• RACES

97.407 of the FCC rules provides for RACES, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. RACES is a special phase of amateur operation sponsored by FEMA, that provides radio communications for civil preparedness purposes only, during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. These emergencies are not limited to war related activities, but can include natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes. As defined in the rules, RACES is a radio service using amateur stations for civil defense communications during periods of local, regional or national civil emergencies. It is important to note that RACES operation is authorized by the FCC upon request of a state or federal official, and is strictly limited to official civil preparedness activity, in the event of an emergency communications situation. Amateurs operating in a local RACES organization must be officially enrolled in that local civil preparedness group. RACES operation is conducted by amateurs using their own primary station licenses, and by existing RACES stations. The FCC no longer issues new RACES (WC prefix) station call signs. Operator privileges in RACES are dependent upon, and identical to, those for the class of license held in the Amateur Radio Service. All of the authorized frequencies and emissions allocated to the Amateur Radio Service are also available to RACES on a shared basis. But in the event that the President invokes his War Emergency Powers, amateurs involved with RACES would be limited to the certain frequencies (while all other amateur operation would be silenced) as specified in 97.407(b)(1). While RACES was originally based on potential use for wartime, it has evolved over the years, as has the meaning of civil defense (which is also called civil preparedness), to encompass all types of emergencies. It should be emphasized again that RACES is part of the amateur service, its regulations are part of the amateur regulations, and it operates in the amateur bands. The segments of the amateur bands it uses are shared with the rest of the amateur service in peacetime; in the event of war, its frequency segments would be exclusive.

• ARES and RACES

Although RACES and ARES are separate entities, the League advocates dual membership and cooperative efforts between both groups whenever possible. The RACES regulations make it simple and possible for an ARES group whose members are all enrolled in and certified by RACES to operate in an emergency with great flexibility. Using the same operators and the same frequencies, an ARES group also enrolled as RACES can “switch hats” from ARES to RACES and RACES to ARES to meet the requirements of the situation as it develops. For example, during a “non-declared emergency,” ARES can operate under ARES, but when an emergency or disaster is officially declared by a state or federal authority, the operation can become RACES with no change in personnel or frequencies. Both ARES and RACES still exist, separately, in many areas. League Officials will have to determine the situation in their own area. Where there is currently no RACES, it would be a simple matter for an ARES group to enroll in that capacity, after a sophisticated presentation to the civil preparedness authorities. In cases where both ARES and RACES exist, it is possible to join both or to be involved in either. As time progresses, the goal would be the merger into one strong organization, with coordination between ARES and RACES officials using the same groups of amateurs. In some sections of the US today, the ARES structure has also been accepted as the RACES structure. For more information on RACES, contact your state emergency management or civil preparedness office, FEMA or the FCC.