly registered with a civil defense organization. [97.407(a)]

    1. FCC has not issued RACES station licenses for many years. Those RACES programs that still have valid RACES licenses may continue to operate as a RACES station until their license expires. The RACES station license will not be renewed.
    2. RACES stations operating under the authority of your State Emergency Management program must be properly registered with your agency as a State RACES station.
    3. No person may be the control operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person is enrolled and certified by a civil defense (emergency management) organization.

3. RACES stations may only communicate with;

    1. Another RACES station or station registered with a civil defense (emergency management) organization.
    2. A U.S. Government station authorized by the responsible agency to communicate with RACES.
    3. A station regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is authorized by the FCC.

4. All communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil defense organization for the area served.

    1. This means that the radio operator, unless specifically authorized by the civil defense director, cannot originate a message. It MUST be originated by (an employee of) the emergency management agency.
    2. Because of this restriction, I plan to personally originate every RACES message used in the August exercise from our RACES stations. I checked with the person who administers RACES for the FCC and he was very clear on this point – messages MUST be originated by the AGENCY not the radio operator, unless the operator is an employee of the agency with authority to originate messages.

5. Only civil defense communications of the following types may be transmitted (in RACES):

    1. Messages concerning impending or actual conditions jeopardizing the public safety, or affecting the national defense or security during periods of local, regional, or national civil emergencies.
    2. Messages directly concerning the immediate safety of life of individuals, the immediate protection of property, maintenance of law and order, alleviating human suffering and need, and the combating of armed attack or sabotage.
    3. Messages directly concerning the accumulation and dissemination of public information or instructions to the civilian population essential to the activities of the civil defense organization or other authorized governmental or relief agencies.
    4. Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of RACES as ordered by the responsible civil defense organizations served.
      1. Such drills and tests may not exceed a total time of one hour per week.
      2. With the approval of the chief officer (state director) for emergency planning in the applicable State, Commonwealth, District, or territory, however, such tests and drills may be conducted for a period not to exceed 72 hours no more than twice in any calendar year.

Note: For states planning to participate in the August HF radio communications exercise, each State Director should:

  • Write a memorandum authorizing their RACES station(s) to participate in the August exercise.
  • Send me a list (by email) of the station call signs that are authorized by you to participate in the RACES exercise. Our RACES operators will only call the stations that you have authorized to participate in this exercise. Thanks,

John J. Cline, Director

Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services