Auxiliary Communication Service Overview

The Pennsylvania Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS) Program provides for government use of emergency communications specialists from the above organizations.  Additionally, program provides the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) with a primary redundant emergency communications unit that also serves to set an example of how the unit can serve government.

Part 97.407 of the FCC rules provides for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).  RACES is a special phase of amateur radio recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  RACES programs are sponsored by state and local emergency management agencies and provide amateur radio communications for civil preparedness purposes and for local, regional, or national civil emergencies.  These types of emergencies are not limited to wartime, but can be incorporated into “all hazards” communications planning with special emphasis on natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes, which historically are common practice for utilization of this service.

The ACS program is based on and includes the RACES, but broadens the scope to include the use of non-amateur radio volunteers and beyond only utilizing them during emergencies.  National Priorities emphasize the need to coordinate resources regionally.  The Pennsylvania ACS Program will provide the mechanism to target the coordination of these particular disaster response organizations and their resources on a statewide basis.

The ACS is an umbrella program that includes the above organizations and groups for coordination and planning purposes.  Moving to an ACS model for Pennsylvania will formalize the ongoing attempts at removing the barriers that have existed, in some areas, between RACES and ARES® and other amateur radio groups.  Another important element in the ACS model is removing of the false concept that a volunteer communications reserve is one in which ONLY Amateur Radio Service resources and frequencies are utilized in support of government communications.  While many programs will continue to rely heavily upon Amateur Radio Service resources, those programs that embrace the ACS model will find it much easier to include and incorporate other communications volunteers and resources. 

 
Most public safety communications systems are designed to perform in emergencies at any time of day or night.  These systems generally fulfill the demands placed on them by normal conditions or small emergencies and operate within their system design.  It is when these systems fail, are degraded, or are expected to perform beyond their design that volunteer communications are considered as an alternate means of communicating.

The creation of an Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will result in an emergency communications reserve program that will have both operational and educational components and consist of volunteers who are Duly Enrolled Emergency Management Volunteers at the state and county levels.

These volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds including radio, information technology, telephone, microwave,   satellite, medicine, law and other professional backgrounds.  Personnel may or may not hold FCC licenses; yet the majority are usually Amateur Radio Service licensees from a variety of volunteer emergency communications units.

The Goals and Objectives of the Pennsylvania ACS Program are:

1. Update the Commonwealth RACES Operational Plan, based on the Auxiliary Communications Service model (Completed)

2. Establish a formal in-house unit at PEMA to support State level operations (Completed)

3. Inclusion of auxiliary communications resources in exercises

4. Provide a mechanism and forum for statewide volunteer emergency communications planning

5. Foster regional and inter-organizational collaboration

6. Educating Customers (Emergency Management, First Responders and Citizens) on the ACS program

7. Assist other state agencies and departments in the establishment of their own in-house units, as necessary

8. Encourage the use of the ACS model by local units

9. Develop equipment and training standardization recommendations

10. Develop specialized teams

11. Participate in credentialing/qualification development for ACS volunteers

12. Assist with recruitment efforts

13. Conduct conferences and workshops

Auxiliary Communications Services (ACS) can be viewed from from two definitions or functions.

• Operational - This is the unit/functional level.  The foundation and "authorizing" function is the RACES at the county or state level and consists of the operations performed on behalf or in direct support of government and is under the direct control of the jurisdictions Emergency Managment organization.
• Program Management/Coordination - This is portion of the ACS program that coordinates the planning, training and other aspects between and among the various groups (ACS/RACES, ARES(R), CAP, MARS, REACT, USCGAUX, etc). 

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