National "Save Our Service" Media Watch NationalSOS.com, REACT, and Midland shotgunned this news release across the Internet in an apparent attempt to create the illusion it had universal appeal and approval or to describe it another way, f you read it in enough places it must be true right? Only one telecommunications news source we have found has started digging on this story and that is MRT Magazine. MRT discovered that the ARRL is so far unaware of the proposal. The Personal Radio Association believes this proposal could have potentially grave consequences for the general public as currently envisioned. These links will take you to various places on the Internet dealing with the issue. Links found on GOOGLE. Midland Corp. is now on the bandwagon having released their own press release on PRWEB in support of NationalSOS. We have a call into the responsible marketing manager. We've been told he's on vacation until May 17, 2006. PRWEB: May 7, 2006: All Glitter, No Substance NationalSOS.com Plan is Dangerous (PRA Press Release) Mysteriously, NationalSOS and REACT left the ARRL out of the loop as well as the PRA! Mobile Radio Technology- Bulletin, "WAVELENGTHS" a column by Glen Bischoff 5/5/06 http://www.mrtmag.com: "On the surface, the idea has some merit. According to National SOS, about 100 million FRS-compatible radios already are in the hands of the public nationwide, a figure that's expected to grow by about 12 million radios each year. The idea is that users could transmit Mayday messages that would be received by ham operators and GMRS users monitoring FRS Channel 1. Given that there are about 700,000 licensed hams in the U.S. -- who already provide invaluable lifeline communications during crises -- and another 70,000 licensed GMRS users, it seems the infrastructure is in place to make the proposal a reality. " "However, there are a few problems that need to be addressed before the National SOS Radio Network comes to fruition -- chief among them is that the national organization that represents amateur radio operators seemingly is unaware of the initiative. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner told me that my call to him seeking comment was the first he'd heard of it. "ARRL is a big organization -- we have 148,000 members -- so I can't swear the conversation hasn't occurred somewhere, but it's not anything I'm aware of," Sumner said." Original MRTMAG Story by Donny Jackson Market-Wire: National SOS Press Release Interest Alert: National SOS Press Release EHAM.NET: National SOS Ready to Start October 2005 EHAM.NET: New Public Emergency Communications Network May 5, 2006 EHAM.NET: Monitoring FRS Channel 1 Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club DCERN: The DC Emergency Radio Network DCERN: Cool national SOS wallet card. This is essential I suppose. Govtech.net: Same press Release! No challenge. Comments by PRA left. PRIMEX Internet Group in the UK. Release appeared there. EINEWS.COM Release appeared there. There are many more locations if you search for them. EMCOM: A private consulting firm is in this effort now. SouthGate ARC: Ran the PRA Press Release |
| Personal Radio Association/May 14, 2006 |