RSOC Takes on SHARES Mission for Alaska State EOC
The government’s SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio program provides an additional means for users with a national security and emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. SHARES members use existing HF radio resources to coordinate and transmit messages needed to perform critical functions, including those areas related to leadership, safety, maintenance of law and order, finance, and public health.
The SHARES HF Radio Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), provides an additional means for users with a national security or emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. The Alaska State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is one of these entities. Unfortunately, at the present time, the SEOC has no real ability to participate directly on SHARES HF.
About a month ago the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club (AARC) worked with the SEOC to establish a means to provide them SHARES HF Radio Program access. Since the Radio Science and Operations Center (RSOC) is well-equipped with necessary HF resources (radios, antennas, staff, and connectivity to the SEOC), the AARC / RSOC was provided with a SHARES authorization in direct support the SEOC.
Under the SHARES program, various HF nets operate on a weekly basis that SHARES members participate in. Since acquiring the SHARES authorization, the RSOC has successfully and consistently participated in these nets. Further, we have been advised that we are the only SHARES entity in Alaska that is an active participant.
SHARES operations from the RSOC provide the Alaska State EOC with viable and practiced emergency communications resource which complements other services available to them, such as amateur radio and ARES.
The AARC is proud to offer and staff the RSOC in support of this important mission. Our success is in no small part due to the RSOC’s location with a low noise floor and a capable complement of HF antenna systems transceivers.
If you’d like to learn more about the SHARES mission at the RSOC and become a qualified SHARES operator, hands-on training is indeed required. Visit the RSOC on a Working Wednesday (from about 6 pm to 9 pm) or Saturday (from about 10 am to 2 pm), or contact vicepresident@kl7aa.org.
73,
Kent Petty, KL5T
Vice President
