§ 27-67-221 - Authority of Highway Department to inform amateur radio operators of high frequency radio repeaters.
27-67-221. Authority of Highway Department to inform amateur radio operators of high frequency radio repeaters.
(a) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is authorized to post signs along the public streets and highways of Arkansas to inform persons who are licensed amateur radio operators of the existence of a high frequency radio repeater within a specific local area, provided such signs do not conflict with any rules or regulations of the United States Department of Transportation or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(b) (1) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is authorized to develop and adopt the appropriate signs showing "TWO-METER RADIO REPEATER AREA" or "AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCY MONITORED" for use in the designated areas along the public streets and highways under its jurisdiction.
(2) The signs may include the radio frequency of these local repeaters or the frequency being monitored by local radios.
(3) (A) Any local amateur radio operators or any amateur radio club wishing to participate in this program shall be responsible for the costs of preparing and purchasing these signs.
(B) (i) The department is authorized to enter into an agreement with the participants to recover those costs.
(ii) The department is authorized to prepare and furnish the signs to the local participating radio clubs or operators at cost.
(iii) The department is further authorized to erect and maintain the signs at no cost to the local radio clubs or operators.
(c) (1) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is authorized to contact all local amateur radio operators and any amateur radio clubs in Arkansas to inform them of this service.
(2) Any amateur radio operator or radio club which wishes to participate in this program shall notify the department of its interest and shall inform the department of the radio frequencies which are monitored in its immediate area and the time periods during which they are monitored.
(d) (1) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department shall ensure the signs correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the system of traffic-control devices which are currently in use by the department.
(2) The department is authorized to erect the signs and review, at least biennially, all areas with signs within its jurisdiction to ensure the area still qualifies for having the signs posted.
(e) The Director of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department shall have the authority to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations to implement this section and establish any conditions and guidelines for participation by any local amateur radio operators or clubs.
(f) For purposes of this section, "HF" means all bands of high frequencies.