[HATS] Fwd: FCC Declares Communications Emergency for Gulf Coast

[Ed Manuel]

FYI,
Ed

>All,
>   Here is an official announcement from the FCC vis ARRL:
>
>FCC Declares Communications Emergency for Gulf Coast
>
>WASHINGTON, DC, Sep 24, 2002--At the request of ARRL Mississippi Section=20
>Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, the FCC has declared that a general=20
>communications emergency exists for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama=
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>and Florida. After striking the western tip of Cuba and the Yucatan=20
>Peninsula of Mexico, Isidore--at present a tropical storm--is headed for=20
>the US Gulf Coast. Forecasters believe that Isidore could regain hurricane=
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>strength over the Gulf of Mexico and reach landfall Thursday morning (see=
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>"Hurricane Watch Net, W4EHW, Stand Down, Maintain Vigilance" for further=20
>details).
>
>Invoking the authority of =A797.401 of the FCC's rules and regulations,=20
>Technical and Public Safety Division Chief Joseph P. Casey of the=20
>Enforcement Bureau issued a declaration that requires amateurs to refrain=
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>from using 3873 kHz during hours of darkness and 7285 kHz during hours of=
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>daylight effective immediately and until rescinded. The FCC said the=20
>communications emergency could last as long as 14 days. Both frequencies=20
>are to be protected plus or minus 3 kHz unless amateurs are taking part in=
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>the handling of emergency traffic.