RESCUE RADIO: POSSIBLY THE LARGEST EMCOMM WAVIER YET

    Meanwhile, the FCC continues to quickly grant waivers to governments and emergency providers looking to use ham radio operators in their employ as part of disaster response training exercises. The latest is to Stephens County Emergency Medical Services of Toccoa, Georgia to permit their employees and those of the Stephens County Hospital to transmit communications on behalf of their employees in connection with a twelve hour March 17th  exercise.                                                                                  

   And in what may be the largest numbers to date, this wavier issued on February 16th from the FCC's Deputy Chief of its Mobility Division covers thirty-two radio amateurs in the employ of these organizations who have volunteered to take part. The wavier specifically permits transmission of communications by the amateur service employees on behalf of their employers during the exercise, and immediately prior to it for the purpose of operational testing. This is the largest wavier granted by the FCC.  Amateur Radio Operators of Toccoa, Georgia will be ready to help out if a disaster rises.