EMC080 ACS and the RACES
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services  

EMC080  ACS and the RACES    For release 5/19/97

This series, 080-085, is in answer to questions received. There
is no criticism intended; but it is a reminder of how mindset
can affect our use of Amateur Radio for emergency communications.

Question: "Is the ACS, Auxiliary Communications Service, a way to
counteract the FCC restrictions placed on Amateurs operating in
support of government solely under RACES?"

Answer: No, that was not the purpose of creating the ACS. The ACS
came into existence when it was realized that 
   (a) 1990's government needed a broader service than people who
limited their service to being operators on Amateur Radio; and 
   (b) the word 'RACES' was often seen as a "l950's Civil Defense 
tin hat and bucket-of-sand" service in many places. The result was 
an image or mental idea that created problems (like discontinuance of
a unit because there was no understanding of how to use it in the
mid-l990's.) In other places the RACES was alive and well with
a very positive image; but, unfortunately, there were enough of the
opposite to suggest that a name change would help.

Originally, the name selected was Auxiliary Radio Service. It seemed
appropriate as the unit included CAP (Civil Air Patrol) and MARS
(Military Affiliate Radio Service) personnel as well as Amateur Radio
Licensees. During subsequent emergencies, however, when support was
requested for non-radio communications services such as computer, fax
and phone systems, it was obvious that government needed a broad-based
emergency communications support unit, not just radio, nor Amateur
Radio. Following that, the name was changed to the ACS, Auxiliary
Communications Service.
 
The RACES, while limited to the use of Amateur Radio in the FCC
sense, is a part of the ACS. However, the ACS is more than Amateur
Radio, for it can include the services noted above and others as well
(REACT and SKYWARN are two examples.) On the other hand, an ACS can
limit its participation to the RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service) if that is best for the local situation.
 
It is important to note that the ACS is a government's emergency
management activity and program. It is not a condition. The RACES, 
on the other hand, can be only a condition, or an on-going program
that is similar to, but not as broad and inclusive as, the ACS.

(Topic continues, next weeks bulletin)
                                ---
ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov (do NOT add www. before acs)
FTP archive:ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming for new
bulletins and ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/races for earlier bulletins
EOM EMC080