Does this ever increasing number of government agencies doing this scare the bejeebers out of anybody. That is, the government buying permanent infrastructure and someday wanting a return on investment, like using it to augment regular communications?
Jim WA0LYK --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Jack Chomley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > At 07:35 PM 1/9/2008, you wrote: > > > > > > >Oregon Governor Allocates $250,000 for Digital Communications Network > > > > > > > >The State of Oregon's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) received > >$250,000 from Governor Ted Kulongoski's Strategic Reserve Fund to > >further develop and enhance a statewide Amateur Radio digital > >communications network, announced ARRL Oregon Section Manager Bonnie > >Altus, AB7ZQ. > > > > > > > >"This network, the Oregon ARES Digital Network > >(<http://ares.csepp.net/d3web/OADN.pdf>OADN), > >http://ares.csepp.net/d3web/OADN.pdf already uses a combination of > >different radio equipment and spectrum segments, computers and the > >Internet to provide a robust backup communications system in times > >of disaster. With its enhancements, all Oregon counties will be able > >to communicate with the state OEM," she said. "In December, this > >system proved its usefulness in the storms and floods by utilizing > ><http://www.winlink.org/>Winlink http://www.winlink.org/ stations in > >Lincoln and Clatsop Counties to communicate with OEM. Early in that > >activation, the OEM's Amateur Radio Unit found they were not able to > >keep up with maintaining a complete log of communications when using > >voice communications, but Winlink activities maintained an automatic > >log for them." > > > > > > > >According to Altus, the primary purpose of the OADN is to provide > >back-up digital communications capabilities between county Emergency > >Operations Centers and Oregon Emergency Management and other state > >agencies in Salem, in the event that normal communications systems > >fail in an emergency. > > > > > > > >During the December storms, Amateur Radio operators were there to > >help. After a visit to one of the severely affected towns, Governor > >Kulongoski said, "I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the > >very beginning of this...the ham radio operators. These people just > >came in and actually provided a tremendous communication link to > >us." Oregon's OEM said the radio operators were "tireless in their > >efforts to keep the systems connected. When even state police had > >difficulty reaching some of their own troops, ham radio worked, > >setting up networks so emergency officials could communicate and > >relaying lists of supplies needed in stricken areas." > > > > > > > >Through an Intergovernmental Agreement between the individual county > >Emergency Mangers and Oregon's Office of Emergency Management, > >ARES/RACES groups in each county will be responsible for > >installation, maintenance and operation the network. > > > Mmmmm........looks like enough money to "buy" some dedicated > commercial frequencies, to move WinLink off the Ham bands :-) > > 73s > > Jack VK4JRC >
