Most public safety communications systems are designed to perform in emergencies at any time of day or night. These systems generally fulfill the demands placed on them by normal conditions or small emergencies and operate within their system design. It is when these systems are expected to perform beyond their design that volunteer communications are considered as an alternate means of communicating. Amateur radio operators have the ability to communicate with their own dedicated spectrum and operate comme
In Part 97.1, the Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) rules and regulations are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following:
(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.