Is there a similar authorization for transmitting non-third party emergency or disaster relief communications?
A. No. Section 97.117 limits transmissions to a different country to communications incidental to the purposes of the amateur service and to remarks of a personal character. The exception for emergency or disaster relief communications applies only to third party communications. Q. That conjures up the picture of me having to call upon some third party to compose all messages concerning emergency relief transmitted to a station in another country even if I am the one seeking assistance! A. Obviously, this arrangement is the result of international negotiations and it is the best our representatives have been able to obtain. Clearly, the model for this authorization is for humanitarian purposes. It allows for the transmission of vital relief information from a third party expert to a station in a devastated country that has no other means for such intercommunications. Q. Our local police department has purchased some dual-band (144/440) ham radio handheld transceivers. They told me they
