
SB RAC @ CANADA < VA3RAC $RAC_9405.09
RAC SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN INTERNET EDITION - 9 MAY 1994
Issued at RAC Administrative Office
P.O. Box 356
Kingston, ON, K7L 4W2
Editor:                       Cam Inglis <INGLISC@GTM-INC.COM>
Internet Editor/Transmission: Steve Cutway VE3GRS <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA>

                                   CANATEX 2

      Industry Canada's Telecommunications Controller, Joe MacPherson, has
requested that RAC put out the following as a Special News Bulletin.  The
cooperation of all Canadian Amateurs is appreciated.  Packet BBS SysOps are
asked to pay particular attention.

      As many amateurs will already know, a major NATIONAL LEVEL exercise
called CANATEX 2 is under way.  The exercise began on May 2nd and will end on
May 13th, 1994.  The exercise is based upon a catastrophic earthquake scenario
in the area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.  Involved in the
exercise are many municipal governments in BC, the governments of British
Columbia and Alberta and the Federal government.  In addition, several other
non-government agencies, such as the Canadian Red Cross, are involved.

      As part of the tests of telecommunications, which are organized and
controlled by Industry Canada (Telecommunications), amateur radio operators
are being asked to transmit realistic messages to and from various locations
across Canada.  While these messages may seem to be COMMERCIAL in nature, they
are, in fact, part of the exercise.

      Section 51. of the General Radio Regulations, Part II reads as follows:

            "In a real or simulated emergency, the operator of an
            amateur station may communicate any message that
            relates to the real or simulated emergency on behalf
            of any person, government or relief organization".

      An unfortunate incident occurred recently whereby an amateur radio
operator refused to relay one of these messages on the basis that the content
was COMMERCIAL in nature.  It would seem that the operator in question was not
familiar with the General Radio Regulations.

      Since every effort is being made during CANATEX 2 to demonstrate the
value of AMATEUR RADIO in disaster situations, it would be appreciated if the
operators who are involved in the relay of these messages are given the
support and cooperation of the rest of the amateur population.

73 de VA3RAC Steve VE3GRS at the keyboard <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA>

Steve Cutway VE3GRS Information Access Specialist (Non-Visual Technologies)
Computing and Communications Services
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
PHONE: (613) 545-6354         EMAIL: <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
