(EPIC-FSC), in collaboration with amateur radio operators in Calabasas, is providing amateur radio (HAM) licensing classes.

Saturday, June 22nd – 9 am to 3 pm

Cost: $100 – Location in Calabasas TBD

Detailed information is available here: https://hamclass.goodkin.net

“Even during regional Internet outages,” Goodkin explains, “amateur radio operators can still send and receive messages beyond the affected area.”

Licensed amateur radio operators can use this radio system to communicate with others across a broad area, extending from Calabasas to Malibu and Ventura County. Volunteers test the system weekly to ensure readiness for the next emergency.

In a concerted effort to bolster emergency communication capabilities for residents in Calabasas and neighboring communities, Norm Goodkin, an EPIC-FSC board member, and veteran amateur radio operator, is conducting these licensing classes. This initiative aims to increase the number of trained residents capable of assisting with emergency communications.

Amateur radio proves indispensable when traditional communication channels like phones, the Internet, and cable TV fail. Licensed residents can engage in two-way communications with other volunteers connected to emergency services and city emergency operations centers.

An amateur radio license is valid for ten years and can be renewed without an exam. Beyond local emergency communications, licensed operators can also establish worldwide connections using voice and digital modes through computers, bypassing the Internet. 

“In an actual emergency, there’s no time to locate your radio, check the batteries, and remember the frequencies,” says Goodkin. “During the Woolsey fire, even some licensed operators were unprepared because they hadn’t participated in regular drills.” A license is essential for practice and ensuring functionality during non-emergency times.

Licensed operators have access to powerful transmitters exclusive to amateur radio operators, like the one the city of Calabasas has installed. In collaboration with the City, EPIC-FSC uses this transmitter to disseminate vetted information to residents during emergencies, where other communication methods are unavailable, as part of their Emergency Communications for Home Occupants (ECHO) program. This system is equipped with battery backup and solar panel charging. When the City’s Emergency Operations Center is activated, EPIC-FSC radio operators will be on-site to utilize amateur radio if required.

Residents can use small battery-powered FRS radios to receive these emergency messages when phone and Internet are not available in an emergency event. FRS radio users can engage in two-way communications with other FRS users within a limited range. EPIC-FSC is distributing FRS radios free to Calabasas residents on behalf of the City.