110 HR 2743 IH: Military Affiliate Radio System U.S. House of Representatives 2007-06-15 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2743 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2007 Mr. Bartlett of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for the continuance of volunteer communications capability within the United States and its territories.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Military Affiliate Radio System Emergency Communication Act of 2007.

2.

Protection of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Program (SHARES) Emergency Communications Systems

(a)

Amendment

The first title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 671 of Public Law 109–295; 6 U.S.C. 571 et seq.), relating to emergency communications, is amended— (1)by redesignating section 1808 as section 1809; and (2)by inserting after section 1807 the following new section:

1808.

Protection of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Program (SHARES) Emergency Communications Systems

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to recognize the valuable contribution that the Military Affiliate Radio System (in this section referred to as MARS) makes in providing a worldwide backup emergency communication system, either on their assigned channels or on the National Communication System Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Program (in this section referred to as SHARES), by protecting these existing volunteer high frequency networks. (b)

Requirements

The Secretary— (1)shall require that high frequency (short-wave) transmitters, receivers, and related data and interface equipment that meet standards of service established for the Amateur Radio Service under part 97 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, by the Federal Communications Commission (in this section referred to as the Commission) in the frequency range of 2–30 megahertz are also approved for routine training functions and emergency communication service on any Federal Government MARS or SHARES channel within that frequency range; (2)shall not require the discontinuance of the use of any communications equipment that has been approved by the Commission for operation within the Amateur Radio Service from operating in the radio service bands assigned to MARS or SHARES; (3)may add new transmitters and receivers to the MARS and SHARES networks so long as the equipment— (A)meets Commission standards for operation in the Amateur Radio Service; and (B)is equipped with frequency stabilization modules; (4)shall not add any additional technical requirements for MARS stations, and shall not permit any agency or instrumentality of the Department of Homeland Security to add any additional technical requirements for MARS stations; and (5)shall encourage and utilize MARS personnel, facilities, capabilities, and radio equipment to connect to the Internet in their emergency communication planning.

. (b)

Conforming Amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by striking out the item pertaining to section 1808 and inserting the following: Sec. 1808. Protection of the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and Shared Resources High Frequency Radio Program (SHARES) Emergency Communications Systems. Sec. 1809. Definition. .