Amber Alert Gets a Boost from Massachusetts Ham Radio Operators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Code Amber contact: Linda Spagnoli 772.971.4816
ljs(at)codeamber.org
KB1HGK contact: Sheree Greenwood, K1SQ
413.436.5341 or cell: 508.963.8269

Amber Alert Gets a Boost from Massachusetts Ham Radio Operators KB1HGK, Radio Operators for Missing Children Partners With Code Amber to Transmit Amber Alerts

Mandeville, LA and Warren, MA - KB1HGK Radio Operators for Missing Children based in Massachusetts has embarked on an awareness campaign to bring the 600,000 + network of ham radio operators on board to assist with the transmission of Amber Alerts. They receive Amber Alert notification from law enforcement and Code Amber and use the resources of local and national radio clubs to further the message. For the past 3 years the club has set up a Special Event Station to contact ham operators. The event raises awareness and educates radio operators to assist with finding missing children. Each operator contacted receives a certificate that pictures missing children, provides links, and other pertinent information. This year's event takes place on Monday, May 31st from 10 am to 4pm EST on board the USS Massachusetts, Battleship Cove, Fall River MA.

KB1HGK spokesperson Sheree Greenwood hopes the initiative expands nationwide. "The FCC is working on clarifying its rules regarding ham radio operators being able to broadcast Amber Alerts. We hope the new wording is in place soon so amateur radio operators feel comfortable about providing this most important link." Currently, except in cases of emergency, ham radio operators must be speaking with another operator and not broadcasting.

Code Amber founder and president, Bryant Harper, acknowledged Greenwood's perseverance. "KB1HGK is responsible for bringing the Maritime Mobile Service Net (www.mmsn.org) on board with Code Amber . MMSN is also utilized by many long haul truckers across the country. They run the Code Amber ticker and are notified instantly of any Amber Alert in North America. Their net control operators then put out the alert every 30 minutes. MMSN's huge antennas and powerful transmitters reach from the equator to the Arctic Circle including Hawaii and Europe. They pick up weak signals from mobile maritime stations (Ham operators on a boat) and transmit everywhere.

About Code Amber: (www.codeamber.org) CodeAmber.org is the largest provider of Amber Alert broadcasting on the Internet. Started in 2002, Code Amber now reaches over 145,000 Websites and computer desktops displaying over one million news tickers daily. Code Amber delivers XML feed to major media, government, and wireless phone services. Based in Mandeville, LA, Code Amber last year expanded to reach Canada as well as all 50 US States. Code Amber works directly with law enforcement and media, and delivers descriptions and photographs to news desks within minutes of an Amber Alert being issued.

About KB1HGK: Radio Operators for Missing Children - KB1HGK was founded in 2001 by three members of the Massachusetts communities of Warren and West Brookfield who were deeply affected by the abduction of Molly Bish on June 27, 2000. Club members work on several important projects related to ham radio and missing children and volunteer their time and support to help implement the Amber Alert Program. For more information please call 413-436-5341 or e-mail kb1hgk@mindspring.com (www.lyceumpress.com/ham_radio.htm)