Dutchess County Emergency Response to Facilitate
Amateur Radio Licensing Class
Poughkeepsie, NY… The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, in partnership with the Mount Beacon and QSY Society Amateur Radio Clubs, will host a two-day Technician Level amateur radio licensing class on Saturday, March 23rd from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, March 24th from 8 a.m. to noon. FCC license exams will be administered at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 24th and are open to all wishing to obtain a license or upgrade their existing license for a $15 FCC exam fee.
Amateur radio or ham radio operators are equipped with the ability to communicate across towns, around the world, or even into space without the use of the internet or a cell phone, proving to be an essential resource during emergencies. For example, amateur radio services kept New York City agencies in touch with each other after their command center was destroyed during the September 11th tragedy. Additionally, ham radio operators provided essential support during significant natural disasters, including a recent deployment to Sonoma County, California to assist with recovery and evacuation efforts following the flooding of the Russian River.
The training and exam will be held at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, located at 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie. The two-day licensing class is open to the public and free to attend; however, pre-registration is required. It is recommended participants obtain the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 4th Edition prior to the first session. To pre-register and to learn more, call William Baker at (845) 235-2048 or email KC2LIX@hvc.rr.com.
To see the Amateur Radio Licensing Class flyer, click here.
