Emcomm in the "9/11 Generation" vs. the "Cold War" Generation

As I read the occassional negative comments—misunderstandings and misinformation mostly—about our 97.113 petition, it often strikes me that some people just don’t seem to “get it.” Many of these folks are longtime hams and I think that is part of the problem. They are plenty smart enough, but are simply from a different generation.

9/11 changed many things and one of them was how Amateur Radio responds to emergencies. At least it was supposed to change. In many places, however, change has been elusive. Instead of joining the “9/11 Generation” of emergency management—where we all work closely together—these hams are still in the old “Cold War” model.

Understanding the “Cold War” Model of EMCOMM

In the Cold War model, Amateur Radio licenses were hard to get and our gear was fairly technical and generally pretty large. Amateur Radio operators saw emergency work as just something they did occasionally.

When an emergency occurred, hams would drop in, solve communications problems, and quickly leave. There was an arm’s length relationship between ham radio and emergency managers. Very few emergency managers were hams and, because of the technical complexity that was ham radio, did not want to be.

This model worked for a long time and back in what will be remembered as the Golden Days of Amateur Radio, it made perfect sense.

But, as Amateur Radio technology (and licenses) became commoditized, things changed.

The equipment became easier to use, and capabilities that used to “wow” non-hams, like phone patches and direct connections to law enforcement, landed in everyone’s pockets via cellular telephones. Hams, as a group, were also getting older (as we continue to do) and, perhaps, less active outside their shacks.

Licenses became much easier to get, allowing many who never felt they could become hams to join our ranks. That meant people got licenses who were not interested in radio as much as they needed another way to communicate for non-commercial purposes.

People got ham licenses because they were sailors, storm chasers, CERT members, all non-traditional paths of entry made easier by simplified licensing.

Equipment became easier to use—for a time—leading to the pejorative term “appliance operator.” Now, high-end radios are as hard to use as ever. I am sure that is considered a great improvement by some. At the low-end, however, radios are fairly easy to use, provided you are both trainable and interested.

The “9/11 Model” of Emergency Communications

It’s been said that “9/11 changed everything” and while that isn’t entirely true—our changes were already well underway—the attacks changed enough things that the date still serves as a valuable demarcation point in our thinking about Amateur Radio emcomm.

Post 9/11, interoperable and survivable communications became a hot topic, as did preparedness more generally. People in the community became involved in preparedness in increasing numbers and some of them found (or were directed to) Amateur Radio.

Except for the current flap that prevents volunteers using ham radio to talk to the paid professionals who lead them, Amateur Radio is a fine tool for volunteer emergency service organizations.

Emergency management officials, who had admired ham radio for many years, paid us the great compliment of becoming licensed. I cannot stress enough that I have never run into a situation where local government planned to use Amateur Radio improperly in a commercial sense, such as for routine dispatching.

It is my belief that where problems exist, it is because local hams have not done a good job of staying in contact with their served agencies, explaining to them the appropriate (and non-appropriate) uses for amateur frequencies.

The Political Angle

There is another angle that is worth mentioning. That is the political leanings of those involved. There is no shortage of people—older men, especially—who really have no use for government and don’t think ham radio should be involved with it.

I think some of the negative comments against working with “served agencies” and especially about professional emergency responders as hams comes are based in this anti-government bias.

These people are deeply wrong, but sincere. They want ham radio to be like it used to be, before less technically-inclined (but more civicoriented) people joined our hobby.

While some fear hams becoming involved with emergency agencies, I see it as the only way, long term, to protect our frequencies and our hobby from encroachment. Others see it differently, which will be the subject of a future post.

Comments

[David Gillespie]

I think you have several very valid points, many of which apply to hams here in the southeast US. EmComm for us is typically related to severe weather, and we have plenty of that. I also am involved in expanding the traditional EmComm abilities beyond traffic handling on the radio. I feel we can serve our agencies in ways beyond operating our radios. We encourage all our ARES volunteers to complete the online FEMA ICS basics of IS-100, 200, 700 and 800. (free and online at FEMA.gov) We also encourage taking the NWS stormspotting classes, and CERT training. Being familiar with and able to operate within NIMS is one a the greatest ways to demonstrate value to served agencies in addition to comms.

For many 9/11 is a date seared in our collective memory, however, one that I feel is changing due to the simple passage of time. I also feel you may take another look at the phrase "our frequencies" perhaps "our continued access to frequencies". The FCC takes great pride in reminding all those who would ask that there is no ownership of frequencies by hams or any other group, we are merely granted the privilege of operating within a range of frequencies as long as that operation is in their opinion for the greater good.

I look forward to continued dialogue on EmComm and how it will be evolving over the months ahead.

73 de W4LHQ
David

[Bob K0NR]

David,

Interesting post as usual. The Cold War vs 9/11 model is useful as far as it goes. I encounter a surprising number of hams that think they can sit in isolation and wait to be called upon when a major incident occurs. In some cases, they have magnificent stations that would be extremely valuable during a major emergency. They miss the point that when things get weird pre-existing relationships are highly valued and the guy that shows up for the first time is mostly a risk.

This attitude is not necessarily generational....seems to exist at all ages and even political leaning. I've noticed other factors that come into play such as the Emergency Communications Nazi that drives everyone around him crazy. I have been spared this personally....the EmComm folks in my area are pretty sane, but I have heard the stories.

The Appliance Operator thing always makes me chuckle. People were complaining about that as long as I have been licensed (since 1977). This idea that if you don't assemble your own radio from vacuum tubes or molten silicon, you aren't a real ham is pure bunk.

73, Bob K0NR