WMDRA Operational Policies

The Weston Mountain Digital Radio Association maintains and operates a system of high-quality, wide area coverage repeaters for the use and enjoyment of all licensed Amateur Radio, and GMRS operators. Operation and use of these repeaters shall comply fully with the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97), and the General Mobile Radio Service (Part 95) regulations of the Federal Communications Commission’s Private Radio Service. In addition to FCC regulations, the following are policies enacted by the WMDRA which apply to all members and users while utilizing our systems. IAW FCC rules and regulations the WMDRA reserves the right to ban anyone, or any outside organization from using our system who willfully disregards our guidelines and policies, and/or FCC rules and regulations. This includes anyone who facilitates or encourages others to violate or otherwise refuses to abide by our policies.

  1. The repeaters are provided for the purpose of contacting and passing information between fellow Amateur Radio, and GMRS operators. This, while supporting our local community as a voluntary, noncommercial communications service. Particularly with respect to emergency communications when the need arises.
  2. In the spirit of both the Amateur Radio Service and GMRS, while operating on the W7NEO repeater system users shall respect and treat each other in a courteous and positive manner.
  3. No station and/or outside organization shall without the express permission of the Weston Mountain Digital Radio Association be permitted to arbitrarily conduct net operation, integrate as part of their organizations communication plan, or otherwise commandeer any W7NEO repeater(s) for their own purposes. The WMDRA does not permit our system to be commandeered by anyone or any organization for any reason. Legitimate emergency traffic will always take priority per FCC rules, other than that our system will be free from outside interference and available to all.
  4. Due to the wide coverage of the W7NEO system achieved through the linking of the repeaters with other similar systems, operators should always pause before transmitting. This in order to allow for system latency, and other station(s) wishing to break in, and avoid tailgating.
  5. Operators of the analog portion of the W7NEO system shall announce their call sign before transmitting any touch-tone commands, and every ten minutes or less during normal voice communication. The use of touch tones on the digital side of the system is highly discouraged.
  6. IAW FCC Section 47 CFR § 97.119, the use of tactical callsigns is not permitted on either the analog or the digital portion of the W7NEO repeater system. Users may identify their location over the repeater only after first having identified with their FCC issued callsign, and every 10 minutes during the contact.
  7. There shall be absolutely no communications over the repeater system(s) containing obscene, indecent, or profane language. Out of consideration for others on the system discussion of potentially sensitive issues shall be avoided. Please refer under “Policies and Procedures” to “The Three Don’ts” for further clarification.
  8. Malicious interference on the repeater(s) shall not be tolerated. No one shall cause or condone the malicious and/or intentional interference of communications on the repeater(s). Violations shall be reported to the nearest FCC field office for further action, and the offending station(s) shall be permanently blocked from the system.
  9. Access to the W7NEO repeater system by militias or other such groups attempting to propagate antigovernment, racist, or other such radical idealisms shall not be permitted system access under any circumstances whether real or implied. It is strongly felt by the WMDRA that these groups are the antiphrasis of what the United States of America stands for.
  10. The WMDRA does not promote any specific political, or religious faction.
  11. All are welcome on the W7NEO system. The WMDRA doesn’t permit discrimination based on race, creed, nationality, religion or lack thereof, gender or gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability.
  12. The Weston Mountain Digital Radio Associations purpose is to set policy, establish guidelines, and generally watch over the day-to-day operation of the W7NEO repeater system(s). Specific operation, and configuration of individual repeaters within the system is left up to the repeater owners.
  13. The Weston Mountain Digital Radio Association does not maintain any official affiliations with other clubs, or Emergency Communications organizations. Occasionally we share resources, and collaborate with local groups in the spirit of providing assistance through shared resources in support of our respective communities.
  14. In the event of a legitimately declared emergency, the WMDRA, and users of the system, will follow our Comprehensive Emergency Communications Plan.
  15. Donations of money and equipment will be accepted under the condition of being “no strings attached.” Donations of equipment or money will not be accepted if they are designated by the donor to be used for a specific purpose. We reserve the right to use donations however we deem as being the most beneficial to the W7NEO system.
  16. It is the general policy of the WMDRA to limit the conducting of net operation on the W7NEO repeater system. However, requests to conduct nets may be submitted via email to the WMDRA, and will be reviewed by the association, along with those groups linked into the system full-time. Final approval will be based upon the determination of the value, legitimacy, and service to the Amateur Radio community of the proposed net.
  17. The use of cross band repeaters as an ancillary function on the W7NEO repeater system is not permitted under any circumstances.

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