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Quite a find, buried (no pun intended) in technical specifications I don't understand very well.

I'll check more into the "Genesis" program in Frederick, Maryland. The mayor of Frederick was not included in the planning, which was done by a small group apparently from the law enforcement community. When news of the plan "leaked", it did involve using the Frederick Fairgrounds as a decontamination location for victims of nuclear/b/c attack in DC and or Baltimore. The Gettysburg Battlefield was also a designated zone. Some of the leaked plans involved: Using Old Rte 15 between PA and Leesburg area for military vehicles only. Using 270 for civilians teeming out of the cities.

I'll try to translate the best I can.

In the US and the UK there is a new amateur radio band that has been allocated, the first new band in something like 30 years (I think). It operates on frequencies around 5000 kilohertz (your AM radio recieves frequencies from 530 to 1700 kilohertz).

There are a few unique things about this frequency allocation:
1. Every other amateur band has been allocated a frequency range for use (such as 3500 kilohertz to 4000 kilohertz). This band (called the 60 meter band) is allocated for channelized use only, like a CB. There are no other amateur frequency bands like this, and it was a point of contention for some of the grouchier old hams. There are 5 channels on the band (in kilohertz or kHz): 5330.5, 5346.5, 5366.5, 5371.5, 5403.5.
2. The power output is limited to 50 watts. On most other amateur bands in the US, the legal limit is 1500 watts.
3. Communications must be made in a mode called upper sideband. As you might have guessed there is a mode called lower sideband as well. By convention, operation below 10000 kHz when using sideband is done with lower sideband. The reason for bucking the trend in this case is probably to give us hams a way to communicate with the government (as the original author said).
4. It was originaly stated that hams would have secondary access to the band (on most bands we are the primary or the only user), and that the purpose of the band was for effiecient interstate communication in the event of an emergency. I didn't really put 2 and 2 together regarding this band until I read this story.

Anyway, hope this helps. Let me know if you need further clarification. :)

Has anyone in the Philly, Delaware, Maryland or DC area experienced any unusual problems with tractor-trailer deliveries. I know companies in my area who are experiencing problems with deliveries because of lengthy inspections. I was awaiting a furniture delivery yesterday. The North Carolia trucking company called at 8:00 a.m., they were at the I-95 toll plaza in MD and every truck was pulled over and all shipments were being checked.

While I know that there are usual weight/shipment checks done, even the truck driver who travels north every week, found the detail of the check unusual. He even said that they really seemed like they were looking for something. I was the first delivery and they didn't arrive until 2:00 (toll plaza is only about 1 hour from me).