Communications Daily: Amateur Radio Operators Get Temporary Waiver for Hurricane Communications

Communications Daily reports on a digital transmission waiver that has been given to amateur radio operators using PACTOR 3 and 4 for hurricane relief.

The FCC Wireless Bureau approved an American Radio Relay League request for a 30-day waiver to permit amateur data transmissions at a higher symbol rate than permitted under commission rules so amateur operators can assist in hurricane relief. “Hurricane Laura has the potential to cause massive destruction states along the Gulf of Mexico, and communications services will likely be disrupted,” the bureau said in a Thursday order: “The waiver is limited to amateur radio operators in the continental United States using PACTOR 3 and PACTOR 4 emissions who are directly involved with [high-frequency] hurricane relief communications.”