From Amateur Radio Newsline 16 July:
RADIO LAW: FCC TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN EMCOMM TRAINING DRILLS
The FCC has adopted a Report and Order on Docket RM 10-124 that contains new and less stringent rules regarding employee participation in emergency communications training drills.
Specifically, the FCC has amend the Part 97.113 of its rules to permit amateur radio operators to transmit messages for their employers under certain limited circumstances. This includes both government or non-government sponsored emergency and disaster preparedness drills, regardless of whether the operators are employees of entities participating in an exercise.
Under the newly modified 97.113, the amount of time employees are now allowed to participate in government sponsored drills is essentially unlimited. In the case of non government sponsored drills the limitation is one hour a week and two drill sessions of up to 72 hours per year.
Bottom line for Workin', as a public school employee, you probably should be covered under the "government organization" clause and therefore would legally be able to participate in any drills your district held.The Report and order was released on July 14th. It should become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The full document is on the FCC website at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... -124A1.pdf or http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... -124A1.doc (FCC, AH6RH)
Even if they do not count as a Government organization you can operate up to an hour a week and 2 (two) 72 hour periods a year for an exercise.
No waivers required in either case.
That should be plenty for for any legitimate testing and drills without risking being accused of using amateur radio to replace the normal licensed communications used by your district.
So you as an employee are legal for tests and drills, and, of course, during any actual emergency operations.
