FCC rules concerning fire department communications.

[rescuer]

Hello,

The fire department I am a member of recently installed a repeater for tactical use. The extended range of the repeater is great and has came in handly numerous times. Our biggest problem however appears to be this: We are licensed as a fire department and the frequencies are listed as public safety. To often, someone gets on the repeater about one thing, and the next thing you know someone else is on, and the conversion is about anything other than fire related.

My question is: I know we are not supposed to use the frequencies for non-fire related activities, however WHERE does it spell it out in the FCC rules saying this? I glanced at Part 90.20A, to no avail. There seems to be 1000's of other pages. Can anyone narrow it down?

I would like to find the FCC rules concerning this so I can post them at the station.

Thanks,

[alex]

I think at this point, you simply need fire department policy on your side. I would have whoever is in charge of Comm's put up a notice regarding the use of the repeater.

I'm sure there are rules out there, but public safety channels get used for all sorts of stuff, and in the end, it's too wide/board for the FCC to enfore unless a public safety agency complains about interfearance (if you search around on the board, there are some stories worth reading).

In the end, unless people are *really* abusing it (read: foul language, interupting calls, etc) then you really need to address this with your dept on a higher level (chief).

I would simply put out a policy about it, and make sure people who have radios sign and agree to it, and if they continue to abuse it, you can then hold that over their head that they were aware of the rules since they signed the paper.

Just some suggestions.

[k2hz]

I would agree with Alex's words of wisdom on how to handle the situation.

But, if you need something specific from the FCC rules look at this definition from 90.07:

" Fire licensee. Any territory, possession, state, city, county, town,

or similar governmental entity, and persons or organizations charged

with specific fire protection activities that operate radio stations for

transmission of communications essential to official fire activities."

Along with 90.20 that says that Fire licensees are authorized to transmit
"communications essential to official fire activities".

If it does not relate to "official fire activities" and/or it is not "essential" it does not belong on the radio.

[KitN1MCC]

i do belive the FCC a few years ago tooke the seperate Police,Fire,Publik wors,Special emergency and put it all the one pool that can be used by any Publik service agency

were i am we have like 10 VHF Pairs and a few simples channels

the police have 3 channels,FD has 3,city yard,Alarms Divions,Emergency management it is almost like a manual Trunk system,

there has been times were the PD with use the City yard channel at nights and weekends as a spar and Visa versa