introduction

Located in Lamar County (Paris, Texas), NETROC is an Amateur Radio Service club that consists of FCC licensed radio operators dedicated to emergency communications.

To this end…we have purchased an old school bus, and converted it to a Mobile Command Post/Mobile Communications Vehicle. This mobile command center has 8 stations for radios and their operators.

The purpose of the vehicle is to provide a central spot for communications and intelligence, during disasters. Therefore, there are stations for Police, Fire, Red Cross, Military Affiliate Radio Service (MARS), FEMA, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Storm Chasers, Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). The vehicle is fully self-contained with it’s own generator and air conditioners.

In the near future, we plan to install a satellite system for TV, High Speed Internet, and Satellite Telephone. Along with this system we will also install a WI-FI wireless system for the use of multiple laptop computers that today’s public service agencies often have in their vehicles.

On completion of this project…we plan to take this vehicle to area municipalities to demonstrate the effectiveness of mobile wireless emergency communications.

We are listed as a not for profit organization in Texas.

“Ham Radio works, when all else fails”

Measure Makes Amateur Radio Part of Emergency Communications Community

From the national association for Amateur Radio, the American Radio Relay League

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 4, 2006 -- A section of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2007 Appropriations Act, HR 5441, formally includes Amateur Radio operators as a part of the emergency communications community. Congress approved the measure before adjourning for its pre-election break. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law today.

Amateur Radio is included within the legislation's Subtitle D, Section 671, known as the "21st Century Emergency Communications Act." Radio amateurs are among the entities with which a Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECC Working Group) must coordinate its activities. Included within the DHS's Office of Emergency Communications -- which the measure also creates -- RECC Working Groups attached to each regional DHS office will advise federal and state homeland security officials. House Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairman Rep Harold Rogers (R-KY) sponsored HR 5441. The final version of the legislation incorporates language from both House and Senate bills and was hammered out in a conference committee.

An earlier version of the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act, HR 5852, sponsored by Rep David G. Reichert (R-WA), included Amateur Radio operators among the members of the RECC Working Groups.

In addition to Amateur Radio operators, RECC Working Groups also will coordinate with communications equipment manufacturers and vendors -- including broadband data service providers, local exchange carriers, local broadcast media, wireless carriers, satellite communications services, cable operators, hospitals, public utility services, emergency evacuation transit services, ambulance services, and representatives from other private sector entities and nongovernmental organizations.

According to the bill, the RECC Working Groups will assess the survivability, sustainability and interoperability of local emergency communication systems to meet the goals of the National Emergency Communications Report. That report would recommend how the US could "accelerate the deployment of interoperable emergency communications nationwide."

RECC Working Groups also will be tasked with ensuring a process to coordinate the establishment of "effective multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency emergency communications networks" that could be brought into play following acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other emergencies.

At the state and local level, RECC Working Groups will include state officials; local government officials; law enforcement; local fire departments; 911 centers; state emergency managers, homeland security directors or representatives of state administrative agencies; local emergency managers or homeland security directors, and other emergency response providers.

At the federal level, RECC Working Group members will include representatives of the DHS, the FCC and other federal departments and agencies responsible for coordinating interoperable emergency communication with or providing emergency support services to state, local and tribal governments.

In the wake of the bill's passage, the ARRL plans to follow up to determine how it can interact with the DHS and its Office of Emergency Communications.

Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department

NETROC would like to thank the Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department for offering the use of their Emergency Operations Center as the home of our Radio Club Station, WN5ROC. The community of Hopewell and others have donated lots of dollars and hours in building a state of the art facility. NETROC currently has VHF/UHF/HF/APRS/Echolink/Winlink 2000 and Internet access at the site. During emergency situations, NETROC and VFD personnel, along with our county EMC appointees will be operating four stations that span the HF - 2.5 GHz frequency range.

Contact us

President / ARRL North Texas Section District 8 Emergency Coordinator
Dr. Wayne D. Scott, N4RAP
4725 Smallwood Rd.
Reno, TX 75462
(903) 785-7528 office
drwaynescott@suddenlink.net

Vice-President
Kelly J. Collins, W5KJC
1720 W HOUSTON
PARIS, TX 75460
(903) 784-4599
kellyjcollins@sbcglobal.net

Treasurer
Mike Brigham, KC5OOT
2495 Ballard Dr.
Paris, TX 75460
(903) 785-6111
kc5oot@yahoo.com

Secretary/Trustee
Leo Salas, N5JEP
PO Box 6103
Paris, TX 75461
lsalas@1starnet.com