WTVB AM reports on Commissioners discussions concerning the payment of a $4,900 bill for moving amateur radio antennas in Coldwater, Michigan

The Branch County Board of Commissioners decided during their work session on Monday to bring forward a bill for over $4,900 for the moving of a ham radio club antenna as part of the Enhanced 911 Project

But they also decided that if they formally approve the bill during their regular meeting on Tuesday, the money would come out of the 911 budget instead of from the budget for the project.

The antenna was moved to the new jail tower from the Central Dispatch building just west of Coldwater by J and K Communications.

For Manistee County's amateur radio enthusiasts radio communications are more than a hobby — its members also volunteer their services as backup communication in case of a catastrophic event in the area.

But the enthusiasts using a particular radio tower in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan may end up with a new $1,400 fee if a new fee system rule is put in place by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Agency.

Mike Machen, Manistee County emergency manager, reported at the county’s public safety committee meeting this month that the Manistee amateur radio club had received a letter from the U.S. Forest Service about the new possible fee for having communications equipment on a Forest Service tower.

An ARDC grant will enable the group to purchase backup repeaters, improve repeater coverage, and train and outfit new hams

When two Category 5 hurricanes hit the US Virgin Islands in 2017, hams there knew they had to do something. The two monster storms destroyed 95% of St. Croix's electric utility poles, and many antenna towers were down. As a result, the USVI Government's primary land-mobile-radio (LMR) trunked radio system was essentially non-functional, and the National Guard could not be heard on any radio frequency for a week following the storms.

Territory radio clubs immediately went into action. St. Croix ham operators quickly established a daily high-frequency (HF) net for first response agencies. A single surviving ham repeater provided limited communications between islands. These links provided critical information and communications for governmental and non-governmental agencies including FEMA, Department of Defense, Transportation Security Agency, National Park Service, VI National Guard, Red Cross, and local police and fire services.