I wonder, was there talk like this back in the 70's when 27MHZ CB was
getting really popular?
The idea of using a unregulated, unlicensed, free for all band as a way to
communicate during emergency situations?
Although, that said, 11M was indeed regulated and licensed back then.

Does anyone remember weather there was a big to do about making CB the next
line for emergency communications in america back then?
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Russ Kiehne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 9:37 AM
Subject: How to communicate when disaster strikes


> How to communicate when disaster strikes
> Networks offer breakthroughs in affordable emergency radio
> Posted: November 21, 2006
> 1:00 a.m. Eastern
> By Joseph Farah
> © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
> WASHINGTON - What happens when the television signal goes dark, when the
> electrical
> grid fails, when regular and cellular phone service won't work and even
the
> Internet
> is not accessible?
> Communication is one of the critical components of disaster-planning
> scenarios, as
> anyone who watches the hit CBS series "Jericho," about the isolation of a
> small Kansas
> town after a nuclear attack, can tell you.
> 'Jericho' on CBS depicts how Americans deal with aftermath of nuclear
> detonation
> Apparently, they never heard of Family Radio Service in the town of
Jericho.
> Family Radio Service is a very low power, short-range UHF citizens band in
> the 460
> MHz band that some civil-defense activists believe offers great promise in
> worst-case
> communications disaster scenarios.
> The hand-held two-way radios sell for as little as $20 and a rapidly
> developing
> National SOS Radio Network
>  is aiming to plug in approximately 100 million U.S. users with direct
> communication
> with about 700,000 ham operators.
> (Story continues below)
> It's the brainchild of Eric Knight, a ham radio veteran of 32 years. He
says
> training
> is essential to the success of the program and statewide and nationwide
> drills are
> being prepared to help bring the network to life.
> The
> DC Emergency Radio Network
>  is an example of what could be in place soon for much of the nation. If
> there's
> a power, telephone, cell-phone or Internet failure, the DC Emergency Radio
> Network
> can keep Washington-area residents in touch with neighbors, family and
> official announcements.
> DC Emergency Radio Network uses Family Radio Service and General Mobile
> Radio Service,
> or GMRS, radios on channel 1, no privacy channel (subchannel 0).
> Many people in the Washington area already have FRS and GMRS radios. They
> are the
> same small handheld walkie-talkie radios that people use to keep in touch
at
> parks
> and on ski slopes. They're sold at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Staples and
> elsewhere.
> FRS radios are license-free and have a range of 1/4 to 1 mile; GMRS radios
> have a
> range of 5 to 10 miles.
> "If normal modes of communication go down or become unreliable - because
of
> a terrorist
> attack, power outage, cell-phone network congestion, storm or other
> problem - the
> DC Emergency Radio Network is a pre-planned way of communicating and
> relaying vital
> information," explains the cooperative.
> Earlier this year, the
> Midland Radio Corporation,
> REACT International,
>  the DC Emergency Radio Network, and NationalSOS.com jointly announced
their
> support
> for the National SOS Radio Network - a free communications network based
on
> the estimated
> 100 million FRS-compatible radios already in the hands of the public, a
> number growing
> by up to 12 million radios per year.
> Born in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, organizers recognized that a
> major contributing
> factor to the tragic loss of life was the near total breakdown of
> communication systems.
> Once electricity, telephone, and cell-phone services failed, people were
> unable to
> let rescuers know of their dire situation - and died as a result.
> The National SOS Radio Network doesn't require new laws or any new
> legislation, organizers
> say. It could be effective immediately. Once the ham and GMRS radio
> communities are
> made aware to listen for the public's emergency FRS broadcasts, the
national
> network
> will be up and running.
> "We are honored to be teaming up with three fantastic organizations in the
> field
> of communications," Knight said. "Midland Radio is a long-time pioneer in
> innovative
> radio technology. REACT International, Inc. has been at the forefront of
an
> all-citizen
> emergency communications network for nearly 50 years and introduced FRS
> radio as
> an important public communications tool in 2000. And the DC Emergency
Radio
> Network
> is a brilliant example of using FRS radios to connect people and
> neighborhoods in
> an emergency."
> Bill Adler, the founder of the DC Emergency Radio Network, DCERN, said he
> wants to
> see every household in America with an FRS or GMRS radio.
> "As we've learned from 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other disasters,
without
> communications
> nothing else operates effectively," Adler said. "I envision a national
> network of
> ordinary Americans with FRS and GMRS radios who can relay information in
an
> emergency.
> When a natural or manmade disaster strikes, the only good communications
> system is
> one that will actually work. The idea behind this new emergency network is
> to have
> a simple, reliable communications system that doesn't depend on
electricity
> or standing
> cell-phone towers - and that anyone of any age can use."
> In addition to these private efforts to equip Americans with the
> communications devices
> they need for civil defense emergencies, the Department of Homeland
Security
> also
> recently moved to spend $5 million to supply all 97,000 public schools
with
> hazard-warning
> radios activated with a broadcast signal. Originally conceived to deliver
> weather
> warnings, the system now covers all hazards, including terrorism and
> abducted children.