§ 74.21   Broadcasting emergency information.

   (a)  In  an  emergency where normal communication facilities have been
   disrupted or destroyed by storms, floods or other disasters, the stations
   licensed under this part may be operated for the purpose of transmitting
   essential communications intended to alleviate distress, dispatch aid,
   assist in rescue operations, maintain order, or otherwise promote the safety
   of life and property. In the course of such operation, a station of any
   class may communicate with stations of other classes and in other services.
   However,  such  operation  shall be conducted only on the frequency or
   frequencies for which the station is licensed and the used power shall not
   exceed the maximum authorized in the station license. When such operation
   involves the use of frequencies shared with other stations, licensees are
   expected to cooperate fully to avoid unnecessary or disruptive interference.

   (b) Whenever such operation involves communications of a nature other than
   those for which the station is licensed to perform, the licensee shall, at
   the earliest practicable time, notify the FCC in Washington, DC of the
   nature of the emergency and the use to which the station is being put and
   shall subsequently notify the same offices when the emergency operation has
   been terminated.

   (c)  Emergency operation undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this
   section shall be discontinued as soon as substantially normal communications
   facilities  have  been  restored. The Commission may at any time order
   discontinuance of such operation.

   (Secs. 4, 5, 303, 48 Stat., as amended, 1066, 1068, 1082 (47 U.S.C. 154,
   155, 303))

   [ 28 FR 13706 , Dec. 14, 1963, as amended at  37 FR 25843 , Dec. 5, 1972;  44 FR 65765 , Nov. 15, 1979;  47 FR 40175 , Sept. 13, 1982]

   return arrow Back to Top