Subj : ARRL Elected to Serve on SAFECOM
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Fri Jun 02 2023 03:13 pm

06/02/2023

ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio� has been elected to serve on
SAFECOM�. SAFECOM is a group of national thought leaders and officials within
the emergency communications and response space that works to set standards
used at every level. The program is managed by the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an agency of the US Department of
Homeland Security.

SAFECOM sets the standards of interoperability procedures, and ARRL being a
part of the group solidifies the Amateur Radio Service as a robust resource
before and during times of crisis.

In a letter from SAFECOM Chair, Chief Gerald R Reardon said "On behalf of the
SAFECOM Executive Board, it is with great pleasure that I inform you of our
offer to join SAFECOM as a member association. SAFECOM aims to improve
multi-jurisdictional and intergovernmental communications interoperability
through collaboration with emergency responders and policymakers across
federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international partners. SAFECOM
recognizes the organization's dedication to emergency communications and
interoperability, and therefore is pleased to extend a membership offer."

ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, said "Gaining a
seat at the table is a major step in strengthening the role and capability of
Amateur Radio with emergency communication agencies. This will give us the
sounding board and resources we need to set standards and create training for
our Amateur Radio Emergency Service� (ARES�)[1] volunteers that will better
suit AHJ's (Agencies Having Jurisdiction) and partner organizations."� The
opportunity for ARRL to provide a more comprehensive Emergency Communications
program is part of the goal the Board and ARRL leadership has begun to
emphasize over the past few years, and this is one more example of the
commitment to do so.� ARRL will provide premier resources for the served
agencies to support them in all phases of Emergency Management.

Johnston will serve as the Representative for ARRL on SAFECOM and will be
meeting with that leadership over the coming days to begin the process of
better understanding all the roles and responsibilities that come with being a
member association.� "I look forward to working with the SAFECOM leadership as
we move forward and with the ARRL Leadership to better serve the Ham community
and our Served Agencies and Partners."� Johnston said.� �

For more information about ARES and other ARRL Emergency Programs and training
visit our web page at: http://arrl.org/public-service[2]

For more information about SAFECOM go to: https://www.cisa.gov/safecom[3]

About ARRL

ARRL� The National Association for Amateur Radio�[4] was founded in 1914 as The
American Radio Relay League, and is a noncommercial organization of radio
amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of active radio
amateurs (or "hams") in the US and has a proud history of achievement as the
standard-bearer in promoting and protecting amateur radio. For more information
about ARRL and amateur radio, visit www.arrl.org.

About ARES�

Amateur Radio Operators, or "hams," have a long history of serving their
communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication
infrastructure, such as cell phone towers and fiber optic networks. Amateur
radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems, and
a ham radio station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Amateurs can
quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and
power source, and communicate effectively with others.

The ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service� (ARES� www.arrl.org/ares[5]) consists
of hams who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with
their local ARES leadership for communications duty in the public service when
disaster strikes. They use their training, skills, and equipment to prepare for
and provide communications during emergencies When All Else Fails�.

�


[1] http://www.arrl.org/ares
[2] http://arrl.org/public-service
[3] https://www.cisa.gov/safecom
[4] http://www.arrl.org
[5] www.arrl.org/ares

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