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The ARRL has received approval from the Federal Communications
Commission for an emergency waiver to facilitate amateur radio
emergency communications for hurricane relief.  The request, filed
by the ARRL Washington DC Counsel on August 29, 2023, seeks a waiver
of HF symbol rate restrictions.  Trained radio amateurs involved
with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and other communications
support groups are working with federal, state, and local emergency
management officials and relief organizations to assist with
disaster relief communications in anticipation of the arrival of
Hurricane Idalia at the Florida coast. Their equipment includes
radio modems and computers that are capable of data transmissions
that exceed the regulatory baud symbol rate limit yet use the same
or less bandwidth as slower speed protocols that are permitted.  The
higher data rates are critical to sending the anticipated relief
communications, including lists of needed and distributed supplies,
etc. Many other amateur stations involved in disaster relief
communications are able to use the higher speed emissions from their
stations inside and outside the anticipated landfall area or
involved areas to assist in the communication efforts.  The waiver,
which was granted August 30, is for a 60 day relief period from the
rules, based upon the immediate need related to the threat of
Hurricane Idalia.  It would cover use directly related to any
additional hurricanes that may develop within the 60 day period.
Only messages related to these hurricanes would be permitted to be
sent via the higher speed modes, and only publicly documented modes
would be allowed.  The waiver is available in PDF format at,
//docs.fcc.gov/public/ .  ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh
Johnston, KE5MHV, said the rate increase will help response
abilities. The increased symbol rate provides for faster more
efficient message transmissions for digital communications. These
modes such as WINLINK are used to send forms for served agencies and
other data that can be vital during a disaster, he said.  Johnston
and volunteers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service are closely
coordinating with ARRL Sections in Florida. The ARRL Northern
Florida Section is activated in preparation for Hurricane Idalia.
ARES volunteers are staffing the auxiliary communications position
at the Florida Emergency Operations Center, which was activated at 7
AM on August 29.  Several other hurricane related amateur radio nets
were active ahead of the storm. Hurricane Idalia strengthened into a
Category 4 storm briefly in the overnight hours of Wednesday, August
30 before being downgraded to Category 3.  The storm made landfall
in the Great Bend region of Floridas Gulf Coast with sustained winds
of 120 miles per hour.  Please see ARRLs previous news story for
more details at, //www.arrl.org/ .

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