NEWINGTON, CT (August 3, 2016): At their July 2016 meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors made changes concerning the management and governance of its National Traffic System program. In response, some NTS participants are proposing to form a new organization. The stated purpose of this organization is to engage in current NTS activity, independent of ARRL. This action comes, in part, as a reaction to ARRL’s announcement regarding the creation of an enhanced emergency communications plan, scheduled for implementation later this year. The ARRL plan will address the role of programs like NTS, which can provide important capabilities to ARRL partner agencies such as FEMA (Federal Emergency management Agency), the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others.

The League believes that the existing ARRL NTS program will rise to meet these new, demanding requirements; NTS resources are already well-established networks with a long history of reliable operation. We encourage all NTS participants to be involved in current National Traffic System activities by continuing their existing assignments and duties. However, if NTS members wish to explore alternative programs like the one recently proposed, we do not wish to discourage that exploration.

It is the mission of the American Radio Relay League to support all activities that advance the art, science, and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. ARRL encourages any activity that strengthens the national emergency communications infrastructure, provides network redundancy, and refines and maintains the critical skills of radio amateurs who daily serve their communities with communications training activities and responses to local and regional emergencies.