U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

89–010 

" ! SENATE 

111TH CONGRESS

1st Session 

REPORT

2009

111–105 

Calendar No. 224 

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY 

COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENT 

ACT OF 2009 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

TO ACCOMPANY

S. 1755 

TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO 

UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 

DECEMBER 10, 2009.—Ordered to be printed 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTSE:\Seals\Congress.#13
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 

JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut, Chairman 

CARL LEVIN, Michigan 

DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware 

MARK L. PRYOR, Arkansas 

MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana 

CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri 

JON TESTER, Montana 

ROLAND W. BURRIS, Illinois 

PAUL G. KIRK, JR., Massachusetts 

SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine 

TOM COBURN, Oklahoma 

JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona 

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina 

ROBERT F. BENNETT, Utah 

MICHAEL L. ALEXANDER, Staff Director 

KEVIN J. LANDY, Chief Counsel 

SEAMUS A. HUGHES, Professional Staff Member 

BRANDON L. MILHORN, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

ADAM J. KILLIAN, Minority Professional Staff Member 

TRINA DRIESSNACK TYRER, Chief Clerk 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTS
Calendar No. 224 

111th Congress SENATE REPORT " ! 1st Session 111–105 

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 

ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009 

DECEMBER 10, 2009.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. LIEBERMAN, from the Committee on Homeland Security and 

Governmental Affairs, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1755] 

The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 

to which was referred the bill (S. 1755) to direct the Department 

of Homeland Security to undertake a study on emergency communications, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 

without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose and Summary .................................................................................. 1 

II. Background and Need for the Legislation ................................................... 1 

III. Legislative History ......................................................................................... 2 

IV. Section-by-Section Analysis .......................................................................... 2 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 3 

VI. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ................................................ 3 

I. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

S. 1755 seeks to determine how to harness the ability of the hundreds of thousands of American amateur radio operators who comprise the Amateur Radio Service to offer organized and orderly 

help to the government in times of emergency. It does so by directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to study, write a report on, 

and make recommendations with respect to the uses and capabilities of the Amateur Radio Service. 

II. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

Nearly 700,000 U.S. residents have licenses to operate amateur 

radios. Anyone seeking to use amateur radios in the United States 

must receive a license to do so from the Federal Communications 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTS
2 

Commission; licensees thereby become part of the Amateur Radio 

Service. These operators play a vital role in communications during 

natural disasters and other emergencies when traditional phone 

lines may not function and cell phone services and other devices 

become overwhelmed. Volunteer radio operators provided these 

services during hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Hugo, and Andrew, during the relief effort at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 

following the 2001 terrorist attacks, and during the Oklahoma City 

bombing in April 1995. These services provided invaluable assistance on these and other occasions. The study commissioned by this 

bill will serve to further examine the utility of strengthening and 

expanding the capabilities of these operators for future emergencies. 

III. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On October 6, 2009, Senators Joseph Lieberman and Susan Collins introduced S. 1755, which was referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The Committee favorably reported the bill by a voice vote on November 4, 2009. 

Members present for the vote on the bill were Senators Lieberman, 

Levin, Akaka, Carper, Pryor, Landrieu, Burris, Collins, and Bennett. 

IV. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 designates the name of the act as the ‘‘Amateur Radio 

Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009.’’ 

Section 2. Findings 

Section 2 states Congress’ findings regarding the value of services provided by amateur radio service operators. 

Section 3. Study of enhanced uses of amateur radio in emergency 

and disaster relief communication and for relief of restrictions 

Subsection (a) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

undertake a study examining the uses and capabilities of Amateur 

Radio Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief 

and submit a report to Congress on the findings of the study within 

180 days of enactment of this act. 

Subsection (b) provides that the study shall include a review of 

the extent to which amateur radio emergency communications can 

support homeland security missions relating to disasters, severe 

weather, and other threats to lives and property in the United 

States. The report must also provide recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of amateur radio licensees in 

relief efforts and improved integration of amateur radio operators 

in planning and furtherance of homeland security initiatives. The 

recommendations should also identify impediments to Amateur 

Radio Service communications and make recommendations regarding such impediments for consideration by other Federal departments, agencies, and Congress. 

Subsection (c) requires the Secretary to utilize the expertise of 

stakeholder entities and organizations for the purposes of conducting this study. 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTS
3 

V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of 

the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has considered 

the regulatory impact of this bill. The Congressional Budget Office 

states that the bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 

would not effect state, local, and tribal governments. The enactment of this legislation will not have significant regulatory impact. 

VI. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

NOVEMBER 6, 2009. 

Hon. JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, 

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1755, the Amateur Radio 

Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel Hoople. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 

S. 1755—Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement 

Act of 2009 

CBO estimates that implementing S. 1755 would have no significant cost over the next five years. Enacting this legislation would 

not affect direct spending or revenues. 

S. 1755 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The bill would direct the Department of Homeland Security to 

conduct a study on the uses and capabilities of the Amateur Radio 

Service during and after a disaster or emergency. The study would 

be completed within 180 days of enactment of this legislation. 

Based on the costs of similar studies, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1755 would cost less than $500,000, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 

The Amateur Radio Service is a voluntary organization made up 

of qualified people with a nonmonetary interest in radio. Amateur 

radio operators are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission based on skill and knowledge. Licensed operators may use 

a number of small, shared frequency bands to communicate 

through voice, teleprinting, telegraphy, facsimile, and television. 

During emergencies, amateur radio operators provide alerts and 

other communications in place of and in tandem with federal, state, 

and local government agencies and private relief organizations, 

such as the American Red Cross. 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTS
4 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Daniel Hoople. This 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

fi 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REPORTS