document resume ed 136 804 safety and special radio ... · part each plays in the complex field of...

ED 136 804

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DOCUMENT RESUME

Safety and Special Radio Services.Federal Communications Commission,D.C.Dec 7620p.; Information Bulletin No. 7

IR 004 595

Washington,

1F-$0.83 HC-$1.67 Plus Postage.Aviation Technology; Emergency Programs; Forestry;Industry; Navigation; Professional Services; Radar;*Radio; *Safety; *Special Services; Transportatiolit

ABSTRACTNumerous radio stations across the nation perform

nonbroadcast services in areas ranging from aviation, forestryprotection, and telephone maintenance to amateur and citizen radio.These services can be grouped in four general categories: (1) safety,(2) industry, (3) land transportation, and (4) miscellaneouspurposes. This bulletin briefly describes some 50 radio serviceswhich comprise the Safety and Special Radio Services, and FCC(Federal Communications Commission) regulations for these stations.(SC)

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U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION &WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO-DUCED EXACTLY AS R ECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN-ATING I7 POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE-SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFEDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY

Safety and Special Radio Services

Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C.

12/ 76

Safety. and SpecialRadio Services

The radio and TV broadcast stations which dot WHATt the nation are familiar to the eyes, as well as to THEY

CD the ears, of its citizens. However, their number ARECX) is dwarfed by a vast array of other types of radio.0 stations with which most people are unfamiliar.

These stations perform services that arealmost as varied as they are numerous. Most ofthem are grouped in what is known as the "Safetyand Special Radio Services. " They include theuse of radio by boats and aircraft, rail andmotor carriers, local government, amateursinterested in the radio art, industry, manufac-tures, public utilities and other businessesindividuals for private convenience, agenciesconcerned with police and fire protection, andfor national defense and other emergencyservices.

In brief, the Safety and Special RadioServices cover practically all radio uses withthe exception of broadcasting and common carrierservices for hire to the general public.

The Safety and Special Radio Services HOWinclude some of radio's oldest functions. The THEYfirst practical application of radio was in GREWsafeguarding life and property at sea. Marinedisaster proved radiotelegraphy to be aneffective aid to ocean rescues, as well as forspeedy ship-to-ship and ship-to-shorecommunication. The early and continued useof the radio direction finder further establishedthe value of radio for navigation and safety atsea.

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SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES - 2

Two world wars accelerated the growth of radiocommuni-ce.tion and radiolocation. With the outbreak of World War I,governments began using radio to keep abreast of events and todirect the movements of troops and supplies. World War II

-not only further demonstrated the military usefulness of radiobut stimulated development of equipment and techniques whichiPurred its utilization for peacetime purposes.

Subsequent developments heightened interest in andextended the use of radiocommunication for business and otheractivities. More rigid technical requirements, narrower(split) channel spacing and frequency sharing are making moreeffective use of the still limited spectrum space available tothese services. Since there is a scarcity of availablefrequencies, assignments to private radio users are generallymade on a shared basis with other licensees.

WHAT The present Safety and Special Radio Services may, forTHEY convenience, be grouped into four general categories as follows:DO

Safety services -- aviation, marine, police, fire, localgovernment, forestry conservation, highway maintenance,special emergency, and State Guard.

Industrial services -- power, petroleum, forest products,business, manufacturers, special industrial, relay press, motionpicture, industrial radiolocation and telephone maintenance.

Land transportation services -- railroad, motor carriertransportation of property and passengers, taxicabs, andautomobile emergency.

Miscellaneous services -- amateur, citizens, and disastercommunications.

These major classifications are in turn broken down intosub-groups which form the little-known "networks" devoted tothe protection of life and property and the trade, professionaland personal interests of so many people.

The following pages give a brief description of the some50 radio services which comprise the Safety and Special RadioServices.

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SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICE - 3

Since this primer must be general in treatment,it does not go into technical or statistical detail. Nor isit practicable to list the frequencies assigned to anyparticular.service. For example, some services arerequired to share frequencies; other services arepermitted temporary use of frequencies pending domesticand international developments; .and some.services canuse frequencies only so long as they cause no interference.Consequently, readers in need of s;Jecific informationare advised to consult those portioils of the Commission'srules and regulations governing the particular, servicesin which they are interested (listed hereafter. )

Aeronautical radio is vital to the protection of life AVIATIONand property in the air, and to the maintenance of an RADIOadequate system of navigational aids on the ground and SERVICES'aloft. The necessisty of radio in connection with aircraftoperation is shown not only by the fact that it is legallyrequired for airlines and for aircraft flying into certaincontrolled airports, but also by the large number ofvoluntary installations by private aircraft operators.

The Aviation Services are concerned with thelicensing and regulation of non-governmental aircraftradio stations, aeronautical public service stations,aeronautical enroute and aeronautical fixed stations,aeronautical metropolitan stations, airdome controlstations, aeronautical utility mobile stations, radio-navigation station3, aeronautical advisory stations,aviation instructional stations, flight test stations,aeronautical search and rescue stations, Civil AirPatrol stations, aeronautical multicom stations, andradionavigation land test stations.

The following thumbnail description of the variousclasses of stations in the Aviation Services indicates thepart each plays in the complex field of aviationcommunications:

Aircraft Radio Stations are essentially any typeof radio transmitter installed aboard an aircraft. Exceptthe public service type, such stations are used foroperational and safety purposes. Because of the natureof their services, aircraft radio stations are dividedinto three categories: namely, air carrier aircraft,private aircraft, and public service aircraft.

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Air Carrier Aircraft Stations are used aboard commercialaircraft engaged in transporting passengers or cargo for hire.This class of station includes scheduled, nonscheduled andcargo carriers. To ensure safe and efficient operation, aircarrier aircraft use communication and navigation equipmentmanufactured to meet high standards.

Private Aircraft Stations provide radiocommunicationon aircraft used for pleasure and business. This class ofstation has the largest number of aircraft radio stationauthorizations.

Aeronautical Public Service Stations enable persons inaircraft to connect with the landline telephone system throughpublic coast stations. Public service aircraft stations ontransport planes engaged in intercontinental service mayoperate on the frequencies available to ship telephone and shiptelegraph stations for like service.

Aeronautical Enroute and Aeronautical Fixed Stationsprovide the radiocommunication service necessary for the safe,expeditious and economical operation of aircraft. Aeronauticalenroute stations communicate between the ground and aircraft,whereas aeronautical fixed stations (which are only located inAlaska) furnish point-to-point communication. In internationaloperations, and operations in areas where landline facilitiesare not adequate, radio provides the primary service. Domesticair carriers are required to maintain two-way ground-to-airradiotelephone communication at terminals and other points toensure satisfactory communication over the entire route. Sucha system is independent of safety radio facilities provided bygovernmental agencies.

Aeronautical Metropolitan Stations transmit communi-cations for the safe, expeditious and economical operation ofaircraft operating between a main air terminal or ametropolitan area and subordinate landing areas. They areauthorized only to aeronautical enroute station licensees.These stations are used principally to render localcommunication services for helicopter operations.

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SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES -

Airdrome Control Stations make communication possiblebetween an airdrome control tower and aircraft or aeronauticalutility mobile stations; and further, exercise control overaircraft within the control zone of an airport in addition tocontr011ing traffic, both aircraft and vehicles, at the airport.Such control consists of directing arriving and departingplanes so as to avoid Collisions and maintaining an efficientflow of traffic into and put Of the airport, Airdrome controlstations at principal airports are normally operated by theFederal Aviation Administration.

Aeronautical Utility Mobile Stations are installed aboardcrash, maintenance, fire and other vehicles that operate atan airdrome, and are usually under control tower direction.These stations provide two services: (1) communication byroutine maintenance vehicles necessary to the operation ofan airport; and (2) communication by emergency vehicles incase of accident on the field.

Radionavigation Stations establish, by radio means, thetraffic lanes of the air and provide information so that aircraftmay determine position, course, heading, distance from astation, etc. They are, for the most part, operated by theGovernment; however, the type of navigational stations licensedby the Commission includes stations which furnish navigation,instrument landing, direction, distance and altitude information.

Aeronautical Advisory Stations provide advisorycommunication between an airport operator and private aircraftso that airmen may ascertain the condition of the runways,fuel available, wind conditions, weather, or other neededinformation. Aeronautical advisory stations are not used forthe control of aircraft in flight.

Aviation Instructional Stations are employed on the groundOr on board aircraft for conimunicating instructions to studentsor pilots operating aircraft or engaged in soaring activities.

Flight Test Stations, ground or aircraft, are used forcommunication in connection with the testing of aircraft andaircraft components. Newly designed equipment can be testedunder flight condition. Communication with the ground isessential to log pertinent data and instructions pertaining tothese flight tests.

Aeronautical Search and Rescue Stations furnish communi-cation with aircraft engaged in search-and-rescue operations.

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Civil Air Patrol Stations -- The Civil Air Patrol is acivilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, but its radiostations are licensed by the Commission. It utilizes AirForce frequencies for communicating with land or mobilestations while carrying out search, rescue, training or otheractivities for which this organization is responsible.

Aeronautical Multicom Stations transmit communicationsto private aircraft for the directing of ground activities fromthe air and the directing of aerial activities from the groundwhere communications are not otherwise provided for in theAviation Services. Communications by these stations pertainto such activities as agriculture, ranching and conservationactivities; forest fire fighting; aerial application; aerialadvertising and parachute jumping. Aeronautical Multicomstations may, in some cases, be authorized to perform thefunction of aeronautical advisory stations.

Radionavigation Land Test Stations transmit signals forthe testing and calibration of aircraft navigation aids.

MARINE The use of radio on ships is the oldest of the safetyRADIO radio services and the one with which the public is most familar,SERVICES mainly through publicity which has attended its performance

under emergency conditions at sea.

The Maritime Mobile Service employs radiotelephone andradiotelegraph and is broken down into ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, including navigational aid communication.

Broadly speaking, maritime radio uses may be dividedinto those which are required by law for safety purposes andthose which are voluntary on the part of ship owners (combiningsafety with other purposes, such as navigation and commerce)and those which are available for public correspondence.

All radio stations on ships of United States registry (otherthan radio stations belonging to and operated by the UnitedStates Government), are required to be licensed by the FederalCommunications Commission.

SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICE-- 7

Radio .stations on vessels utilizing telegraphy, telephony,or both, cOmmunicate with other ships and with coast stationsto transmit and receive signals and messages relating to safety,of life and property and to assist navigation. In turn, coaststations transmit reports on weather and hazards to navigation.Ships equipped with radiotelephony may also communicatewith aircraft. In addition, many shipboard stations transmitand receive messages for passengers and crew.

The Communications Act requires all cargo vessels of300 or more gross tons and all passenger vessels navigated inthe open sea to carry radiotelegraph (radiotelephone may besubstituted on cargo vessels under 1,600 gross tons) unlessexempted by the Commission under, certain conditions. TheCommunications Act and international law require cargo vesselsbetween 300 and 1,600 gross tons navigated in the open seaor on international voyages to be equipped with either radio-telegraph or, radiotelephone. The Great Lakes Agreementbetween the United States and Canada requires certain vesselson the Great Lakes to have radiotelephone. Other ships, notcoming within the compulsory requirements, are free to selecteither radiotelegraph or radiotelephone if radiocommunicationis desired. The Communications Act requires boats navigatedin the open sea or on tidewaters within the jurisdiction of theUnited States and carrying more than six passengers for hireto be equipped with radiotelephone as a safety measure.

The use of frequencies and the operating proceduresemployed in the marine services necessitate internationalcoordination, inasmuch as ships traveling over the worldmust have standardization in communication. By internationalagreement 500 kHz and 2182 kHz are the internationalcalling and distress frequencies for radiotelegraphy andradiotelephony respectively. In addition, the very high (shortdistance) frequency of 156.80 MHz is used internationally forcalling and safety purposes by stations operating in the band156-174 MHz employing telephony. Domestically 156.80 MHzalso is used as a distress frequency. Specific frequency bandsprovide for the use of marine radar.

Development of radar, Loran, and other electronicdevices and systems have aided marine navigation. Forexample, vessels equipped with radar are enabled to enterand leave ports during periods of poor visibility with lessdanger of collision and running aground. Radar can fix theposition of a ship independently of any other ship or shorestations when the vessel is within approximately 50 miles ofan identified shoreline.

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SAFE YY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES - 3

TOP

The Loran system makes it possible to determine thegeographic position of a ship or aircraft at any point in itsjourney within the Loran service area. Loran is especiallyuseful when weather conditions make celestial observationimpoisible. This system, completely different from radar,is dependent upon continuous transmissions from stationson land at known locations. The range of Loran transmissionover seawater is from 500 to 700 nautical miles during theday and up to 1,400 nautical miles at night.

Ramark is a navigational aid used in conjunction withradar but is dependent upon transmissions from 'knownfixed location. It enables the position of a ship or aircraftto be determined by means of bearings visibly presented onthe. radar indicator scope, thus helping to lead the boator plane to its destination.

Public Coast Radio Stations, established at Points onland, are open to the general public for communicationservice between ships at sea and on inland water either bytelegraph or telephone. These stations are classifiedaccording to the type of communication used, telegraph ortelephone, and according to communication range. ClassIII coast stations render short-range service only by VHFradiotelephony; Class II coast stations generally provideonly medium-range service; and Class I Coast stationsprovide long-range service in addition to medium and short-range service.

Public coast stations transmit weather reports to shipsand expedite distress, urgency and safety messages, in additionto public correspondence comnu.nications.

Limited Coast Stations serve the business and operationalneeds of vessels served by the coast station licensee but aremit available for public correspondence.

Alaska Fixed Public Stations provide safety and publicservice communication between Alaska communities and with RCAAlaska Communications. RCA Alaska operates the main intra-Alaska communication system.

PUBLIC These services comprise local government, police, fire,SAFETY forestry conservation, highway maintenance, special emergency,RADIO and State Guard radio services. They are available, primarily,SERVICES to governmental agencies directly concerned with the public

1/4 welfare.

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SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICES 9

The Police Radio Service, the oldest of these services,serves municipal, county and state police departments. Amongother services, it furnishes communication between policeland stations and mobile units, including police aircraft andpolice ships. Even the foot patrolman is part of this networkwhen he has been provided with a portable transmitter-receivercombination.

Police radio stations have been established in everystate and in nearly every county, and most cities over 5,000in population now have some degree of police radio protection.IVIany of these, in turn, are integrated into regional andnationwide police communication circuits.

In the main, police radio stations utilize radiotelephonebut-radiotelegraphy is also employed by zone and inter-zonestations. The radiotelephone normally provides ,three-waycommunicationfrom a fixed land station to mobile units; frommobile units to land stations; and from one mobile unit toothers. For each land station there may be a dozen to severalhundred mobile units.

Radiotelegraphy, on the other hand, provides communi-cation between cities and between states for the exchange ofpolice information. Teletype has come into general use inaddition to radioteleg .aph stations.

The Fire Radio Service plays an important public rolein the prevention and control of fires. It is used to main;:aincontact between fire headquarters and fire fighters.

The importance of an independent fire radio service hasbeen recognized by the country's largerznunicipalities. Manyof them have established their own systems exclusively forcommunications essential to fire activities.

Eligibility to communicate over fire radio frequenciesextends to "governmental subdivisions" (states, territories,counties, cities, etc. ) and persons or Org;nizations chargedwith specific fire protection activities such as volunteer firedepartments.

Users of fire radio frequencies require two distinct types '

of communication: that employed between headquarters and thefire apparatus and between the fire chief and individual firemenat the scene of a blaze. The first permits headquarters tomaintain contact with all fire apparatus out on call. The secondenables a squad chief at a fire to direct his men within or arounda building.

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The Local Government Radio Service permits municipalitiesto transmit communications essential to their official activities,including those concerning civil defense. This covers police,fire and other emergency as well as routine administrativemessages.

The Forestry Conservation Radio Service providescommunication networks essential to the prevention, detectionand suppression of forest fires and 4ie conservation of wildlife and natural resources.

In addition to governmental entities, forestry conservationradio facilities are operated by individuals and private organi-zations responsible for protecting large timber tracts, Thesefacilities now are used in game law enforcement, protection offorests from insects and disease, reforestation, flood anderosion control, as well as fire protection.

Basically, forestry conservation radiocommunicationsystems are amilar to police and fire radio networks. Theyconsist of a land station at a fixed location, mobile units attachedto trucks, and pack units carried by foresters or game wardens.In addition, stations can be set up in lookout towers during firehazard seasons.

The Highway Maintenance Radio Service provides communi-cation primarily between base stations and mobile units, andbetween the latter. Base stations also communicate with eachother but usually only on a secondary basis; i.e., noninterferenceto mobile communications,.

Highway maintenance communication is employed tocoordinate activities at, or speed units to, the scene of snow-ladenroads, landslides, road blocks, and similar emergency situations.It also permits highway departments to maintain instantaneouscontact with road crews during floods and other natural disastersand highway construction projects.

Special Emergency RadioService authorizations are issuedto hospitals, ambulance or rescue squad operations; medicalschools and doctors, including veterinarians; disaster relieforganizatiOns, such as the Red Cross; school buses, beachlife-saving patrols; and the service is used for emergencycommunication in isolated areas, and communications commoncarrier stand-by facilities.

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SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVICE - 11

The telephone and telegraph companies usethis service in emergencies involving breaks inwirelines. Such situations are met by rushingtrailers equipped with portable radio units to thescene and maintaining communication betweeneach end of the break until repairs are made.

The State Guard Radio Service handlesemergency communications relating to publicsafety and the protection of life and propertyand, secondarily, those essential for trainingand organization maintenance. Low-powerportable or mobile units together with higher-powered base stations are used for thispurpose.

The State Guard is not to be confused withthe National Guard, which uses Federal military

. radio facilities. When the National Guard iscalled into Federal service, the State Guardconstitutes the only military securj.ty force leftto the particular state.

The purpose of this service is to provide DISASTERessential communication in connection with COMMUNICATIONSdisasters or other incidents which involve SERVICEloss of communication facilities normally.available or which require temporary communi-cation facilities. This covers occurrenceswhich involve the health or safety of a communityor a larger area. Examples are floods, earth-quakes, hurricanes, and even armed attack.

Government and other stations areeligible. Thus, any fixed, land or mobile stationcan qualify; also amateurs and commercialoperators. Authorization, however, is on thebasis of participation in a recognized local,regional or national disaster communicationsplan.

The industrial radio group embraces power, INDUSTRIALpetroleum, forest products, business, manufact- RADIOurers, special industrial, relay press, motion SERVICESpicture, industrial radiolocation and telephonemaintenance.

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These 'privately operated radiocommunication systemsrepresent a now tool in the national economy. Savings aremade in time spent by employees on certain projects and inthe ability to summon assistance to trouble spots before theybecome serious. But not to be overlooked are the radicalchanges in operating procedure which are brought about bythe utilization of radiocommunication. For example, aradiocommunication system eliminates the need for holdinga fleet of repair trucks at base for emergency use.. Withradio, trucks can be dispatched on routine assignments,and in the event of an emergency they can be rerouted tothe 'scene more rapidly than otherwise possible.

The following paragraphs outline the individualIndustrial Radio Services:

The Power Radio Service provides facilities for electric,gas, water .and steam public utilities for the dispatch of mobileunits to restore services interrupted by fire, storm, floodand accident, although.the principal volume of messages concernroutine maintenance activities.

The Petroleum Radio Service is available to the petroleumand natural gas industries, with the exception of retaildistributors. It is also used in prospecting for oil; drilling for,producing, collecting or refining oil and,gas; and for transportingthese fuels and their by-products through pipelines from storagelocations to distribution points.

The Forest Products Radio Service furnishes timber andlogging companies with radiocommunication facilities similarto those employed by government entities to prevent, reportand suppress fires. They likewise serve in the interest ofsafer and more efficient and economical logging and free-farming operations.

The Business Radio Service is open to persons engagedin any lawful commercial'activity which would be benefitedby radio adjuncts. Included are educational, philanthropicand religious institutions, clergymen, hospitals, medicalassociations and clinics.

The IVIanufac'.trers Radio Service provides for the useof radio by manufacturers for communication to aid inproduction as well as the safeguarding and handling of materialsat their plants.

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The Special Industrial Radio Service enablesradio usage by persons regularly engaged in farming,heavy construction (such as the building of bridgesand highways), mining and certain other specializedactivities essential to industrial operations orpublic health. These facilities are utilized in the ,

delivery of fuel oil, butane gas, .ready-mix concrete, etc.

The Relay Press Radio Service is employed bynewspaper and press associations for quick Contact withreporters and photographers in automobiles on newsassignments.

The Motion Picture Radio Service is used by filmproducers to coordinate action and to safeguard lifeand property on outdoor "location. "

The Industrial P.Rdiolocation Service aidscommercial or industrial enterprises in establishing aposition, distance or direction by means of radio-location devices for purposes other than navigation.

The Telephone Maintenance Radio Service isutilized by common carriers for communication inconnection with the construction, repair, maintenanceand efficient operation of their wire and radio telephoneand telegraph systems.

The Land Transportation Radio Servicesprovide radiocommunication for failroad, motorcarrier (passenger bus and cargo trucks),taxicabs and automobile emergency usage.

Railroad Radio Service communication fallsroughly into two general categories -- "train, "for mainline operations including end-to-end(from caboose to engine cab, for example) andpoint-to-train communication (from a waysidestation to a train en route) and "yard and terminal"or "general" operations.

Radio increases railroad efficiency and economy.Yard operation is essentially a local service requiringa communication range generally of less than fivemiles. Terminal operation is also local in nature,although requiring a wider coverage -- as much as 35miles in some instances. Radar is used to controlautomatically various yard operations. Tracksideradio apparatus in mainline operations detect and transmitto the train crew defects in,the running gear of cars.

LANDTRANSPORTATION

RADIOSERVICES

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/".

The 1VIotor Carrier Radio Service is employed byoperators of land motor vehicles engaged in providing acommon- or contract-carrier service for the transportation

L Pa'isengei'sior gOods,for compensation (buses and trucks).Its primary purpose is to furnish contact between terminalsand vehicles operating on the streets or highways, eitherfor carrying passengers or freight, or for certainsupervisory or service activities in that connection. Localpackage delivery services operating as common or contractcarriers are eligible, but motor vehicles used as taxicabs,delivery vehicles, school buses or vehicles utilized forsightseeing or special charter purposes are specificallyexcluded from this service.

The Taxicab Service is used to direct the movementof vehicles; not for communication by passengers. Byreceiving calls by radio from company offices, theefficiency of taxicab operation is considerably enhanced.

The Automobile Emergency Radio Service is usedby automobile associations and garages. Crowded highwaysrequire prompt maintenance and repair service if they are tobe clear. Since one disabled car can produce a trafficjam, its speedy removal is essential. In this task, radiois of material assistance because it permits the rapiddispatch of tow trucks and other service vehicles.

Persons licensed in the Public Safety, Industrial andLand Transportation Radio Services are permitted to engagein cooperative use or sharing of radio facilities on a nonprofit,cost-sharing basis. In the cooperative arrangement, a groupof persons each eligible for a license in the same serviceshare the use of a base station licensed to one of them.

Private Microwave. Users in many of the radio servicesdescribed herein also are eligible for point-to-point operationsin one or more of the operational fixed microwave bands. Theuse of such facilities is available to the Public Safety, Industrial,Land Transportation and Aviation and Marine Services. Typicalsystems include those used by police agencies, petroleumpipelines, turnpikes, railroads, and electric power conipanies.

AMATEUR The Amateur Radio Service is one of the largest radioRADIO services in point of number of licensees and is one of the

SERVICE oldest and most active radio groups. An amateur station maynot be used to transmit or receive messages for hire, or beused in connection with any commercial enterprise.


This service which provides qualified personswith a means of obtaining technical training andexperience in the field of radio has no age limits. Theaverage age of selfrsty1ed "hams" is about 35-40 years.However, teenagers are numerous, -and even seven-year-olds have qualified for the novice license.

Amateur Radio is the chosen hobby of manyphysically handicapped persons and is an appropriateoutlet for an electronic-conscious :fotith to pursue asan engaging and instructive hobby.

Although primarily a personal hobby, amateur,radio has made many contributions to public service byfurnishing emergency communication during hurricanes,floods, fires and other disasters.

An applicant must pass a prescribed code test andtechnical examination before an amateur operator licenseand an amateur station licenbe will be granted. Thereare six classes of amateur Operator licenses representingfive levels of technical qualifications and operatingprivileges. Examinations for most classes are givenin the field by Commission representatives.

An important part of the amateur's public service RADIOis his participation in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency AMATEURService (RACES). This is a service which makes use of CIVILthe amateur, his equipment and portions of his normal EMERGENCfrequency bands in time of war or other national SERVICEemergency.

Although only an amateur may be a station licenseein RACES, certain grades of commercial radio operatorsas well as amateur radio operators may operate suchstations provided that they have been certified by theircivil defense organization. Each RACES plan submittedto the Commission must include the certification of acivil defense radio officer, who must hold a commercialor amateur operator license above a certain grade andbe responsible for the radiocommunication facilitiesfor civil defense use.

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CITIZENS The Citizens Radio Service has become the Commission'sRADIO fastest growing service and is now the largest single radio

SERVICE service administered by the Commission. It is intended foressential personal or business short-range radiocommunication,signaling, and radio control of objects and devices. In additionto private individuals, business firms, organizations and localgovernments can qualify for licenses in this service, althoughunincorporated associations May be issued a Class D stationlicense only upon special showing.

REGULATION

Citizens radio may be employed for communication on farms,ranches, recreation area, etc., and for remote control of suchobjects as garage-door openers, model airplanes, and displaysigns. It cannot be used to broadcast to the public, carry messagesfor charge, engage in radiocommunications as a hobby or diversionor seek. distance communication. Channels have to be shared andusers are not protected from interference.

The rules governing this service provide, among other things,a simplified licensing procedure; three classes of stations (A, Cand D) dependent upon range, power, etc.; also engineering standards,technical specifications, and procedural requirements for obtainingCommission approval of equipment.

Any citizens of the United States 18 years of age or over(12 years for Class C) can apply for a Citizens station license. Theapplication form, when completed, is sent to the Commission'sGettysburg, Pa., office, with the deception of Class A applicationswhich are sent to its Washington office for consideration.

Stations in the Safety and Special Radio Services are, as inthe case of other radio services, basically regulated by the FederalCommunications Commission according to the provisions of theCommunications Act of 1934, as amended, and, technically, bytheir respective covering rules and regulations.

Persons interested in the operating details of a certain serviceare urged to obtain a copy of the rules governing that particularservice. These rules are not distributed by the Commission but aresold by the Superintendent of Documents, Governnient PrintingOffice, Washington, D. C. 20402. Rules affecting the Safety andSpecial Radio Services are grouped in volumes as follows:

Volume IV (price $9.50) contains Part 81concerning "Stations on Land in the MaritimeServices and Alaska-Public Fixed Stations, "and Part 83, "Stations on 3hipboard in the .

Maritime Services. "

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Volume V (price $18.20) includes Part 87,"Aviation Services;" Part 89, "Public SafetyRadio Services;" Part 91, "Industrial RadioServices," and Part 93, "Land TransportationRadio Services."

Volume VI (price $5.35). embraces Part 95"Citizens Radio Service," Part 97, "AmateurRadio Service, ." and Part 99, "DisasterCommunications Service. "

These volumes are available from the Superintendentof Documents on a subscription basis which includes thebasic volume plus the mailing by that agency, for anindefinite period, or Subsequent amendments to the volumes

. purchased. 'All orders should be sent to the Superintendentof Documents (not to or through the FCC). Individual ruleparts or amendments are not sold separately, nor canthey be Supplied by the Commission.

Radio stations must coMply with the terms of theirauthorizatlons regarding frequency tolerance, powerlimitations, permissible communications, call signals,etc. Willful or repeated violations may result in aforfeiture, revocation of license or even criminalprosecution.

In general, call signals are assigned in an orderdetermined by blocks of calls made available for th,t purpose.Thus a station may have a call ranging form .three lettersand one digit (aeronautical land) to three letters and fourdigits (ship telephone). Amateur calls are more complicatedsince they include a digit to identify the 'regional locationof the station.

The Commission's field engineering staff inspects radiostations, investigates interference complaints, monitorstransmissions for compliance with the rules and regulations,and examines operators for the various classes of licenses.Complaints of illegal operation, unlawful interception ofcalls, etc. , also are investigated by the field fol.ce.Unauthorized radio transmission is prohibited.

Any citizen or national of the United States iseligible for a license if his proposed operation is ofa type permitted under the rules of the Commission.

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HOW TOAPPLY FORA LICENSE

SAFETY AND SPECIAL RADIO SERVI.CES - 18

The first step in seeking to operate a station in theSafety and SpeCial Radio Services is to obtain a copy ofthe Commission's rules governing the particular servicein which interested (see previous reference to rule parts).A properly completed application for a license may thenbe filed, as appropriate, with the Commission's officesin Washington, D. C. (ZIP Code 20554) or in Gettysburg,Pa., (17325). Each application must be specific andcomplete. It should contain, among other things, informationabout the station location, proposed equipment, power,antenna height and operating frequency. A filing fee isrequired when applying for most of the services. Theamount of this fee, and any exceptions, may be found inPart 1 of the rules.

In most Safety and Special Radio Services the normallicense period is five years. Further application proceduremust be followed in order to obtain a renewal of license.There are also forms for requesting additional time toconstruct a station, to modify an authorization, and to assignor transfer control of a station.

Application forms are available from any of theCommission's field offices, or by addressing the Secretary,Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D. C. ,20554. The Commission maintains district field offices inBoston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk,Atlanta, Savannah, Miami, Tampa, New Orleans, Mobile,Houston, Beaumont (Texas), Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego,San Pedro, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon) Seattle,Denver, St. Paul, Kansas City (Missouri), Chicago, Detroit,Buffalo, Honolulu (Hawaii), San Juan (Puerto Rico),Anchorage (Alaska), and Washington, D. C.

Applications, and ail related correspondence, shouldbe addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and mailedto Washington, D. C., or Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, asappropriate. Exceptions are applications for amateur andcommercial radio operators, which can be made to the.area field office, and applications for Public Fixed Stationsand land stations Of the Maritime Service in Alaska whichshould be made to the District Office at Seattle, Washington.

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