Definitions and Terminology
Semantics, the meanings of words, underlies the majority of misunderstandings or disagreements. A word or term that means one thing in one part of the country can mean something else altogether in another part of the country. So, let's review some of the common position or job titles, organizations, and terms most of us have heard at one time or another in this field. Some of the position titles apply to paid staff, others to volunteers, and some may apply to both.
ACS OFFICER or RADIO OFFICER?
The term "Radio Officer" can have several meanings. In the terms of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) it is sometimes used in place of the "RACES RADIO OFFICER" - the lead volunteer who is the senior official in a RACES unit.. With the advent of the ACS (Auxiliary Communications Service), The title of "Radio Officer" or "ACS Radio Officer" as the unit lead position are one and same person. The ACS program paid staff position thus becomes the ACS Program Coordinator. If there is a potential to operate an element of the ACS unit "in the RACES mode," the ACS Radio Officer can be designated the "RACES Radio Officer" for technical compliance.AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR
This term describes those who have obtained a FCC Amateur Radio Service license, one that precludes its holder from business use of FCC allotted frequencies; or from receiving pecuniary remuneration for service on FCC Amateur frequencies.AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE (ACS)
This is the name adopted by those jurisdictions who have chosen to use a broad spectrum service of volunteer telecommunication experts and other workers in government service. This could include commercial radio technicians and engineers, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), Civil Air Patrol (CAP) communicators, and other unpaid professionals. In some jurisdictions it includes public safety and government communications as well as liaison with any agency that has a bearing on emergency response. An ACS has four elements in which volunteers serve according to their skills and interests: administrative, clerical, operations, and technical. In the California ACS there are licensed radio operators, heavy equipment operators, tower climbers, computer disk message writers, messengers, photographers, pilots, generator mechanics, computer programmers, plan writers, instructors, electricians, Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) specialists, radio announcers, clerks, managers, shift supervisors, installers as well as communications and electronics technicians.CIVIL DEFENSE
A term used by some jurisdictions, to describe an agency; while in others it is Emergency Services, Emergency Management, Disaster Preparedness, or something similar. The role is the same, however. In some areas this agency director has command and control authority. In other jurisdictions it is principally a planner who delegates all or most disaster preparedness activities to other departments. In some jurisdictions that director (or a designee within that agency) may directly supervise the communications reserve program; in others that responsibility is delegated to another department head. Final authority and responsibility, however, rests with the head of the civil defense or emergency management agency.DISASTER SERVICE WORKER (DSW)
In some states laws protect volunteers in event of injury or death while serving their communities. In California, there is a registered Disaster Service Workers (DSW) program, which provides workers compensation for designated volunteers.RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICE (RACES)
The RACES is a local or state government program established by a civil defense official. It becomes operational by 1) appointing a Radio Officer, 2) preparing a RACES Plan, and 3) training and utilizing FCC licensed Amateur Radio operators. RACES (whether part of an ACS, or as a stand along unit) is usually attached to a state or local government's emergency preparedness office, or to a department designated by that office, such as the sheriff's, or communications department. The participants are screened for loyalty and reliability prior to taking and signing an oath. The jurisdiction may decide to call it something other than RACES, but the function remains the same. In technical terms, this a program that supports a local government pursuant to authority in the FCC regulations for the Amateur Radio Service IF AND WHEN amateur radio frequencies are used. For any other use of unit personnel, FCC regulations do not apply. To repeat: FCC Part 97 regulations for the Amateur Radio Service apply ONLY when the Amateur Radio Service frequencies are used; otherwise the unit can be utilized for any communications related purpose. (See also the Manual section article titled "RACES -WHAT IS IT? WHO NEEDS IT?").RACES / EMCOMM BULLETIN
The on-going California ACS informational bulletin series which began in 1985 as 'RACES Bulletins' , an effort to document program guidance issues, ideas, and definitions. In 1989 the bulletins were introduced into the national digital (packet) network. In response, many people in the US, Canada and Australia, have provided positive feedback, input and support. As a result, the bulletins have the major source of knowledge regarding the emergency communications reserve programs. The RACES bulletins evolved into the Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) bulletin series in 1996. We will continue to distribute this bulletin series here locally until we can develope our own.RACES STATION
An amateur radio station licensed to a civil defense organization, not to an individual. There are very few RACES stations left in existence. The FCC has not issued a RACES station license since 1982. A personal or club callsign used at an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may be a station operating in the RACES, but it does not, repeat NOT, constitute a RACES station. The foregoing must be thoroughly understood when reading FCC regulations that define points of communications. The Commission's intent applies when RACES resources are used in a wartime context and is not meant to detract from peacetime Amateur Radio operator use. There is no reason for Amateurs to fear that their equipment may become a RACES station, and thus the property of the government, if they sign up in RACES.RESPONDER
A paid or volunteer person whose primary duty is to report for duty when required or requested to do so. It may be a frequent, if not daily, activity. A responder is trained, equipped, and physically prepared to perform the responder role. Where one responds is not important. A responder may go to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the office, a duty station, or to some assignment in the field. Most ACS and RACES personnel are considered to be responders. In the California OES ACS unit, the when and where are approved by the agency for each incident. This is generally true of any volunteer attached to any government agency, but some people may not be classified as a responder because they may serve in a non-response capacity; such as consultant, maintenance, advisory, or other._______ Updated: NHL-20020420
|
|