Pursuant to storm-related FCC waiver to utilize PACTOR 4 to facilitate amateur radio emergency communications related to hurricane relief; mode Pactor 4 has been enabled on HF Winlink RMS Gateways KB5HCD, W0MAC, and KB5MAC located in Harris County, Texas.
73, Dave WB5HJV
Read the full article here:
https://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-idalia-fcc-approves-arrl-petition-to-aid-emergency-communications
Hurricane Idalia: FCC Approves ARRL Petition to Aid Emergency Communications
08/30/2023
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 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 (ARES) 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.