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Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
(RACES)
The federal government
created RACES following World War II to address the need for Amateur Radio
operators to function as an integral part of a state, county or local Civil
Defense (CD) agency in time of national emergency or war. A RACES
authorization provides the means
to continue to serve the public even if the President or FCC suspends regular
Amateur Radio operations. In this situation, RACES rules permit the use of
nearly all regular Amateur Radio frequencies, but place strict limits on the
types of communications that can be made and with whom.
RACES activations are rare and are usually undertaken only in extreme
circumstances when national security is a vital concern. In most jurisdictions,
RACES operators are the same personnel serving in ARES units. In Delaware County
ARES and RACES share personnel and resources with the RACES Radio Officer
assuming a leadership role.
FCC
Regulations (Part 97) Applicable to RACES Operation
Subpart A--General Provisions
§97.3 Definitions.
(a) The
definitions of terms used in Part 97 are:
(37)
RACES (radio amateur civil emergency service). A radio service using
amateur stations for civil defense communications during periods of local,
regional, or national civil emergencies.
§97.17 Application for new license grant.
(a) Any
qualified person is eligible to apply for a new operator/ primary station, club
station or military recreation station license grant. No new license grant will
be issued for a RACES station.
Subpart E--Providing Emergency Communications
§97.401 Operation during a disaster.
A station
in, or within 92.6 km (50 nautical miles) of, Alaska may transmit emissions J3E
and R3E on the channel at 5.1675 MHz (assigned frequency 5.1689 MHz) for
emergency communications. The channel must be shared with stations licensed in
the Alaska-Private Fixed Service. The transmitter power must not exceed 150 W
PEP. A station in, or within 92.6 km of, Alaska may transmit communications for
tests and training drills necessary to ensure the establishment, operation, and
maintenance of emergency communication systems.
§97.403 Safety of life and protection of property.
No
provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of
radio communication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in
connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of
property when normal communication systems are not available.
§97.405 Station in distress.
(a) No
provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station in distress of
any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its condition and
location, and obtain assistance.
(b) No
provision of these rules prevents the use by a station, in the exceptional
circumstances described in paragraph (a), of any means of radio communications
at its disposal to assist a station in distress.
§97.407 Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.
(a) No
station may transmit in RACES unless it is an FCC-licensed primary, club, or
military recreation station and it is certified by a civil defense organization
as registered with that organization, or it is an FCC-licensed RACES station. No
person may be the control operator of a RACES station, or may be the control
operator of an amateur station transmitting in RACES unless that person holds a
FCC-issued amateur operator license and is certified by a civil defense
organization as enrolled in that organization.
(b) The
frequency bands and segments and emissions authorized to the control operator
are available to stations transmitting communications in RACES on a shared basis
with the amateur service. In the event of an emergency which necessitates the
invoking of the President's War Emergency Powers under the provisions of Section
706 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §606, RACES
stations and amateur stations participating in RACES may only transmit on the
frequency segments authorized pursuant to part 214 of this chapter.
(c) A RACES
station may only communicate with:
(1) Another
RACES station;
(2) An
amateur station registered with a civil defense organization;
(3) A
United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to
communicate with RACES stations;
(4) A
station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is
authorized by the FCC.
(d) An
amateur station registered with a civil defense organization may only
communicate with:
(1) A RACES
station licensed to the civil defense organization with which the amateur
station is registered;
(2) The
following stations upon authorization of the responsible civil defense official
for the organization with which the amateur station is registered:
(i) A RACES
station licensed to another civil defense organization;
(ii) An
amateur station registered with the same or another civil defense organization;
(iii) A
United States Government station authorized by the responsible agency to
communicate with RACES stations; and
(iv) A
station in a service regulated by the FCC whenever such communication is
authorized by the FCC.
(e) All
communications transmitted in RACES must be specifically authorized by the civil
defense organization for the area served. Only civil defense communications of
the following types may be transmitted:
(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, alleviation of
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; and
(4)
Communications for RACES training drills and tests necessary to ensure the
establishment and maintenance of orderly and efficient operation of the RACES as
ordered by the responsible civil defense organization served. Such drills and
tests may not exceed a total time of 1 hour per week. With the approval of the
chief officer 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.
Part 214—Procedures for the Use and Coordination of the Radio Spectrum During a
Wartime Emergency
Authority:
84 Stat. 2083 and E.O. 12472, April 3, 1984, (49 FR 13471; 3 CFR, 1984 Comp., p.
193).
Source:
55 FR 51062, Dec. 11, 1990, unless otherwise noted.
The provisions of this part 214 are issued pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 1
of 1977, 42 FR 56101, 91 Stat. 1633, as amended (5 U.S.C. appendix) and
Executive Order 12472. This part 214 replaces Annex 1 of DMO 3000.1, dated
November 8, 1963, 28 FR 12273.
The purpose of this part is to provide guidance for the use of the radio
spectrum in a period of war, or a threat of war, or a state of public peril or
other wartime emergency.
This part covers procedures for the use of radio frequencies upon proclamation
by the President that there exists war, or a threat of war or a state of public
peril or other wartime emergency or in order to preserve the neutrality of the
United States. These procedures will be applied in the coordination, application
for, and assignment of radio frequencies upon order of the Director, OSTP. These
procedures are intended to be consistent with the provisions and procedures
contained in emergency plans for use of the radio spectrum.
§214.3 Assumptions.
When the provisions of this part become operative, Presidential emergency
authority, including Executive Order 12656, 12472, 12046 (3 CFR, 1966–1970
Comp., p. 820), and other emergency plans regarding the allocation and use of
national resources will be in effect. During an attack, and in a post attack
period, the Director, OSTP, will have authority to make new or revised
assignments of radio frequencies in accordance with authority delegated by the
President.
§214.4 Planned actions.
(a) Whenever it is determined necessary to exercise, in whole or in part, the
President's emergency authority over telecommunications, the Director, OSTP,
will exercise that authority as specified in Executive Order 12472 (49 FR 13471;
3 CFR, 1984 Comp., p. 193).
(b) In this connection, and concurrently with the war or national emergency
proclamation by the President, the Director will:
(1) Authorize the continuance of all frequency authorizations issued by the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), except as they may otherwise be
modified or revoked by the Director, OSTP, in the national interest;
(2) Re-delegate to the Secretary of Defense the authority necessary to control
the use of the radio spectrum in areas of active combat, where such control is
necessary to the support of U.S. military operations;
(3) Close all non-government radio stations in the international broadcasting
service as defined in the FCC rules and regulations, except those carrying or
scheduled to carry U.S. Government-controlled radio broadcasts.
§214.5
Responsibilities.
(a) The Director, OSTP, will issue such policy guidance, rules, regulations,
procedures, and directives as may be necessary to assure effective frequency
usage during wartime emergency conditions.
(b) The FCC, in coordination with NTIA, shall issue appropriate rules,
regulations, orders, and instructions and take such other actions not
inconsistent with the actions of the Director, OSTP, and the NTIA Emergency
Readiness Plan for Use of the Radio Spectrum as may be necessary to ensure the
effective use of those portions of the radio spectrum shared by Government and
non-governments users.
(c) The FCC shall assist the Director in the preparation of emergency plans
pursuant to section 3(h)(3) of Executive Order 12472.
(d) Each Federal Government agency concerned shall develop and be prepared to
implement its own plans, and shall make necessary pre-emergency arrangements
with non-government entities for the provision of desired facilities or
services, all subject to the guidance and control of the Director.
§214.6 Post attack
procedures and actions.
(a) The frequency management staff supporting the Director, OSTP, comprised of
pre-designated personnel from the frequency management staffs of the government
user agencies, NTIA and the FCC, will have proceeded to the OSTP relocation site
in accordance with alerting orders in force.
(b) Government agencies having need for new radio frequency assignments or for
modification of existing assignments involving a change in the frequency usage
pattern shall, unless otherwise provided, submit applications therefore to the
Director, OSTP, by whatever means of communication are available and
appropriate, together with a statement of any pre-application coordination
accomplished. The Director, OSTP, will review such applications accomplish the
necessary additional coordination insofar as practicable, consider all pertinent
views and comments, and grant or deny, as he shall determine, the assignment of
such frequencies. All concerned will be informed promptly of his decisions.
(c) Non-Government entities having need for new radio frequency assignments or
for modifications of existing assignments will continue to submit applications
therefore to the FCC, or in accordance with FCC instructions. Such applications
shall be coordinated with the Director, OSTP, and granted subject to the
approval of the Director, OSTP, or his delegate.
(d) All changes of radio frequency usage within U.S. military theaters of
operation will be coordinated with the Director, OSTP, where harmful
interference is likely to be caused to stations authorized to operate within the
United States and its possessions.
(e) Where submission to the Director, OSTP, is impracticable, the applicant
shall:
(1) Consult the NTIA Emergency Readiness Plan for use of the Radio Spectrum and
the Government Master File;
(2) Accomplish such coordination as appropriate and possible;
(3) Act in such manner as to have a minimum impact upon established services,
accepting the responsibility entailed in taking the temporary action required;
(4) Advise the Director, OSTP, as soon as possible of the action taken, and
submit an application for retroactive approval.
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