Building on the success
of a 60-meter interoperability exercise in December, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's Region X - which includes Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon
and Washington
- is planning similar drills every month this year. The 60-meter band is shared by amateurs and federal government stations, so it is ideal for such an exercise, according to a report in the ARRL Letter, which notes that the activity has received specific authorization from both the FCC and the NTIA, which regulates federal government stations. In addition to hams and FEMA stations, participants in the monthly drills will include Army and Air Force MARS members and stations in SHARES, the federal government's HF radio network.
