"SPLINTER GROUPS"

Our amateur radio frequencies continue to be coveted (and therefore are at risk) by commercial and other interests. Although Part 97.1 "Basis and Purpose" of the amateur radio service lists "service to the public" and "emergency communications" before the other purposes; only 14% of licensed amateurs indicated public service as one of the reasons they are amateur radio operators.

There is only one national organization that keeps (or attempts to keep) statistical records on public and emergency service activities of amateur radio operators. On the 3rd of every month, Emergency Coordinators submit a monthly report (FSD-212) to their DEC or SEC. On the 10th of each month, the SEC then tallies up the data and submits a report (FSD-96) to ARRL HQ. This data is then compiled, and has often been converted to a "dollar value". This information can then be used to document an estimated value of the "amateur radio resource" to government and other agencies.

Sadly, over the past twenty years, some independent amateur radio "SPLINTER GROUPS" have formed to provide communication service to government agencies or private organizations. They may, or may not, be coordinating with the ARES, and the EC, whose role is to coordinate the amateur radio resource within a particular operational area while at the same time, keeping in view "the total picture"...not just the needs of one agency. Some of these groups appear to be "in competition" with the ARES and/or RACES, and they may be.

In addition to being divisive, these splinter groups usually do not report their activities to their ARES EC. The result is: AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE PERFORMING WORTHWHILE AND VALUABLE PUBLIC SERVICE...AND IT IS NOT GETTING INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL DATA BASE. This, of course, will ultimately hurt everyone; and, may indirectly contribute to the demise of the amateur service.

Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot we can do about groups that choose to "do their own thing". (Except try to educate them and explain the importance of cooperation and statistical reporting.) But, what we CAN do, is MAKE SURE that all ARES activities DO get reported! EXAMPLE: If your ARES team provides pubic service communications for some non-profit, charitable, event...it can be considered a training drill...and you should count this activity in your monthly EC report.