Quote:
Originally Posted by dbussone
I am with TV CERT. We use radios in many of our operations. As a subset of The Villages Public Safety Department I believe our radio use falls under their authority. We routinely hold classes regarding the proper use of radios for anyone in the command structure of our 350 member organization. In addition numerous members of TV are also members of TV Amateur Radio Club. In September another 30 or so of us will start a course so we can become licensed so we can also operate on ham radio channels.
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Your radio use under The Villages PSD is lawful only if you are using radios on the designated Public Safety portion of the radio spectrum. Anyone using a radio that operates in the Amateur Radio (ham) portion of the spectrum must have a federal ham license or the radio must be under the physical oversight of a licensed ham.
If you are using radios issued by the PSD then they are probably in PS frequencies.
Here in Tampa the CERT units are more likely to be using ham radios because of the extensive ham network directly connected with the County Emergency Operations Center under the national ARES (program of the American Radio Relay League) and RACES (governmental sponsored) programs. The CERT members also generally own their own radios. Use is not limited to the Command Structure. Every member is encouraged to have a radio.
In any event, you are to be commended for participating in a program that will be a service to your neighbors in the event of an emergency.