RACES
Emergency Operations Centers have operated under the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) concept for several decades. Conceived during the early days of World War II, the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS) was a civil defense service in the United States from 1942 to 1945. During this time, the government had suspended all amateur radio activity throughout the country.
In 1952, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially established RACES as a part of its regulatory framework and set rules designed to provide a quicker and smoother transition in the event the President ever needed to silence the regular Amateur Radio Service when invoking the War Powers Act of 1941.
Over the years, the nature of emergencies and communication technologies evolved and some limitations of the RACES framework became apparent. While effective in many cases, the reliance solely on amateur radio operators proved insufficient to meet the demands of modern disaster response, which often required broader communication capabilities. The FCC stopped issuing new RACES licenses in 1978; however, some references to the service remain in the current Part 90 rules.
These limitations led to the transition from RACES to a more comprehensive approach, resulting in the development of Auxiliary Communications (AuxComm) by the Department of Homeland Security.
The shift reflects the growing recognition that effective emergency communication requires a multi-faceted approach that can tap into diverse communication resources. During emergencies, the ability to quickly disseminate critical information, coordinate response efforts, and provide situational awareness to both emergency responders and the public is essential. AuxComm empowers emergency communication teams to utilize various tools to achieve these goals, including High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), satellite communications (SATCOM), microwave, Wi-Fi, digital, video, photos, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and other modes.
In essence, the history of RACES highlights the essential role that amateur radio operators have played in emergency communication throughout the years. While the specific framework of RACES has evolved into AuxComm, the commitment and dedication of these operators to public service remains a cornerstone of emergency preparedness and response efforts.