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I couldn't disagree more with your assertions that the FCC will suspend rules in case of an emergency and allow anyone to transmit. Quite the opposite. It likely they will clamp down and demand radio silence except from specifically authorized stations. Radio communications are critical in an emergency. It isn't a resource you allow to be squandered by a cacaphony of unskilled, untrained and unlicensed operators.

Getting a license is VERY easy. Five year olds have done it. The back cover of the Extra Class manual has praise offered by a high school sophomore. There is plenty of time to learn and get a proper license. Please don't encourage people to purchase gear with the intent to break the law when we need the resources most.

I appreciate your insight...In the technician manual "Now you're talking" June 2003, they recommend the same thing that I had mentioned in the earlier message, which is to buy and listen to 2 meter and 70 cm...but they emphasis that it is illegal to transmit without a license (which I thought that I had explained in my earlier message)...I thought that I had also explained that during an emergency, rules change for those who can/can't transmit. These rules are not yet known, but could be anything - what every they are at the time of emergency, they are to be strictly followed. If I didn't say it correctly in my earlier message, I apologize. If you don't agree with my clarification in this message, you may need to get in touch with FCC - stated in section 97. While I agree that it should not become the "Wild West" by any and everyone transmitting, rules can be adjusted when an emergency is involved. This could mean that if there are not enough licensed HAMs to help out in an emergency, that non-license people could step in (deputizing of control operators). But I do stress that whether you have a license or not, in emergency situations, you should NEVER tie up frequencies that are being or could be used for real emergency situation...but I thought I made that clear...sorry